Taj Safaris to set up 4 new safari lodges in India

Taj Safaris to set up 4 new safari lodges in India
To be operational by October 2011

Steena Joy - Durban

Taj Safaris, the joint venture company of Taj Hotels & Resorts and CC Africa (Conservation Corporation Africa), is planning to set up four new safari lodges in India - one in Kaziranga (Assam), two others in the south and one in Gir (Gujarat). This will be the first time that Taj Safaris will venture outside the state of Madhya Pradesh where it already owns and operates two luxurious safari lodges with two more ready to open.

Speaking to Express Hospitality, Nicky Fitzgerald, marketing director of CC Africa, said, "The proposed lodges will be fully operational by October 2011 and will take the total number of our lodges in India to eight. Apart from the Mahua Kothi lodge at Bandhavgarh National Park and Baghvan lodge at Pench National Park which are already open, two others - the Banjaar Tola lodge in Kanha National Park and the Pashan Garh lodge in Panna National Park - will open on October 1 this year."

While Banjaar Tola has two intimate camps of nine tented suites each, there are 12 luxury stone cottages in Pashan Garh. According to Fitzgerald, while these lodges are a great hit with foreign tourists, they also attract a number of domestic tourists who are very loyal tiger enthusiasts.

The four proposed lodges (estimated to cost approximately Rs 6 crore each) will cover a variety of wildlife and will offer tourists different wilderness circuits.

While Kaziranga is famous for its rhinos, the south is known for its elephants and Gir is home to the Asiatic lion. With over 30 years of tailor-making safaris in Africa, CC Africa's portfolio spans South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Source: http://www.expresshospitality.com/20080615/market01.shtml