•Twiga Tours was among six leading safari companies from across Africa nominated for the award, which equates to the Oscars of the travel industry.
•The family-owned company is one of the oldest tour companies in Kenya.
Kenyan and East Africa’s premier Safari company–Twiga Tours has won the World’s Leading Safari Company award for the second year running, cementing its position as a top player in the industry.
This was at the World Travel Awards 2023 Grand Finale, held at the Burj al Arab, Jumeirah, Dubai.
Twiga Tours was among six leading safari companies from across Africa nominated for the award, which equates to the Oscars of the travel industry.
The family-owned company, which is one of the oldest tour companies in Kenya, won the award last year, with this year’s win affirming its position as a leading service provider.
This came barely two months after it was named Kenya’s Leading Safari Company 2023 and Tanzania’s Leading Safari Company 2023, at the 30th World Travel Awards-Africa and Indian Ocean Gala, in Dubai.
Founded in 1980 by the Manji Family, the firm, which offers personalised African Safari experiences in Kenya and the region was also this year’s Africa’s responsible tour company (Africa Responsible Tourism Award 2023.)
“We are honored and we will continue to ensure we offer unique and personalised experiences to our guests as it has always been our norm since the 80s,” the company's CEO Minaz Manji told the Star on the telephone.
Twiga Tours has curved a niche for itself, offering high-quality safari experiences within East Africa and in particular Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
According to Minaz who teamed up with his father to start the firm, the formation of the over 42-year old company was inspired by the need to offer visitors the traditional African hospitality.
Minaz made his first international marketing debut in 1981 when he attended the World Travel Market in London.
Whilst he was not successful in securing any meaningful business during the trip, he gained insights on venturing into the global source market, he narrated.
“Once we had established our brand locally, I felt more confident and once again, made my entry into the international market by attending several travel expo’s in 1986 and made this part of our regular marketing plan,” he said.
In 2003, Twiga Tours made an entry into the travel sector making all travel arrangements such as airline tickets, international holidays, and business travel bookings for the leisure and business traveler.
Twiga Tours is famed for being the first company to do a bush breakfast in Kenya, now a product being offered across the industry mainly by hotels and camps in parks.
Another unique experience the company offered was in 1987 when it planned one of the first-ever weddings on a hot air balloon over the vast plains of the Masai Mara, for a prominent UK family.
“From a tender age, the Manji Family have traveled extensively through East Africa and with this intricate knowledge, we are able to tailor make suitable itineraries and curate once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” he noted.
Twiga has also made a positive impact on the environment, society, and the economy with eco-friendly practices.
The Manji Foundation also continues to educate and empower children from poor families living in remote locations in Kenya, helping these children better their lives and those living around them.