The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
‘People will still want adventure – Africa will be popular again’
remains upbeat as he recalls good times with royalty – and Richard Burton rowing up in Kenya, adventurer, pioneer and entrepreneur Geoffrey Kent hit upon the idea of the “photographic” safari involving stays in luxury tented camps.
The idea took on and almost 60 years and 160 countries later, he still heads the renowned luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent.
GHOW DID YOU BEGIN TRAVELLING?
I was born in Lusaka, Zambia; my parents were on safari and within a week I was on my first flight – to Nairobi. When I was three, we drove all the way from Nairobi to Addis Ababa. My father was a great adventurer. If I asked where we were going, he’d say: “Where you can’t drink the water.” My first big trip was aged 16 when I drove my motorbike from Nairobi to Cape Town – I was the first in the world to do it.
HOW DID YOU START YOUR COMPANY?
When Kenya was about to gain independence in 1962 my parents thought of emigrating to Australia. I said, why don’t we start a safari company here? Rather than shooting animals, our trips were aimed at photographing them. We started with one Land Rover; four years later we pioneered the idea of building a safari around luxury tented camps and leading major expeditions through Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It was wonderful.
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
The motorbike ride from Nairobi to Cape Town was amazing, but really, really uncomfortable. So I thought I’ve got to have that – and comfort. That gave me the model for Abercrombie & Kent. Other highlights? Captaining the Windsor Park polo team (and playing alongside Prince Charles); chartering Concorde for a round-theworld trip – and selling it; going to the South and North Poles; flying out to the edge of space – and taking Richard Burton on safari…
HOW IS THE COVID CRISIS HITTING YOU?
We’ve faced crises before – 9/11, 2008, Sars – but this came out of nowhere. We had clients all over the world and had to move very fast to get them back safe and sound. We have 55 offices worldwide and scaled back on staff immediately. We have been able to offer refunds – we have no debt and were in a stronger position than many – but a lot of people are leaving money with us and want to travel this year or in 2021.
Geoffrey Kent
HOW IS TRAVEL GOING TO CHANGE?
In the short term people will be scared; many of our clients are older and worry about their health. They will be wary of crowded places. Villa holidays with families and close friends will be popular – and private journeys by yacht and jet, too. Longer term, people will still want adventure but trips will be more limited. They will want out of the way places: Africa will be quite popular again. People will also be wary of booking online. They will want to go with companies like ours because they will want to know that if anything happens they will be able to get back quickly and safely.
IF YOU WERE LAUNCHING TODAY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A luxury tailor-made travel business like the one we have now. I think we are in an amazingly good place. And I still want to lead from the front.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST WHEN THIS IS OVER?
Africa. Whether that’s where I grew up in Kenya or somewhere like Botswana. There is nothing like an African safari: no people, no crowds, nothing – it would be a great way to kick off.