Agents have another boutique option in East Africa with the debut of Tulia in New Zealand and Australia, described as a value-driven safari brand that focuses on good access to wildlife rather than the ‘unnecessary frills’.
Tulia has been developed in response to strong industry demand for affordable safaris, offering a four-property portfolio across Uganda and Kenya which it says allows agents to create a comprehensive multi-country loop.
It also coincides with a shift in East Africa bookings, with Uganda evolving from an add-on to standalone destination, thanks in large part to the value it offers.
Leanne Haigh, md of Tulia and its premium sister brand Lemala Lodges and Camps, says travellers’ budgets stretch significantly further in Uganda, and with long-haul airfares remaining a major consideration for this market, she says wholesale product managers have been desperate for ground products that protect their margins without scaring off clients.
“With Tulia, operators can finally package a premium-feeling East African circuit that is highly competitive,” she says.
“And we are achieving this through an existing-footprint growth strategy, buying and upgrading existing properties rather than adding more concrete and vehicles to already sensitive ecosystems.”
. . . Portfolio
In terms of options, the Tulia Amboseli Safari Camp is an eco-friendly luxury tented camp near Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, offering 20 tents, with rates from USD255 per night for two people. The portfolio also has the recently acquired Wild Frontiers Uganda properties and activities business. This includes the Tulia Buhoma Lodge with 10 chalets, Tulia Ishasha Camp’s 10 luxury tents, and the Tulia Murchison Bush Camp with eight tents.
Tulia’s offering will grow again next year thanks to the planned acquisition of a property in Maasai Mara. See more details on the options HERE.
