Opening a lodge in South Africa has been the best decision of my life, but it hasn’t been without its challenges. It all started with my love for the African continent, which I developed while growing up in Morocco. I have always been drawn to the incredible landscapes and the magnificent wildlife that surrounds me. As a child, I spent most of my time in the Atlas mountains, living extraordinary adventures filled with animals, picnic lunches, and reading books in my hammock surrounded by my closest friends. To me, there was no better place on Earth.
When I was ten years old, my parents took my brother and me on our first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa, and that was it for me. I fell in love with the land, the endless deserts, and the incredible animals that roamed freely in their natural habitat. For the first time, I was invited into their home, and I felt like a guest, not a visitor. That feeling stayed with me, and I knew that I wanted to live outdoors with animals all around me.
After completing my bachelor’s degree, I decided to come and volunteer at DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage. I signed up for a nine-month volunteer job as the Outreach Manager, where my job was to go out to the surrounding schools that the NGO works with and follow up on the students for six weeks. It was a truly amazing experience, and I learned so much about myself and the nonprofit world.
Seven months into my volunteer job, Covid-19 struck, and I decided to stay and help. All the other volunteers left, and there were very few people still there to help take care of the animals and the camp. Instead of leaving, I managed to help so many people in safe conditions. I delivered more than thousands of food parcels to the most disadvantaged people. During this time, I realized that I did not want to be anywhere else in the world but here.
In my twenties, I consider myself lucky and privileged to have found a place where I feel most at home. The feeling is indescribable when you find something that ignites a passion within you, and that is precisely what I found in DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage. The signs were there, and I couldn’t ignore what my heart was telling me. As someone who has always been drawn to helping and making an impact, I knew I wanted to stay close to DAKTARI.
With the launch of Kamoka Camp, I am thrilled to be able to share this experience with as many people as possible. Our close partnership with DAKTARI ensures that we safeguard the local communities and the guests. I believe that the best way to discover a more intimate South Africa is through responsible and ethical tourism, and Kamoka Camp offers just that.
I invite you to join me on this journey, and I hope you’ll fall in love with it as much as I have. Together, let’s make a positive impact on the environment and the local communities, one responsible trip at a time.
