Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, continues to diversify his investment portfolio, this time venturing into Kenya’s tourism industry. Through Africa Travel Investments—a tourism-focused firm backed by the Nigerian billionaire—Dangote has acquired Pollman’s Tours and Safaris, Kenya’s oldest tour operator, in a deal worth KSh 4 billion.

The acquisition, approved by Kenya’s Competition Authority (CAK), signals strong private equity confidence in the country’s tourism sector—a key driver of economic growth.

Why This Acquisition Matters

The deal follows a February 2025 investment by Alterra Capital, a private equity fund supported by Dangote and American billionaire Dave Rubenstein, into ARP Africa Travel Group, Pollman’s parent company.

Despite the high-profile acquisition, the CAK confirmed that the merger will not disrupt Kenya’s competitive tour operator market, which includes players like Bonfire Adventures and Bountiful Safaris.

In a statement, the regulator noted:

“The structure and concentration of the markets for tour operators in Kenya will not be impacted by the proposed transaction because the target and the acquirer are not in similar businesses. As a result, the market share of the merged entity will not change after the merger.”

Additionally, the CAK assured that the deal poses no threat to jobs or small business competitiveness, addressing key public interest concerns under Kenyan merger laws.

Kenya’s Booming Tourism Sector

The acquisition comes at a time when Kenya’s tourism industry is experiencing strong growth. According to the 2025 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS):

• International visitor arrivals rose by 14.7% to 2.39 million in 2024.

• National parks and wildlife reserves recorded 3.7 million visits, a 2.8% increase.

• Museums, snake parks, and historical sites saw 1.15 million visits, up 6.9% from the previous year.

The growth was partly driven by an uptick in international conferences (up 2.3% to 999) and local conferences (up 4.7% to 11,225), reinforcing Kenya’s position as a premier business and leisure destination.

Dangote’s Expanding Empire

With a net worth of $23.9 billion (KSh 3.09 trillion) as of March 2025, Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s richest person, according to Forbes. His business empire spans:

• Dangote Cement (Africa’s largest cement producer, operating in 10 countries).

• Fertilizer production in Nigeria.

• The recently operational Dangote Refinery.

This latest move into Kenya’s tourism sector highlights Dangote’s strategy of diversifying investments across high-growth African markets.

What’s Next?

With Dangote’s financial muscle backing Pollman’s Tours and Safaris, the deal could spur further investments in Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sectors. As international travel continues to rebound, the industry is poised for even greater expansion—and Dangote is positioning himself at the forefront.

Will this acquisition pave the way for more big-ticket investments in Africa’s tourism landscape? Only time will tell, but for now, Kenya’s travel industry has gained a powerful new player.

What do you think of Dangote’s latest investment? Share your thoughts in the comments!