"Pardon me," she said, "I'm sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It's just that you look just like my son who just died recently."

"I'm very sorry," replied the young man, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," she said. "As I'm leaving, can you say 'Goodbye mother'? It would make me feel much better."

"Sure," answered the young man. As the old woman was leaving, he called out, "Goodbye mother!"

As he stepped up to the checkout counter, he saw that his total was $127.50. "How can that be?" he asked, "I only purchased a few things!"

"Your mother said that you would pay for her," said the clerk.

Why is it an invitation to enter the portals of these inner sancta is enough to alter the regular and normal habits of everyday business folk and other assorted wealthy travelers, and instantly convert them into over-friendly grinning idiots.

You can usually spot a business class traveler a frequent flyer mile away. Invariably they are the ones tearing past you on the airport freeway in low-slung luxury vehicles. The ones who flash a maniacal smirk as they swerve by at 140 km/h in there haste to load up on the ‘free’ drinks, cocktail rolls and newspaper away from the madding crowd.

The same people who glide over to and through the Business/Gold/Silver Class check in and then ‘fast track’ their way past the usual rat maze of security, leaving lesser mortals behind in a two-hundred-strong queue of economy passengers which almost invariably contains several mewing and puking infants, a school tour team with 700 Kg of excess baggage, and a fat sweaty utility worker who can’t find his e-ticket.

You can’t fail to grimace as the chosen ones pace purposefully pas t you in a determined tread towards the exclusive elevator which will whisk them effortlessly up to the hallowed doors of their favorite lounge.

Business Class lounges are almost always situated upstairs, well above the hoi polloi of cattle-class travelers, who, by default, are only entitled to wait their turn to board on unpleasant plastic benches, drinking over priced plastic coffee and listening to a host of plastic announcements concerning flight delays made by people who have seemingly made a speaking career out of sounding unintelligible.

The lounge offers an oasis of comfort by comparison. Friendly and attractive hostesses (yes, they do still exist) act as the bouncers, checking the status of all who dare approach their doors, behind which bar staff freely ply their users with complimentary alcohol and peanuts, whilst comfortable sofas and easy chairs offer the chance to stretch out in order to await the slightly later boarding times that business class travelers expect as a right. God forbid that business class passengers should be forced to mingle with the rest of us.

Inside these ‘relaxation zones’ there’s a strange whole new thing going on. (If it were not for the guests, these places would be fabulous). Almost as if an unwritten code exists, a sense of chummy bonhomie instantly pervades the air.

"After you…” (At the bar).
" Not at all, I insist, you overtook me on the way here, so after you…” (Laughter) “So where are you off to today?”
" Just another bloody trip to (insert destination here)”
" God, I hate these business trips. It’s my (insert number of flights here) trip this week/month/year (delete as applicable).”

"Me too, I’m so sick of this bloody airline to. Everyone says these trips are a pleasure but you and I know the truth, don’t we?”(More laughter)
" Another double whisky and soda to ease the pain?”
" Well, its only 11 o’clock, but what the hell…” (More laughter)
" Isn’t that whassisname over by the smokers’ lounge? You know, that financial Director from the parastatal who got caught with his fingers in the cookie jar and was frog marched out of his office last week?”
" Bloody good job they forgot to ask for his frequent flyer card back then, or he’d be downstairs with the unaccompanied pets, it only expires at the end of the year, so he’s got some breathing space at least…”
There’s not other place in the world were two total stranger would exchange such pleasantries. Business cards are almost always exchanged (only to be subsequently thrown away at landing) and hollow promises made (but never carried out) to have appropriate words with the purchasing/marketing/HR director to follow through on an unspecified possible business opportunity.

Then there’s always someone talking exceptionally loud on a mobile phone, who, amazingly, has just won a very large contract. This generally involves a details statement preceding this announcement as to where the caller is. For some unknown reason to the rest of us, it is obviously important for that person to loudly announce that he can’t talk for very long as he is sitting in a Business Class Lounge waiting for a flight to (insert destination here) and only has a few minutes to chat. For someone in such an obvious hurry, this part of the conversation can surprisingly take at least five minutes and usually includes parts of the above conversation as well.

Time though does glide by in a business class lounge. All too quickly comes the gentle siren voice of the maiden-at-the-door urging her charges to please consider ‘boarding their chosen flight, as all economy class passengers appear to have boarded’. “Thank for visiting us,” she quietly acknowledges you at the door, and with a suggestive manner, urges you ‘to come up and see us sometime soon’. I think I’d rather face the plastic benches.

Accommodation
Overlooking a magnificent lake against the backdrop of Sangare hill, stand out our 12 brand new luxurious tents. Our tents are spacious, providing utmost comfort and relaxation and tastefully furnished with 4 Poster beds and African rustic furniture. All tents have a private romantic verandah with a cozy lounge overlooking the stunning natural lake, ‘Sangare’. Every tent has a modern ensuite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. When opened, each tent is specially designed to give you the most breathtaking view of the early morning sunrise against the lake. Our tents are either twin with two queen size beds or double with a 4 Poster King Size bed.

Honeymoon Suites
Our spectacular honeymoon suites are nestled amongst the bush, each having a unique view of the surroundings and wildlife. We pamper honeymooners with bubbly, chocolate coated strawberries, natural grown organic fruits from our garden amongst other surprises. There is nothing more romantic than a candle lit dinner in the privacy of your verandah enjoying the spectacular sunset against the lake.

Resident Rates

Single – Kshs. 7,000/-
Double – Kshs. 9,500/-
Children under 3 years - Free of charge
Children 3-12 years – Single Kshs. 3,500/-
Children 3-12 years - Double/Twin Kshs. 4,750/-