Startup Story

Jazeera Suwani, a serial entrepreneur and previously the founder of Say it with Chocolate, is now the co-founder of Drunken Elephant Mara in Kenya. She has been featured in Africa's Top 40 under 40 in 2018. The concept behind Drunken Elephant Mara, is to provide a complete vacation for the individual looking to disconnect from the world of technology and immerse themselves in Nature. The business was launched in 2021 and today employs 7 people.

LoA caught up with Jazeera to hear more about her new business venture and her ambitions for its growth in the future.

What does your company do?

Drunken Elephant Mara is set within a natural forest, a stone’s throw away from Sekenani Gate, and is a true bush experience. The camp is located 2 km from The Maasai Mara National Reserve. The camp consists of seven guest tents, five of which accommodate 2 adults each and 2 accommodate 4 adults each. Our tents are all en-suite, ensuring that you enjoy the luxury of home ‘safari style’. The hot water is heated over a log fire connected to your bathroom for when you want to enjoy your bath. Especially hand-crafted for you, home-made and freshly cooked, all meals are served on a set menu and drinks are available from our cash bar to complement the safari experience.

“Drunken Elephant Mara is set within a natural forest, a stone’s throw away from Sekenani Gate, and is a true bush experience.“

What inspired you to start your company?

Looking at a property that had all the potential to become a holiday destination for a lot of people out there, my brother and I decided to put in resources and refurbish whatever we could to create a space for any tourist, local or international, to be comfortable and feel at home. We thought, how many times do you come back from a vacation feeling tired, because you aren't able to break away from your daily routine? Even on vacation, you still have to wake up early and have breakfast, lunch and dinner on time. You still follow the same routine that you have at home. At Drunken Elephant Mara, we allow guests to breathe and relax without the pressures of your everyday routine.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

Staying in the African wilderness, with a small fence separating you from the wildlife and only a tent to shelter you, might sound foolhardy, but that’s the unique and thrilling buzz of a safari. Safaris are so often associated with luxury lodges, sundowners and slick service alongside the wildlife, but there is another way: #thedrunkbreak. This is your chance to get supremely close to nature – elephants might stroll through the camp and you will enjoy the nightly roars of lions or laughs of the hyena. It is one of the very few camps, where one of the co-owners is always on site to cater to the guests needs.

“Staying in the African wilderness, with a small fence separating you from the wildlife and only a tent to shelter you, might sound foolhardy, but that’s the unique and thrilling buzz of a safari.”

Tell us a little about your team

Management consists of my brother, his wife (Shivangi) and myself. My brother and I handle the reservations and ground work detailing for guests, whereas Shivangi handles the camp tents and kitchen. We do have a full time Chef, as well as admin staff, at the camp who helps guests with booking excursions if they so like.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

My father is a business man and my mother an accountant. By profession I am a Physiotherapist. I was a practitioner for 9 years when I decided to venture into something new and different. I had attended a course and thought it would be an interesting venture due to the demand for good chocolate and especially dairy free chocolate. After the chocolate business didn't work out because of a partnership that went wrong, I unfortunately sunk deep into depression for about 2 years. It took my family months to get me out of the fog that had settled in my brain. I then started working in the family business which is a travel agency and my sparkle started to shine slowly but surely. It has been a journey and is still a journey as I let go of my past and try to learn from the mistakes.

“At Drunken Elephant Mara, we allow guests to breathe and relax without the pressures of your everyday routine.”

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

We currently have seven rooms and would like to expand to having three 2 bedroom suites which can accommodate families and friends who would like to spend more time and be able to cook for themselves.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

in relation to my camp, the satisfaction comes when we get a review on trip advisor or booking.com and it is a 5 star review that shows that we are achieving the service that we set out to give our clients.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

Even if you stumble and fall, there will always be a ray of light somewhere. You just have to look and hold the hand that is reaching out to you to take you out of your darkness.

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Why LoA loves it…

They say that to be an entrepreneur takes resilience and the ability to bounce back from challenges along the journey. Jazeera has done just that and today is taking her learnings and experiences into her exciting and highly rewarding vacation bush experiences business. As a result, the next phase of her entrepreneurial journey is being built with a very special customer experiential business that creates unique memories for all those who go on a Drunken Elephant Mara adventure. This is entrepreneurial resilience and passion in action. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa