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When it seems that the world no longer has secrets or corners to discover,
Estrella Ortego
(Vitoria, 1976) appears to show us
Africa
in all its splendor, a continent full of nuances that she approaches with
respect for the environment
and the local population, without renouncing to
adventure
. Ortego is the founder and CEO of Ratpanat Luxury & Adventure, an agency specialized in
luxury safaris in Africa
and a pioneer in incorporating concepts such as sustainability, unique experiences and luxury into its catalog.
"For me it is a very important achievement to have created Ratpanat 13 years ago from scratch and to have become a
benchmark
. There are people who are still surprised when they see that the general director of everything that surrounds Ratpanat is a woman, but here I am, fighting with all my energy ", Ortego confesses.
Of course, her career in the tourism sector started much earlier, when at the age of 21 and recently graduated in Tourism, Management and Business Administration, she opened her
first travel agency in Valladolid,
focused on large luxury trips around the planet.
"It was always clear to me. What I wanted most since I was little was to travel and see the world."
Estrella Ortego and Ricardo Gramona, owners of Ratpanat.
And how did
Africa come
into your life? "It was always my favorite continent. It is
wild
, of incomparable beauty and above all it was the only destination that made me
disconnect
from everything. In 2007, when the crisis was approaching, it was clear to me. Traditional travel reservations were plummeting and what was coming was not very promising. I left the agency that I had founded in 1996 in the hands of my trusted team and I went with a
backpack to travel to Africa
in the trucks for Englishmen that took you to travel one African country after another, sleeping in tents and doing thousands of kilometers full of adventure. During that trip I met
Ricardo Gramona,
my current partner, who was a safari guide at the time.
When I returned to Spain and he to Portugal, we began to give shape to the idea of turning those backpacking trucks into a new safari concept for the Spanish market. "
THE INVENTION OF THE 'CHILL-OUT' TRUCK
Indeed, those backpacking trucks inspired Ortego and Gramona to create their first
chill-out truck,
with an innovative design and much more comfortable, with a crew that would be an added value for the traveler, a
360-degree panoramic
view
and a height greater than
four meters
to observe the fauna in a unique way, in addition to complementing it with exclusive activities such as the
balloon flight
in the Masai Mara Reserve.
"The idea of adapting those trips to the Spanish market worked, because we offered a unique circuit with a
value for money
without competition in the market. This premise has always led us on the right track: in Ratpanat the
engine of a truck
than the tablecloth on a table, "says Estrella.
Ratpanat exclusive 'chill-out' truck, four meters high.
So much so, that Ratpanat prides itself on the fact that all the infrastructure in Africa is its own, from
tented camps
(camps in nature) to
lodges
, 4x4 vehicles, local guides (who speak
perfect Spanish
) and even an island private, the Lukuba Island Lodge, in Tanzania.
SAFARIS FOR BEGINNERS
Its catalog includes safaris in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, of different duration and prices ranging from
1,330 euros
for a combined safari in Kenya and Tanzania to 2,150 euros for a trip to Botswana following The footprint of the elephants.
What if Ortego had to stay with only one destination?
"It is difficult to choose because the countries of Africa are
continents within their own continent,
great and with an incredible variety of ecosystems: savanna, volcanoes, high mountains, deserts, water ... Each destination brings together great wonders of nature."
Of course, when we insist, it gives us some clue.
"For those who are new to the world of safaris, I would recommend a trip to
Kenya and Tanzania.
Both countries embrace the spirit of safaris, have some of the best African national parks and reserves, and to top it off, they offer spectacular destinations with beaches. magnificent like
Lamu, Zanzibar or Pemba
, to rest after the safari ".
AFRICA IN ONE CLICK
Ratpanat's traveler profile is very diverse, "from executives to newlyweds to entire families (grandparents included) who want to make an unforgettable trip. And of course,
children
are more than welcome," he declares.
Ratpanat also organizes trips for families with children.
And the
pandemic
?
Have you approached it as an obstacle or an opportunity?
"The pandemic has given us something that we do not usually have and it is
time to think.
The stop has helped us to reflect. We are digitizing 100%: all our travelers and suppliers will be able to buy our
safaris with a single click,
something unique in the world of safaris, "says Ortego.
"Another novelty is that we are initiating the reform of our
safari camps
and hotels in Kenya and Tanzania. We are going to offer
renewed accommodation and experiences while
being faithful to our sustainability policy, which has been one of the pillars of our success", apostille.
Also, something to keep in mind is the
safety
offered by safaris.
As Ortego indicates, "social distance is guaranteed, they are non-crowded destinations and take place in the middle of nature. On safari you can be exclusively with your group and not meet anyone else, except the staff. You have
your car, your guide, your tent.
-which is more than 20 meters from another store- and you can even enjoy lunch and dinner on the terrace of your room. On our trips, privacy and exclusivity, which have always been characteristics of our experiences, are translated into safety".
SAMANA, A FASHION DESTINATION
As a born entrepreneur, Ortego does not stop setting challenges.
It has expanded its catalog to
four continents
, notably
trekking
routes
through Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, in Asia.
Although the latest project she is most proud of is the construction and opening of the Samán Boutique Hotel in the
Dominican Republic
in the midst of a pandemic
.
Facade of the Samana Boutique Hotel, in the Dominican Republic.
In his words, it is "an authentic
natural paradise
to explore with high ecological value with the
spawning of the green turtle
and with the observation of the
humpback whale,
which every month between January and April returns to the waters of Samaná to reproduce. or give birth to their young. The Samaná Peninsula will soon be the
new fashionable destination
for those looking for an experience of sustainable tourism, virgin beaches and low hotel density in charming accommodations. I would say that the disconnection that the destination also produces is incredible ", says Ortego before adding:" We are lucky to have arrived first, the opportunity to create new experiences for our travelers and the responsibility to take care of Samaná and develop
sustainable tourism
" .
Because if Ortego and his team are clear about something, it is that "
mass tourism
has to be reduced if we want our planet to survive. I don't know if the post-covid era will bring a new reality, but I do hope that governments take measures to
protect destinations
and this adds to the fact that the traveler is increasingly
selective
when making a trip ".
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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Africa
Kenya
Asia
Nepal
tourism
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