Some safari guides do extremely well every year out of commissions from us, earning many thousands of dollars. The secret to their success is:

• 1. The most successful guides tell us that the ultimate way to increase sales and commissions is actually is to integrate the gem and jewelry buying experience into your itinerary from the outset. Make it part of the Nairobi day and talk it up, even in advance of the safari if possible.
• 2. “Camp Fire” talks – bring up the option a day or so before the end of the safari around the campfire or at dinner in a lodge. If you are in Tsavo, use the opportunity to bring up Tsavorite. Otherwise try to work into the conversation that East Africa sits on a pre-Cambrian gem rich belt called the Mozambique Belt and is one of the gem richest areas in the world. Then you can offer them an opportunity to see gems being cut and buy gems when they are in Nairobi.
• 3. Watch the videos at the bottom of this page and learn a little about the gems so you can talk them up.

Mainly, it is about being clever, introducing the subject in an innocuous way and then highlighting that they are at the world’s only source of gems like Tanzanite and Tsavorite and that they are running out so whilst in Nairobi it may be a great souvenir of their safari.