From the intricate precision of jewellery design in London to steering one of East Africa’s most respected hospitality brands, Mita Vohra’s journey is both deeply personal and profoundly purposeful. As Board Director of Sarova Hotels & Resorts, she returned to Kenya during the uncertainty of the pandemic to help shape the group’s next chapter—one rooted in legacy, sustainability and thoughtful growth. In this interview, Vohra reflects on her transition into full-time hospitality leadership, the creative vision behind the transformation of Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, the rising opportunity of Indian weddings, and her commitment to ensuring that Sarova’s future remains aligned with its founding values of community, conservation and care for the land.
Coming from a world of jewellery design and fine detail, how was the personal transition for you moving into the large-scale operation of managing hotels?
When our Managing Director, Jimi Kariuki, called during Covid and asked for support, it was an emotional moment for me. I had been on the Sarova board for some time, but this meant a full transition, moving from London to Kenya and leaving behind an established life and business.
Hospitality has always been part of my story. My late brother brought me into Sarova when I was just 20, and over the years I worked across film, finance and jewellery, always drawn to creative environments.
Five years into leading Sales and Marketing at Sarova, I feel deeply grateful. Looking back, it feels instinctive, almost inevitable. I was always meant to be in hospitality; it’s where my passion truly lives.
The Product (Sarova Shaba), The new Sarova Shaba has a very unique, leisure-focused character compared to your city hotels. What was the main creative vision behind this specific renovation?
Sarova Shaba is unlike anywhere else; it has an energy that’s hard to explain. Set along the Ewaso Nyiro River, with natural spring water flowing through the property, it feels deeply connected to the land and community around it.
Guests often leave transformed, moved by the climbs, the gorges, the sunsets and the stillness. This renovation is about honouring that spirit and allowing Shaba to reclaim its identity.
It has always been a property close to my heart, and now we’re giving it the attention it deserves, allowing it to truly shine.
Are you looking to expand further within Kenya, and how do you ensure sustainability remains a core strategy?
Sustainability has been part of Sarova since its inception, long before my time. Our founders believed deeply in protecting wildlife, supporting communities, and respecting the land, and those values continue to guide us today. At present, our focus is on strengthening and elevating our existing properties through thoughtful renovations. It’s an incredibly exciting phase for the brand.
For now, our focus is firmly on the renovations underway across our properties. It’s an incredibly exciting time as we strengthen and refine the Sarova brand. Any expansion plans will follow naturally from this work and will be shared as and when they truly take shape, ensuring that growth remains thoughtful, measured, and aligned with our long-term values.
With the rise of distinct segments like grand Indian weddings, solo travellers or FITs – how is Sarova adapting its services to cater to these specific new demands?
Indian weddings are a segment we are actively investing in. India represents immense potential, and we see the world as a canvas for these celebrations.
At the same time, we are mindful of evolving traveller profiles from families and FITs to those seeking meaningful, immersive experiences. Our focus remains on flexibility, personalisation, and creating spaces that feel both special and deeply welcoming.
If the last 50 years were about establishing the brand, what is the single most important mission or personal legacy you want to achieve in the next decade?
Legacy is deeply important in our family. Our forefathers taught us that success is measured by how many lives you touch and uplift. Staying grounded through both challenges and successes has always been central to who we are.
The roots they planted continue to guide us, and I hope that the next generation will build on that foundation expanding the positive impact Sarova has had on people, communities and the land.
If that legacy lives on, that would be the greatest achievement.
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