The shoppers who were all accompanied by a friend, relative or colleague enjoyed an elaborately organized weekend getaway to the world famous national park renown for its wildlife stock below the snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro.

The team featured winners in the just concluded Nakumatt Smart Safari promotion earlier launched by the supermarket chain to foster the recovery of the local tourism industry in later February.

During the trip, Nakumatt Holdings executives led by the firm's Information Technology Director Mr. Sailesh Savani pledged to continue supporting initiatives geared at facilitating the full recovery of the local tourism industry.

This year, Nakumatt has committed more than Kshs 10million to run three sales promotions exclusively focused on tourism.

"At Nakumatt, we are committing resources and energies to facilitate the full recovery of the local tourism sector as part of our community development obligations," Savani affirmed.

And added: "we are particularly proud and appreciative of the support extended by our loyal shoppers confirming the fact that charity begins at home."

During the Smart Safari getaway, the 57 winners all comprising of local residents enjoyed heroes welcome party at the Amboseli National Park main gate rolled out by the Kenya Wildlife Service and local villagers.

From the welcome reception, the team in a convoy of than 20 tour vans snaked their way through the seasonal Lake Amboseli heading out to the five star Amboseli Serena Safari lodge for an overnight where yet another welcome party befitting a king was at hand.

As is tradition at the lodge, all the Smart Safari winners participated in a tree planting session at the lodge precincts as part of an ongoing rapid effort to green the Amboseli National Park.

Due to wildlife activity, the national park has in recent years lost a significant part of its forest cover leading to obvious wind erosion effects in the wind swept plains.

On the positive side and perhaps due to the ongoing efforts to foster domestic tourism, stakeholders in the tourism industry including the Kenya Tourist Board now confirm that domestic tourists continue to embrace local tourism.