Dear readers,

We welcome you with our first Bush Drum in 2010. The whole team of Severin_kenya wishes you a prosperous and healthy year.
We have a lot of exciting news from Kenya for you.

These are the topics:
- Participation of the Severin_kenya team at the world’s leading travel trade show ITB 2010
- Reorganization of the Sales and Marketing Team in Kenya
- Leila Smith from Thomas Cook UK personally hands over »Travelife» Gold Award to Severin Schulte in Kenya
- The Severin_kenya team in portrait: Walter Kashero Mwagambo
- Visit of Hon. Esther Mathenge at Severin Safari Camp
- Introduction of the Utange Orphanage Project in Kenya

Have fun!

 

The whole world meets at ITB Berlin: People, working in the travel industry and people who want to catch up on the most beautiful travel destinations, which is an annual affair of a combination of trade and public exhibitions of visitors, exhibitors and media representatives. The World's Leading Travel Trade Show takes place from 10th until 14th of March 2010 on the fairgrounds of Messe Berlin.

We are going to participate as well and you will find our stand at 21.A/129. Our sales team, Astrid Mergheim and Christina Schulte, looks forward to meeting you and informing you about the latest news regarding Severin_kenya!

Product News
Severin_kenya offers new Fly In Packages to Severin Safari Camp! The flights are operated in a luxury Cessna Caravan.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is a plane of the newest generation, equipped with the most modern board technique, like digital weather radar, Garmin 3D navigation system and air condition. Your private air plane has 8 very comfortable and luxurious First Class seats. Soft leather pads with a lot of leg space, board service and a private tour guide – this allows you to travel individually and „in style“. During the flight, your pilot will give you information about the wildlife and the scenic highlights via headphones. Each seat has its own large window. Observe the passing elephant herds, the hippos close to the rivers and the extensive Kenyan Savannah from a very close distance. A unique flying experience indeed.

On the 3-day Severin Tsavo Air Safari you will discover Kenya‘s amazing animal kingdom and enjoy the special atmosphere at our Severin Safari Camp with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Experience your personal African dream during our new 4-day Severin Dream Air Safari. Relax during one of the massages at the KENBALI SPA and enjoy the pleasant scenery. You will experience the pure magic of the safari when sitting around the campfire every night observing the animals at the various waterholes.

The focus of the 8-day Severin Relax Air Safari will be on relaxation and rejuvenation. Enjoy the unknown tranquility, eavesdrop on the animals sounds in the distance, and experience the surreal Savannah. At our Severin Safari Camp you can wind down completely.

We are looking forward to welcoming you on board!

More information about our new Fly In Packages is available at our Internet Website www.severin-kenya.com.
 

We would like to introduce our new Sales and Marketing Team in Kenya and give you some more information about their responsibilities.

Our Front Office Manager James Owiti is responsible for Hotel as well as conference and incentive bookings in the East African Region. You can contact him on front.manager@severin-kenya.com.

Our new Sales & Marketing Manager Daisy Langat is responsible for Sales and Marketing in the coast region and In house sales and promotions. Her E-Mail is marketing@severin-kenya.com.

Our Reservations Manager Daniel Okaka is responsible for all reservations enquiries for Severin_kenya. Enquiries can be send to reservations@severin-kenya.com.

Our Reservations Manager Esther Rugut handles all reservations for Severin Safari Camp and Severin Tours & Safaris. Her E-Mail is sales@severin-kenya.com.

Our Group General Manager Andrew Muir is responsible for General Enquiries & Contracting. His E-Mail adress is severin@severin-kenya.com.

Our team is looking forward to welcoming you in Kenya.

Early this month, the resident manager of Thomas Cook UK, Leila Smith, handed over the »Travelife» Gold Award to the Chairman of Severin_kenya, Severin Schulte. The Severin_kenya team is very proud to receive this important award. It is a true demonstration to the excellent work being done at the hotel regarding environmental and community initiatives.

Severin Sea Lodge received the award for green and sustainable tourism. The hotel has been active in environmental issues for over 20 years and follows sustainable and future-oriented hotel operations. In the Travelife Sustainable tourism survey, hotels can score Bronze, Silver or Gold awards depending on the degree of their environmental commitment. Hotels like Severin Sea Lodge that achieved the Gold Status, displays advanced sustainability and eco tourism measures. They encourage others to be involved, seek continual improvement and actively communicate their progress.

We firmly believe that the private sector has to sometimes lead the way and work together with respective governments departments in making sure we lower our impact on the environment. Therefore at Severin Sea Lodge, staff and guests are trained in specifically organized seminars to get information about the environmental threats and how to protect Kenya’s coast and national parks. With illustrated charts which have been designed together with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), tourists get to know a lot about Africa’s natural treasures.

Name: Walter Kashero Mwagambo. Kashero- is the name of his grandfather and means “broom” and Mwagambo is his father’s name
Born: 23.12.1955 in Bungu (Kilifi) / Married to: Maggie Mwagambo since 1976 / Kids: 6 children (3 girls, 3 boys) the oldest is born 1977 (32 years) the youngest is 9 years old. / Tribe: he belongs to one of the 9 tribes of the Mijikenda (coast Province Kilifi, with the major town Mombasa); he is a “MCHONYI”

He was born and has lived all his life on the coast of Kilifi & Mtwapa in Mombasa. His father died in 1963, when Walter was 8 years old. His mother cares for the family.
School: In 1961 he started the Primary School in DZITSONI (Kilifi District). From 1969 – 1972 Walter attended “Ribe” Secondary school in KALOLENI/ Mazeras, and completed his ‘O’ levels.

During school time and later on he was looking for vacant positions in organizations in Mombasa. He applied for a job at “Sun ‘n Sand” Hotel in KIKAMBALA in 1972. He started to work there as a gardener, and was later promoted to a glass/ dish washer. In 1973 he started to work at “Reef” Hotel as a waiter (trainee). He was promoted from a Trainee waiter to a Waiter & Station Head waiter. In the years to come he became assistant head waiter & Supervisor for the Restaurant/ Bistro and Grill Room.

In 1975 Walter went for a refresher course at “UTALI COLLAGE” in Nairobi and din 1988 he did a refresher course at “Intercontinental” Hotel in Mombasa. Walter worked at “Reef” Hotel from 1973 till 1995. He liked his job very much. But because of severe problems in the hotel industry, he had to quit the job.
From 1995 till 1998 he worked at “Pirates” Restaurant as a Supervisor and afterwards as a Night Manager. In 1998 he started to work at Severin Sea Lodge as a casual initially. He did an In house refresher course & got a certificate.
For almost 3 years Walter had his own business. It was a hard time, because of the Kayabombo clashes and it was difficult to find a job in the hotel industry.

Severin Sea Lodge called him back for an interview in 2001. He got a job as a waiter. In November of the same year, he started to work at Severin Safari Camp. This was the year, when the camp was opened. Walter is still working with us, as a waiter & Ass. Manager of the “Out of Africa” Restaurant and the “Thorn Tree” Bar. Walter was tired of working in town and decided to work and live in the bush, because he loves the nature. His family still lives in Mtwapa and he is always happy to be back to see his wife, kids and family.

We are very proud that Walter is part of our team and we wish him all the best.

Hon. Esther Mathenge, Minister for Gender, Children Affairs and Social Development in Kenya stayed at Severin Safari Camp for 3 nights. Amid the wonderful scenery of the Kenyan wilderness, she wanted to rejuvenate and to have a short relaxing break. She went on an excursion to Mzima Springs and she also relaxed at our KENBALI SPA.

On the last day she took part on our “Back of the House Tour”. She was fascinated to learn how we run this eco friendly luxury camp out in the bush. We showed her how we protect the environment with solar technology, high energy efficiency, a biological waste water treatment plant and strict waste separation. This is very important to ensure that the sensitive ecosystem of the African wilderness is protected.

It was a pleasure welcoming Hon. Esther Mathenge at our Severin Safari Camp and we are glad that she enjoyed her time in the bush.

Today, we would like to introduce the Utange Orphanage Project in Kenya to you which was founded in 2007. The aim was to build a home for AIDS orphans in the village of Utange. The organization fundraises to build a home, to feed, clothe and educate these AIDs orphans in Kenya. They are currently being cared for by the local Pastor.
“Casuarina House” was opened on 29th January, 2009 and is home to 20 children today. Volunteers come out from the U.K. to help in the home. They always stay at Severin Sea Lodge whilst in Kenya.

If you would like to visit the children, please see Madam Jane Schiffer – Guests Relations Officer - Severin Sea Lodge

To find out more, please visit the charity Website: www.thesurefoundation.org.uk.