The team has grown from seven members with zero operating properties to a 45+ person organisation running two successful safari camps. When I look back at where we started and where we stand now, the distance is almost hard to believe.
What We Built in 2025
We launched properties in the Serengeti and Tarangire national parks. We established an internship programme. We were recognised as "Best Luxury Tented Camp of 2025." We received numerous five-star reviews. And we secured bookings from approximately 200 tour operators — a network that barely existed two years ago.
What We Faced
Alongside the successes came real operational difficulties. Wildlife incidents — elephants have a particular fondness for our infrastructure. Supplier delays. Vehicle breakdowns. Infrastructure failures. And people who tried to game the system and take advantage. None of that is in the glossy brochure, but all of it is real.
Five Lessons That Stayed With Us
1. Communication is everything. African communication styles differ from Northern European directness. Calm tone and patience prove more effective than precision alone.
2. Done beats perfect. Momentum matters more than elegance when building. Improvements follow completion — not the other way around.
3. Nature doesn't negotiate. Wildlife and weather demand design buffers and infrastructure resilience. The bush will test whatever you build.
4. Systems protect relationships. Clear expectations reduce conflict and misunderstandings across teams. The more explicit the process, the less room for friction.
5. The right people matter most. Success depends on team members who show initiative without waiting for instructions and demonstrate ownership during difficulties — not just during the easy moments.
Genuine construction — of camps, companies, or anything worth having — involves messy realities. We are grateful for the co-founders and team members who showed up for those realities, and looking forward to what comes next.