Sharing our passion for Africa

To the Maasai people who knew him as a boy, Sam Stogdale was always destined for a prominent position in the safari trade. The son of renowned Kenyan hotelier David Stogdale, Sam spent much of his formative years with the young tribesmen who were training to become lodge managers and guides under his father’s tutelage.

It was in the Mara that Sam cut his teeth as a young guide. By the age of 15, he was a certified guide and, at 17, completed the definitive FGASA Professional Safari Guide course. Along the way, he picked up advanced qualifications in trail guiding, birding and game tracking.

Since launching Africa Born in 2011, Sam and his business partner, Paolo Parazzi, have established a reputation as two of the continent’s finest ‘beach and bush’ outfitters. Sam’s specialties are the game-ruled plains of southern Kenya, and particularly the sweeping Mara-Serengeti ecosystem that is considered by many to be the single-most important wildlife sanctuary on Earth.

Born to an Ethiopia-born Italian businessman and a Sri Lanka-born English environmentalist, Paolo grew up in Watamu, a coastal town on Kenya's north coast. He was immersed in a world that celebrated the importance of conservation from an early age: the Parazzi family’s Local Ocean Trust has successfully released over 21,000 sea turtles, many of which were rescued from local fishermen's nets.

At the forefront of a new generation of Kenyan guides, Paolo embraces a holistic approach to guiding that is driven by innovation and creativity. With an unquenchable sense of adventure and a wealth of experience, Paolo’s diverse skill set ranges from being a trained accountant and private pilot to a safari guide, diver and seasoned fisherman.

His adventures across sub-Saharan Africa have allowed him to establish connections with local operators and communities along the way. With an extensive network of relationships throughout the continent, Paolo uniquely curates personalised adventures for his guests that enriches their experiences with depth and meaning.

Antonia creates the incredible meals and menus for all Africa Born’s private mobile safaris. 

Although she was born in and grew up in England, Atonia is of Kenyan ancestry, and family holidays were spent on safari in the country. A competent horsewoman and trained chef, Antonia’s thirst for adventure and hunger for the vast expanses of Africa led to her moving to Kenya in 2007, where she started a community conservation project running her own camp, Tassia Lodge, in partnership with the Maasai community in Northern Kenya.

At Tassia, Antonia put her professional training to good use, teaching the local Maasai how to create a sumptuous colourful fusion of food in the bush. She’s also the founder of Antassia, a grassroots initiative which harnesses the traditional beading and jewellery-making skills of the Maasai women to create a sustainable source of income for them and their families.

In 2018, Antonia started Antonia's Kitchen, her cookery school on the slopes of Mount Kenya that offers a variety of cookery courses catering for safari chefs, home cooks and youngsters on gap years. She’s also the creator of the incredible meals and menu planning for all Africa Born’s private mobile safaris.

Edna was born and brought up in Nakuru Town in the Great Rift Valley region of Kenya, where she developed a love and respect for both nature and animals. From taking part in wildlife club conservation excursions in her formative years, she later dedicated her Master's degree thesis to the Role of Media Diplomacy in Promoting Tourism in Kenya.

She hasn’t always worked in tourism, however. Prior to joining Africa Born, Edna worked in banking and sales and marketing for print media. Her knack for music and theatre has always been present, and it’s a passion that has seen her share a stage with legendary international acts such as Kool and the Gang and UB40.

Edna has been a part of Africa Born Team for six years, where her role now encompasses operations, administration and human resources. She works behind the scenes to help in the smooth running of all the moving parts of a safari that make it a success.

Andrew is a natural at connecting with people and creating memories with guests in nature. 

Having grown up in a small coastal village in South Africa, Andrew’s passions from an early age were birds, all things marine, anything crawling and simply being in nature. After high school, he completed a diploma in game ranging and began his career as a guide in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. He has since managed, trained, mentored and guided at some of the top lodges in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania. 

Andrew and his wife moved back to South Africa when they were expecting their first child, and he now specialises in planning safaris throughout East and Southern Africa. Having guided clients for over 10 years and with his all-round knowledge and experience, Andrew is a natural at connecting with people and creating memories with guests in nature.

Tamara brings a deep passion for wildlife, indigenous cultures and traditions. 

Tamara Moller was born and raised in Kenya, growing up on a Wildlife Conservancy in Laikipia. When she was 13 years old, her family moved to Tsavo National Park, where her father co-founded Tsavo Trust. A highly respected conservationist, her father’s love for the natural world has shaped Tamara’s deep passion for wildlife, indigenous cultures, and traditions.

In 2014, Tamara moved to the UK to study Business Management. After completing her degree, she returned immediately to Kenya. She’s been a Manager at Borana Lodge in Laikipia since 2019 and joined the Africa Born team in 2023. 

Cara brings a passion for wildlife and conservation, along with a deep knowledge of East, Southern and West Africa. 

Cara grew up in a renowned wildlife conservancy in Laikipia, which naturally instilled in her a passion for wildlife and conservation. This, coupled with her enthusiasm for travel, led her to explore Africa on a road trip from Nairobi to Cape Town in an old Land Rover Defender after leaving school, when she spent time working in several high profile Kenyan lodges. 

After graduating from Exeter University in 2013, Cara returned to the safari world, working with Africa specialists in London before managing the sales and marketing for Classic Portfolio in the UK and Europe, a leading collection of privately owned camps and lodges in Africa. In this role, she explored much of East, Southern and West Africa, including the lesser-known destinations CAR and São Tomé & Príncipe.

After the birth of their first child in 2022, Cara and her husband moved back to Kenya, where she now works as a safari specialist for Africa Born.