Africa Born turns 15: the moments that made us

Africa Born celebrates its 15th birthday this year! 

A lot has changed since 2011. Paolo and I have a little less hair, a lot less sleep and four formidable little explorers of our own, already presiding over the Africa Born boardroom. 

But looking back, there’s much that hasn’t changed: our habit of chasing the next big epic adventure, our passion for Africa’s extraordinary wilderness, our commitment to purposeful safaris that give back, and our irrepressible enthusiasm for creating expertly-tailored and unashamedly-fun bucket-list trips across the length and breadth of Africa.

To tell the full Africa Born story is to throw it right back to the late 1980’s. Yes, Paolo and I have known each other for almost 40 years, back when we were in nappies and negotiations primarily revolved around biscuits, not business plans.

We remained pals through our teens and early 20s, when we were unsure whether to form a boy band or build a safari company. Either way, the matching shark tooth necklaces were central to the brand.

Thankfully we stuck to the plan, retired the idea of matching outfits (unless it’s khaki) and opted for safari, launching Africa Born. It’s been an incredible journey…

2011 - Paolo and I launched Africa Born at the sprightly age of 24 and 25 years old: young enough to dream big, old enough to sign the paperwork… and for parents to trust us with a loan to get us off the ground! Initially just focussing on Indian Ocean adventures, we hosted our first luxury guided adventures on the Kenyan Coast. 

2012 - We join our first James Robertson safari. James - one of the modern pioneers of the global safari industry, a leading light in community-led conservation and one of the founders of The Mara Conservancy - introduced us to renowned luxury safari outfitter Ker & Downey. James was instrumental in helping us carve out our path and hone our unique approach to safaris. We knew back in 2012 that we wanted to offer bespoke-made, unforgettable off-the-beaten experiences in the wild heart of Africa: on land, in the air and on water. Nothing was off the table: if it made the safari extraordinary, we were in.

2013 - Paolo and I officially joined Ker & Downey as guides and shareholders. This was a real milestone for us - Ker & Downey is an institution; the world’s oldest mobile camp safari outfitter, which today still sets the standard for authentic tented safari experiences that offer private guiding in camps of exceptional character, comfort and exclusivity. This was also the year we led our first guided trips - with James Robertson - to Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

‍2014 - A year of firsts: our very first employee Edna - who is still with us today as Head of Operations - and our first ever sales trip to the US to meet new clients and generate a bit of safari buzz.

My wife, Tones also officially joined the Africa Born team in 2014 as our Culinary Consultant - the powerhouse behind the extraordinary bush kitchen that feeds our Africa Born mobile camps. It’s no mean feat cooking out in the wilderness, and we absolutely owe it to Tones and her superb kitchen team that our amazing food is so often praised as the highlight of camp life.

2015 - Tones and I tied the knot! The very best of days celebrating with friends and family at Tones’ family home in the UK’s Gloucestershire countryside.

Meanwhile, our Africa Born repertoire grew beyond Africa, with Paolo guiding an incredible trip through Indonesia's stunning archipelago onboard the beautiful handcrafted Phinisi sailing yacht Silolona.

2016 - Great Plains approached us to be part of their brilliant Ride for Lions initiative: a four-day cross country cycle expedition to raise awareness - and much-needed funds - for lions in the Chyulu and Amboseli ecosystem. We were the chosen accommodation partners, simultaneously running three separate bush camps along the route: our very first multi mobile safari.

2016 saw us branch out into a new market, as we headed east on a sales trip to Hong Kong. Paolo, Tones and I had a brilliant time and met some great new clients.

2017 - Africa Born takes to the skies! Paolo and I both clinched our Private Pilot License and so we bought our first plane, a Cessna 172 called VOH. Flying had long been a passion of ours and buying our own Africa Born wings was of course the very best best toy ever purchased, but also allowed us to head off on adventures to check out new properties and destinations around Kenya. VOH spends her time between Paolo on the coast and me in Nanyuki, and she’s still going strong today.

2018 - The first of the Africa Born totos arrived - Tones and I welcomed baby Aliya in April 2018. Meanwhile Paolo trained and then completed in the epic 230km For Rangers Ultra, a five-day ultra-marathon through multiple conservancies across highly challenging terrain: baking grasslands, rocky hills, riverbeds and montane forest.

Our first Loan Shark safari to with Aliya to Kenya’s Shaba National Reserve. What began as a Stogdale and Parazzi family safari to say thank you for believing - and investing(!) - in Africa Born, soon grew to become a much-loved annual family adventure. Our Loan Shark safaris are a special time to reconnect, reflect on where it all began, and remind us why family fun remains at the heart of what we do.

2019 - After toying with the idea of our own dhow for a few years, we finally buy the beautiful Monangu Dhow: a traditional Mozambican sailing dhow upon which we now offer to our guests that are staying in Watamu. 2019 also marked the launch of our South African office with Andrew taking the lead on Africa Born’s Southern Africa adventures. 

We also took on the most challenging mobile safari yet - We were selected by EO (Entropreneur Organisation) to help plan and deliver a safari for their members. We set up a mobile Camp on Borana Conservancy for a total of 96 guests, with 20 guides and 120 crew members!

‍2020 - Hen and Paolo got married…in lockdown. Despite their wedding being cancelled two weeks out, they tied the knot on Zoom - with all of Hen’s family beaming in from Wales - and took a Parazzi family trip up Watamu’s Mida Creek to mark the big moment.

Aside from the Parazzi nuptials, 2020 was not a vintage year for Africa Born. Adventures were somewhat curtailed by the global pandemic. On the flipside - and with the benefit of hindsight, knowing that all would be well - it did offer a unique opportunity to be with our families. As two guides that spend almost half our year out on safari, Paolo and I really cherished the time with our family and close friends. Luckily restrictions weren’t too tight where we both lived, so we could soon enjoy a few local safaris and trips with loved ones.

One of our most treasured moments of 2020 was our Loan Shark safari to our Masai Mara Mobile Camp. It would be the last time we would all be together with our parents, a bitter sweet memory for us all.

2021 - The year of the Africa Born baby boom! Tones and I welcomed Xanna in June, while Hen and Paolo welcomed their twin daughters, Juno and Cora, in August. Turns out our growth strategy was a little more hands-on than expected!

2022 - A bumper year of safaris as we made up for lost time after Covid. Being back in the wild with clients, sharing Africa’s remarkable wildlife and supporting our conservation partners and favourite camps and lodges was deeply rewarding.

Hen, Juno and Cora moved back to Kenya after a year in the UK. Born nine weeks early, these two little firecrackers defied the odds at every turn and are nothing short of a miracle. We were all so thrilled to welcome them back home to Kenya and to the beach. 

Paolo and I joined James Robertson on a trip to the USA to meet his wonderful clients, put faces to names and give them an insight into Africa Born and our future plans, as James started to step out for a well-earned retirement.

2022 was also the year we welcomed Tamara to the team - bringing stacks of experience and a deep passion for wildlife, indigenous cultures and traditions. Hen also officially joined the Africa Born team, leading the charge on the stories that bring the Africa Born brand to life.

2023 - Later that year, Cara joined the Africa Born team - her infectious enthusiasm for adventure was a perfect fit - and the full team got together for the first time at our inaugural Africa Born AGM.

Hen and Paolo’s long-awaited wedding in Lamu: a beautiful ceremony in which even the Africa Born offspring played a role - as flower girls - and a mega afterparty to match.

2024 - Paolo, Hen and I swapped lions for tigers and visited Pench National Park, India for a friend’s wedding. We were blown away by the culture, wildlife, incredible history and architecture of the region. Back on Kenyan soil, Tamara married talented photographic artist - and great friend of Africa Born - James Lewin: a magical day in Watamu.

2025 - The year we really spread our wings, literally. Paolo led an epic heli trip to Ethiopia: a true off-grid adventure that went way beyond ‘the usual’ safari. Action-packed days exploring cultures that very few encounter, flying into vast wildernesses only accessible by helicopter and seeking out rare wildlife endemic to Ethiopia. Bucket-list experiences at every turn.

2025 was a record year for Africa Born - we hosted 539 intrepid guests on 113 safaris across 12 countries including Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. 

We also welcomed two new members to the team: Violet in Operations and Kate, who joined our South African office. 

2026 - The year is already in full swing, with trips already taking place across the continent. The Africa Born wish list is long and the four little ones are growing up fast and keen to sharpen their bush skills, so we’re gearing up for another year of epic safaris.

15 years. One big adventure. Thanks for being part of it.