Sanjeev Kumar serves as the General Manager of Taita Hills Safari Resort and Spa and Salt Lick Wildlife Resort. These resorts are renowned for their distinctive architectural styles, with Salt Lick Resort being one of the most photographed lodges globally, while Taita Hills Safari Lodge is designed to resemble a German fortress, offering stunning views of the Tsavo region.
Salt Lick Wildlife Resort is home to resident wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes, which freely roam between the sanctuary and Tsavo National Park offering guests majestic views of the animals in their natural habitat.
Sanjeev Kumar was named General Manager of the resorts in 2022, where he oversees all operations, manages staff, ensures guest satisfaction, and implements strategies to enhance the resort’s performance and profitability.
Education
Sanjeev Kumar pursued a B.Sc. in Hotel Management and Administration from Punjab Technical University between 2005 and 2007, achieving a Grade A (Best). During his studies, he actively participated in sports as an Under-19 cricket player for the Cricket Club of Chandigarh. His passion for hospitality and creativity earned him recognition as the winner of the Mocktail & Flairing Championship.
Career
Sanjeev Kumar has a background in the hospitality industry with his expertise and business acumen in hotel management transcends borders, working in different countries across the globe.
He began his career at Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris, in Vadodara, Gujarat, India where he served as a Food & Beverage Team Leader from July 2008 to June 2011.
Prior to that, he worked as a Management Trainee from February 2007 to July 2008. During his tenure, he was a key team member in the pre-opening of the specialty restaurant KAI-ASIA, which offered a diverse selection of Japanese, Thai, and Chinese delicacies.
He proceeded to Nigeria in July 2011, where he worked as a Bar Manager for three months. Kumar then continued as a Food and Beverage Manager at the Mediterranean Beach Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, from September 2011 to May 2013.
He then moved to Kenya, where he served as Assistant General Manager at BVK Hotels and Suites from August 2013 to January 2015.
Sanjeer Kumar landed at the Sun Africa Hotels, where he held multiple roles over nearly six years. From February 2015 to November 2020, he served as Hotel Manager in Nairobi, Kenya, overseeing daily hotel operations, financial management, and directing all hotel services, including front-of-house, food and beverage, and housekeeping.
He was later promoted to General Manager in Mombasa from June 2019 to November 2020, where he led the revamp of the Nyali Hotel as part of a phased upgrade to enhance its 200 rooms, contributing to the recovery of the Coast tourism industry.
He then had a brief stint in India, serving as Hotel Manager at juSTa Hotels & Resorts in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, from February 2021 to May 2022, where he managed hotel operations and guest services.
Kumar then returned to the country to take on a General Manager role at Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa in March 2022, where he has been overseeing operations for the past three years.
Controversies
In February 2025, Kumar was engulfed in a racial discrimination scandal at the Salt Lick Wildlife Resort where he was accused of workplace abuse, discrimination, and mistreatment of staff of African descent.
This was after footage was leaked online, which appeared to be CCTV footage showing a man of Indian descent confronting a male African staffer before three other staff in what seems to be a kitchen.
In the clip, the Indian man severally knocks utensils and food off the counter to the floor while at it.
The video sparked a wave of complaints against the manager, claiming that the workplace had become hostile, due to multiple instances of berating of African staff by Kumar, which he did in front of guests. He was also accused of body shaming and replacing front office staff with lighter-skinned individuals.
This has prompted the Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) to embark on a probe on the reported mistreatment of staff demanding a response from the resort within five days.
The authority has threatened suspension of the resort’s tourism license if the allegations are not addressed.
