Seconds Out: Week #2

1 July 2015 | Inside Angama |

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The opening of Angama: a story of miracles and just plain hard work

By some small miracle we somehow pulled it all together just in the nick of time to welcome our first guests on 23 June. The guest areas were finally handed over to the lodge team at 8pm on the evening before. It looked like the Woods of Dunsinane with 60 staff looming out of the darkness holding furniture aloft. And then it was time to do what we do best – taking care of guests.

Best Burger in the Mara and the team in action

Chefs cheffed; Butlers buttled; Housekeepers swept, polished, and swept some more; the Laundry team turned on their machines for the first time; the guides beamed at the thought of their first safaris; and the support team were at hand to light fires, set up the Forest BBQ, and water the hundreds of newly planted trees. Every single staff member worked 18 hours every day without a murmur of complaint. This team is extraordinary.

The Fermob furniture finally arrived

And in between it all – in the first five days – we had all 15 tents full; threw a wedding in our Maasai Boma; prayed for the Fermob furniture to arrive from France (guests were eating off canteen furniture, just saying); hosted travel partners and pulled off a monumental photo shoot for our new website.

Stevie shot up a storm

The Rumble in the Jungle was a walk in the park compared to the last week.

Author: Nicky Fitzgerald

FILED UNDER: Inside Angama
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AUTHOR: Nicky Fitzgerald

After more than 30 years in hospitality, starting with a small hotel at the foot of Africa and followed by a further couple of Cape hotels, most notably The Bay, and sixty plus safari lodges across Africa and India, Nicky has served more meals, puffed more cushions, filled more beds, trained more staff and opened more properties than she cares to remember. Nicky retired as Angama's CEO in July of 2022 and remains an advisor and delightfully opinionated member of the Board.

COMMENTS (13)
Sara de Maine Kearns
July 1, 2015

Totally awesome cannot wait to witness myself..

REPLY
Patty Lloyd
July 1, 2015

I knew you would pull it off! Lots of love, Patty

REPLY
    Nicky
    July 3, 2015

    Thank you dear Patty for your unfailing support of our crazy project – it is hugely appreciated

    REPLY
Irene Simon
July 1, 2015

This amazing place with its outstanding, dedicated staff has been a most unforgettable experience – even for this 89 year old! My heartiest congratulations and sincere thanks to each one of you.

REPLY
    Nicky Fitzgerald
    July 3, 2015

    We LOVED having you to stay as one of our very first guests – please come back soon. We miss you already …

    REPLY
KC
July 1, 2015

Great to hear you are finally open and thank you for sharing the journey with us. Best of luck in your maiden year!

REPLY
    Nicky Fitzgerald
    July 3, 2015

    Thank you KC – we are two weeks old and counting …

    REPLY
Lisa Doucha
July 1, 2015

Oh wow – it all looks totally gorgeous! Congratulations and well done!

REPLY
    Nicky Fitzgerald
    July 3, 2015

    Asante sana

    REPLY
Shiko Mburu
July 1, 2015

Awesome….no, actually awesom-est!!!

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    Nicky Fitzgerald
    July 3, 2015

    Thank you dear Shiko – please come and see us soon

    REPLY
Neville
July 3, 2015

What an amazing job you guys have done. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I love the idea that in your first week you held what looked like an unforgettable wedding. This I feel is the start of many more to come as people will flock to Angama for a honeymoon and second even more impressive Massai wedding. Look fwd to visiting soon

REPLY
    Nicky Fitzgerald
    July 3, 2015

    Thanks so much for the thumbs up Neville and we look forward to welcoming you to Angama Mara in the very near future.

    REPLY
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