FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS KENYA RESTORATIONS CONTINUE - AN INFORMATIONAL UPDATE FROM THE ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, KENNETH R. HIEBER

MONDAY, MARCH 24TH 2008
NEW YORK, NY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Kenya have announced that restorations at The Norfolk and Mount Kenya Safari Club will continue as scheduled and are due to be complete in late 2008. Nevertheless due to the unprecedented shock to travel confidence since the elections last December, The Ark Lodge and the Aberdare Country Club will be closed in the interim. Fairmont’s other properties in East Africa which include the Fairmont Mara Safari Club and Fairmont Zanzibar are fully operational and The Norfolk and Mount Kenya Safari Club remain open during their restorations.
The Ark Lodge and the Aberdare Country Club will remain open until mid-March, as they still have a number of guests and thereafter a core crew of colleagues will be retained on site.

“The political and social situation in Kenya over the last few months has had a severe impact on our business with an incredible amount of cancellations in each of our units and few new bookings for the coming months,” said Sean Billing, Managing Director, East Africa Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “While the quality of the attractions and services remains, the negative attention focused on Kenya in the worlds media will cause disruption to tourism for months and possibly years to come. What was to be the best year ever, will be a very disappointing and challenging one for our entire industry.”

Despite the uncertainty in the pace of recovery in the tourism sector restorations continue at The Norfolk and Mount Kenya Safari Club. The Norfolk is well into its seventh month of the US$ 12 million dollar restoration that will be completed by August 2008.

Mount Kenya Safari Club is 40% through the US $15.5 million dollar restoration of William Holden’s greatest legacy, which will see the Club returned to its former grandeur. Unlike any other resort in East Africa, Mount Kenya is set to return to the position of jewel in Kenya’s crown.

The Fairmont Mara Safari Club, which completed restorations in October 2007, has undergone significant expansion and has produced an exceptional product to compliment the incredible game viewing and the warm, hospitable service which makes the Club a unique, distinctive and a memorable experience for all guests.

“We are confident in the future of our business given our investment in our people, our properties and the Fairmont brand. Kenya is one of the world's greatest destinations and we must continue to position it as such even while uncertainty remains on the ground,” added Billing.

Until further notice from the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Kenya, the Original 2AFRIKA, INC. will divert its passengers from The Ark to the Serena Mountain Lodge. It would help if passengers were to comprehend precisely why we reserve the right to alter any itinerary in our collection for then situations such as this would not be overwhelmingly alarming.

For further information on this informational Blog post or any other Safari in the Original 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/

The Original 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.

If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the Original 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com