Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotels (KSLH) has flagged off two new Isuzu buses to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery at Voi Safari Lodge in Tsavo East National Park and Ngulia Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park, marking another step in the state-owned hospitality firm’s modernisation and turnaround agenda.
The commissioning ceremony was held at Isuzu East Africa’s assembly plant along Mombasa Road in Nairobi and was officiated by the Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Herman Shambi, who represented Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano. The event brought together members of the KSLH board, senior management from Kenya Development Corporation (KDC), and executives from Isuzu East Africa.
The two buses, locally assembled Isuzu NQR 33-seater models, will support the safe and efficient movement of staff and guests across the expansive Tsavo ecosystem, improving day-to-day operations at two of Kenya’s most iconic safari destinations.
Supporting tourism competitiveness
Speaking at the flag-off, Shambi underscored the importance of continued investment in tourism infrastructure to sustain Kenya’s competitiveness as a global destination.
“Strengthening operational efficiency at key destinations such as Tsavo directly enhances visitor experience and Kenya’s global competitiveness,” he said. “Tourism contributes about 10 per cent of Kenya’s GDP and supports over two million jobs across the country. Continued investment across the tourism value chain is therefore critical.”
He also urged Kenyans to travel more domestically, noting that local tourism plays a growing role in supporting lodges, conservation areas, and communities.
“I encourage all Kenyans to travel extensively across the country, as even simple expeditions make a major impact on local tourism,” Shambi said.
Modernisation and turnaround agenda
KSLH Board Chairperson and Kenya Development Corporation Director General Norah Ratemo said the fleet upgrade forms part of a broader strategy to modernise the company’s operations and build a high-performing, financially sustainable hospitality enterprise.
“Voi and Ngulia Safari Lodges are strategically positioned within Kenya’s safari circuit,” Ratemo said. “Enhancing operational capacity improves guest experience while supporting regional economic activity, conservation awareness, and destination competitiveness.”
KSLH, which is jointly owned by KDC, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and Mountain Lodge Limited, has in recent years embarked on a turnaround programme aimed at improving service quality, asset utilisation, and financial performance across its portfolio.
The company operates three properties: Mombasa Beach Hotel in North Coast, Voi Safari Lodge in Tsavo East, and Ngulia Safari Lodge in Tsavo West.
Improving operations in the Tsavo ecosystem
Acting General Manager Ronald Simiyu said the buses will directly address logistical challenges faced by lodges operating within large and rugged conservation landscapes.
“These buses will significantly improve day-to-day operations at Voi Safari Lodge and Ngulia Safari Lodge by enhancing staff mobility and guest transfers within the Tsavo ecosystem,” Simiyu said.
He added that reliable transport is a critical but often overlooked component of hospitality operations in national parks, where distances between lodges, airstrips, gates, and attractions can be substantial.
By improving internal logistics, KSLH expects to enhance staff productivity, reduce downtime, and deliver a smoother guest experience, particularly for group travel and scheduled transfers.
Backing local manufacturing
The acquisition also aligns with the Government’s Buy Kenya, Build Kenya agenda, with the buses assembled locally by Isuzu East Africa.
Wanjohi Kangangi, Director of Sales and Marketing at Isuzu East Africa, said supplying locally assembled vehicles supports jobs, skills development, and the wider manufacturing value chain.
“By supplying locally assembled buses, we are supporting Kenyan jobs, skills development, and the wider manufacturing value chain, while enabling KSLH to deliver reliable and efficient transport for staff and guests,” Kangangi said.
Isuzu East Africa is the region’s leading vehicle assembler and has dominated Kenya’s new vehicle market for more than a decade. The company operates a Nairobi-based assembly plant and an extensive sales and service network across East Africa.
In 2024, Isuzu East Africa expanded its portfolio after becoming the official importer, assembler, and distributor of UD Trucks in Kenya, further strengthening its position in the commercial vehicle segment.
Tourism, conservation, and regional development
Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks together form one of the largest protected wildlife ecosystems in Kenya and play a central role in the country’s safari tourism offering. Investments in operational efficiency at lodges within the parks are seen as supporting not only tourism revenues but also conservation awareness and community livelihoods.
KSLH said the fleet upgrade strengthens its contribution to regional tourism growth and conservation-driven development, particularly in Taita-Taveta County and surrounding regions where tourism remains a key economic driver.
The investment comes at a time when Kenya’s tourism sector continues to recover and reposition itself following global travel disruptions, with renewed focus on service quality, sustainability, and domestic tourism.
Confidence in tourism growth
The flagging off of the buses was described by KSLH as a milestone in its transformation journey, signalling renewed momentum and confidence in Kenya’s tourism growth trajectory.
For the Government, the investment reflects broader efforts to revitalise state-linked enterprises operating in strategic sectors, including tourism, transport, and manufacturing.
As Kenya seeks to grow visitor numbers, lengthen stays, and increase tourism revenues, stakeholders say that practical investments in operational infrastructure, such as transport, remain essential to delivering competitive, high-quality visitor experiences.
