Hemingways Hospitality, a Kenya-based luxury hospitality and travel group, has confirmed the acquisition of Richard’s River Camp, an 18-bed safari camp located in the Mara North Conservancy within Kenya’s Maasai Mara ecosystem.
The transaction marks another step in the company’s strategic expansion across East Africa and follows its recent acquisition of Heaven Holdings in Kigali, Rwanda, which includes The Retreat, Heaven Restaurant, and Fusion.
Founded in 1988 with the opening of Hemingways Watamu on the Kenyan coast, Hemingways Hospitality has grown into a regional luxury brand.
In 2013, the company launched Hemingways Collection, a portfolio of 5-star boutique hotels and camps in Kenya and, more recently, in Rwanda. The group also operates Hemingways Travel, Hemingways Expeditions, and Hemingways Residences.
Richard’s River Camp was established by Richard Roberts and Liz Fusco, known for their long-standing commitment to wildlife conservation and community partnership in the Mara. Their contributions include helping establish community conservancies like Mara North and launching the Mara Elephant Project, a key conservation initiative in the region.
Hemingways Hospitality Group CEO Ross Evans stated:
“Richard and Liz have been pioneers of wildlife conservation in the Mara, instrumental in the creation of community conservancies such as Mara North as well as founding partners of vital conservation initiatives such as Mara Elephant Project.”
“Their impact cannot be understated and we greatly appreciate the history and importance of what Richard and Liz have achieved.”
Mr. Evans added that the company is committed to sustaining the positive impact on biodiversity and local communities.
“In taking custody of this wonderful camp, we commit to continuing the positive impact on wildlife, biodiversity conservation and sustainable community development,” he said in a press release.
Hemingways is already involved in conservation through its membership in the Naboisho Conservancy.
By joining Mara North Conservancy, the company extends its collaboration with over 1,000 Maasai landowners and other tourism operators to conserve more than 73,000 acres of protected land.
Mara North Conservancy, established in 2009, is one of Kenya’s largest community-private conservancy models.
It was recently named a finalist in the Community Upliftment Award category for the 2025 African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) Awards, underscoring its role in sustainable development and environmental protection.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this acquisition illustrates the growing value of community-integrated conservation tourism and the potential of private-public partnerships in managing protected areas.
Operators may draw insights from Hemingways’ approach to balancing high-end experiences with sustainability commitments—an increasingly important differentiator in the luxury and eco-travel markets.