A&K Sanctuary and Globe-Trotter Create the Sundowner Trunk for Kitirua Plains Lodge

To celebrate the opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge in Kenya’s Amboseli region, A&K Sanctuary has partnered with Globe-Trotter to create the Sundowner Trunk, an entirely bespoke portable safari bar. Handcrafted in England at Globe-Trotter’s Hertfordshire workshop, the trunk unites two leaders in their fields: Globe-Trotter, whose luggage has been handcrafted in England since 1897, and Abercrombie & Kent, who brought luxury to the Kenyan bush over six decades ago. What they share is an obsession with craftsmanship and the details others miss. Kitirua Plains Lodge is the third Kenyan property from A&K Sanctuary, the safari camps, lodges and riverboat collection from Abercrombie & Kent, and the new flagship of the portfolio.

The Sundowner Tradition
When Geoffrey Kent first brought guests into the Kenyan bush in the 1960s, his mobile tented camps carried something unheard of in the wilderness: refrigeration, which meant the champagne stayed properly cold. At the end of each day, as the light fell and the animals settled, guests would gather over a drink to reflect on what they’d seen. That ritual became known as the sundowner, and it has been at the heart of the A&K safari experience ever since.

“Since 1962 the day’s last light has meant the same thing on an A&K safari: the vehicles stop, the glasses come out, and the bush goes quiet around you. We’ve always believed the world’s greatest safari deserves the world’s greatest bar, and in Globe-Trotter we found the people to build it,” says Peter Chipchase, Chief Brand Officer at AKTG.

The Trunk
Handcrafted in England, each trunk is finished with an oak-inspired exterior and Globe-Trotter’s signature Vulcanised Fibreboard. Leather straps, guides and corner detailing draw inspiration from the House’s iconic Centenary Collection, while polished brass hardware and a considered palette reflect the timeless character of the safari landscape. Inside, twenty-two leather-lined compartments and a full-width drawer hold cocktail glasses, tumblers, wine and spirit bottles, tiffin trays and bar accessories. The interior lid, finished in ivory Vulcanised Fibreboard, carries a screen-printed Globe-Trotter and Kitirua Plains Lodge insignia.

Guests at Kitirua Plains Lodge will experience the Sundowner Trunk during their stay, set up in locations chosen for their extraordinary views of Amboseli and Mount Kilimanjaro. As the light softens over the plains, cocktails are mixed from the trunk while guests share stories from the day’s game drives. The trunk is also available as a bespoke commission for guests.

A Signature Cocktail
To celebrate the launch, A&K Sanctuary worked with Kenyan mixologist Annette Mulama, winner of the 2024 World Class Kenya bartender competition, to create a signature drink. Kito La Kitirua (Swahili for “Jewel of Kitirua”) is Annette’s take on a classic gin and tonic. She weaves in sage and cardamom syrup, jalapeño brine, and a spice mix inspired by the dust plains of the savannah and the local tree tomato. Made with Procera gin, the cocktail’s soft pink hue echoes the colours of the Kilimanjaro sunset that guests will watch as they savour each sip.