Luxury
Wildlife - Taj Wilderness Lodges
Taj Wilderness Lodges is a Taj, CC Africa
and Cigen Joint Venture aimed at creating ultimate interpretive wildlife experience
in India based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. The safari experience
will comprise game viewing, interpretive jungle walks and meditative solitude.
The lodges, with between 6 to 12 suites each, are being designed with a light
footprint emulating CC Africa’s sophistication of simplicity and will offer
guests expert guides, exceptional Taj Hotel hospitality, unique accommodation,
romance and sumptuous regional cuisine.
The first phase comprising of five lodges situated on the borders of India’s
world-renowned tiger reserves, would become operational in last quarter of 2006,
with an ambitious growth plan of 20 lodges over the next five years. This premium,
Indian wildlife circuit would be priced in the range of USD 500-550 onwards
per person per night.
This collaboration will provide international and domestic guests with the ultimate
interpretive wildlife experience in India based on a proven sustainable ecotourism
model. Guests will benefit from the expertise of CC Africa in delivering a unique
and in-depth wildlife experience and the Taj’s legendary hospitality.
The first two lodges will open in October 2005 with a further 3 in the next
two years. The long-term strategy aims at 20 lodges across the subcontinent
hosting guests on new wilderness circuits.
The rollout of the venture has been planned and phased across the key wildlife
destinations on the Asian subcontinent and is in response to the Indian ecotourism
market currently poised for rapid growth with its tiger sighting potential and
abundance of unique fauna and flora.
With approximately 485 Sanctuaries and 87 National Parks, India offers a fascinating
alternative to Africa. The safari experience will comprise game viewing, interpretive
jungle walks and meditative solitude.
The lodges will be designed with a light footprint emulating CC Africa's sophistication
of simplicity and will offer guests expert guides, exceptional hospitality and
accommodation, romance and sumptuous regional cuisine.
Announcing the equal shareholding deal in India last week CC Africa's CEO, Steve
Fitzgerald said, “We are delighted to work with the best connected and
most knowledgeable network of hotels exploring opportunities in a fascinating
wildlife destination like India.
This venture allows us, for the first time, to implement our successful model
of sustainable ecotourism outside Africa. This proven model channels revenue
towards the preservation of wilderness biodiversity and community benefits.
" Raymond Bickson, MD of the Indian Hotels Company Ltd, added that, "Taj
will be making a concerted effort to improve the quality of safari management
in India by taking it to world standards while promoting wildlife tourism within
India." He went on to say, "With the immense global interest in India
we believe that this is a tremendous opportunity to aggressively promote the
wildlife offerings in India."
In keeping with both CC Africa's and Taj's community development principles,
a Indian advisory group will be set up comprising environmentalists, forest
officials and NGOs to play a guiding role and to endorse the authenticity of
the safari experience.
CC Africa and Taj will be working closely with the Central and State governments
in this uniquely collaborative effort to sustain high-end wildlife tourism to
preserve the ecology and natural environment of India.
