Ahmedabad: this picture – a marriage couple swore in a private cottage with magnificent Tuskers as witnesses or flamingo pink canvas paintings in the background! With Covid-19 relaxed restrictions, brushes with reality where ‘marriage made in the desert’ is developing again in the African landscape for couples and wedding planners.
After a long pause because of a pandemic, Maasai Mara in Kenya was watching a inflow in tourism activities in the sweeping grassland landscape which was home to African elephants.
The idea of a grand wedding has taken new meaning in the past few years with the world-running Gujarat having about 20% of the 60 strange resorts in the area, said Narayan Hirani, who has a resort in Maasai Marai which holds a wedding in the middle of the desert.
“Packages range from Rs 10 Lakh Rs 1 Crore depending on the number of guests, the duration of the stay and several other factors.
There are many couples today who want to have their marriage in the wild, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, “Hirani said from Kutch and had settled in Kenya for a long time now.
He said that the wedding room was closed by the government because Covid-19 was only interested in Maasai Marai which was one of the most famous and visited nature reserves in Kenya.
At present, 150 guests are allowed to participate in marriage, he added.
Nitin Maldev, the former Chair of the Hindu Council of Kenya said many of his friends and relatives had booked a resort in Maasai Mara recently for a wedding.
Marriage was held for a long period of five days, he said.
Guest lists including visitors from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, England and Gujarat.
Apart from Maasai Mara, Mombasa who was on the beach and other Lake Nakuru, the purpose of the wedding was preferred in Kenya.
Laxmiben Vekariya, another Gujarati who has been a wedding planner for more than 15 years in Kenya said many resorts are located close to water holes where wild animals can be seen from a safe distance from the boundaries in the room.
“Watching zebra from the glass wall resort is mere fun,” he said.
Another attraction is to have a wedding purpose where one can watch the spark whale in the blue sea in Mombasa.
Joshi Kapil, a professional photographer, who came from Kutch said he had attended two marriages in Mombasa as part of his work.
“Whether under water or the beach, Mombasa is a visual miracle,” Joshi said.
Kenya: Gujaratis has around 20% of 60 strange resorts
