-Ends-After a year-long extensive renovation costing USD 5.5 million, luxury Kenyan camp Finch Hattons will be reopening its doors at the end of April 2014. Now comprising 17 luxury tented guest suites, the camp offers guests a unique opportunity to relive the golden era of safari with elegance, first class comforts and the finest cuisine, surrounded by the spectacle of the great African wilderness. The camp is a proud member of Mantis, a collection of privately owned boutique hotels and eco escapes around the world, and fits perfectly with its mantra of ‘unearthing the exceptional’.

Finch Hattons lies in the heart of Tsavo West National Park, Kenya and the camp itself is positioned around a water hole fed by a natural spring from Mount Kilimanjaro, which is home to hippos, crocodiles, terrapins, monitor lizards and over 200 species of birds. Its location is unrivalled with full views of Mount Kilimanjaro and in the path of seasonal elephant migrations.

The open plan design of the tented suites, each with an elevated deck, invites the cooling breeze closer over the water, transporting all the African sounds, tastes and smells right onto the doorstep. Each suite features opulent furniture with all the creature comforts you would expect from the best lodge in Tsavo including; indoor and outdoor showers, double washbasins, flush toilet and bath. There are 14 Luxury Tented Suites, two Luxury Tented Family Suites and one Luxury Presidential Tented Suite.

The Family Suites have two rooms, each with a communal lounge and are ideal for families or friends travelling together. The Presidential Suite is spacious and has its own heated plunge pool and includes a kitchen and a butler room. A private chef is also available for in-suite catering, at no additional cost.

Tsavo West National Park when combined with the neighbouring Tsavo East, forms Kenya’s largest National Park. Its entire eco system constitutes 10 million acres of pure, untouched wilderness, encompassing open savannah, riverine and montane forests and fresh water springs. This location means guests are excellently placed for morning, mid-morning, afternoon and night game drives in customised, open sided 4x4 safari vehicles with professional driver guides.

The dining experience at Finch Hatton is reminiscent of the bygone era with dinner being a three to seven course affair served with silverware, cut crystal and porcelain. Renowned for its food and service, magical and luxurious meals are served throughout the lodge in the several dining options that are available, from candle lit dinners to exclusive bush breakfasts out in the plains of the great savannah.

Other activities include guided bush walks, bird watching and cultural visits to the Masai Village. The new camp now includes a star gazing terrace, look-out watch tower, conference room and Wellness Centre using all the natural elements that are found in the surrounding area. There are two treatment pavilions with an outside terrace for al-fresco massages, hammam, gym, yoga studio and an exclusive spa pool. Products from Africology ethical skin care are used to capture the rejuvenating and healing essences of Africa. Children are also looked after with their own entertainment room equipped with board and video games, DVD player with wildlife movies.

The camp takes its name from Denys George Finch Hatton, an aristocratic big-game hunter born in 1887, who first travelled to what was then known as British East Africa in 1911 and immediately fell in love with Kenya. Finch Hatton invested in the country, hunted and took clients on safaris on which he refused to abandon home comforts, culture and cuisine and insisted that his guests dined with fine china and crystal while listening to gramophone recordings of Mozart.  Finch Hatton became a byword for stylish, successful safaris so seemed a very fitting choice when naming the camp. The Finch Hatton name became even more widely known as the result of the 1985 hit film Out of Africa, in which Robert Redford played Denys Finch Hatton.

Stay at Finch Hattons in a Luxury Tented Suite from $400 (£245) per person based on two sharing. The full board rate includes 3 meals and airstrip transfers only.

Or from $590 (£358) per person based on two sharing on an all-inclusive rate. The rate includes full board, soft drinks, beer, wine, luxury spirits, 2 game drives per day (shared), guided bush walk, airstrip transfers, sundowners, bush breakfast and laundry. Excludes spa treatments and park conservation fees, which are payable directly to Kenya Wildlife Service and are presently US$ 65 per person per day.

For more information and to book, please visit http://www.mantiscollection.com/finch-hattons-camp-kenya/

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Privately Owned Boutique Hotels and Eco Escapes Around the World

Mantis is a family run collection of award winning, privately owned, five star properties located around the World, across all seven continents. Its specialist areas include Boutique Hotels, Game Reserves, Eco Lodges, Ski Lodges and Chalets and Boutique Cruises and offer in-the-know travellers the most exceptional properties and authentic experiences imaginable.

Each of the diverse, handpicked properties represents the finest example of its kind and celebrates the culture, gastronomy, architecture and nature of the locations in which they are found. Whilst every property is unique, being part of the collection ensures that the quality of the facilities, service and overall experience is consistently 5 star and guests can always expect personal, friendly service.

Officially founded by entrepreneur and hotelier Adrian Gardiner in 2000, Mantis is committed to the spirit of conservation and restoration, and each property is sensitive to its surroundings in respect of the building, environment and local community. The entrepreneurial spirit of the family underpins that of the group allowing them to be dynamic in the growth of the portfolio, responding quickly to consumer demand.

In 2013, Mantis has launched Mantis eXtreme which offers an online collection of authentic, once-in-a-lifetime encounters and experiences worldwide, often paired with product from their field of expertise - five star, handpicked properties. Experiences include: Wilderness camps in the great Niassa at Lugenda Wilderness Camp, Mozambique; Bear Grylls Survival Academy, U.K., USA, Africa; Parabolic flights with Space Affairs, Europe; Rhino Encounters with Dr. Will Fowlds, South Africa; Midnight Golf, Bjorkliden, Sweden and Great Bear Tours, Canada.

Mantis and Mantis eXtreme offer member properties the ideal sales, marketing and management solution for their boutique business to ensure successful growth and drive long term brand development. The company also offers consultancy services in other disciplines including conservation, education and hotel development.

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For further information please contact:



Caroline Peers

Tel: 0207 731 1499

Email: caroline@campbell-bell.com