Travel journalist and luxury travel advisor Taryn White embarked on an exciting adventure in Tanzania’s famed Serengeti, where she learned there’s no better place to witness the intricate harmony of nature’s ecosystems than on an African safari. And while the Serengeti boasts a stunning array of roughly 150 safari properties, ranging from opulent lodges to rustic camping tents, there’s also a glaring disparity: the lucrative multibillion-dollar safari tourism industry is overwhelmingly controlled by foreign nationals and corporations.
Taryn had the privilege of staying at one of the few Black-owned safari properties in Africa. This opportunity granted her an even more extraordinary perspective on this awe-inspiring wilderness — and it highlighted why tourists should try to find Black-owned businesses.
⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰
When she arrived at Kantabile Afrika‘s Cherero Camp, the staff greeted her family with open arms, embodying the ujamaa spirit. They spent our days exploring the vast plains on game drives, spotting incredible wildlife, and feasting on gourmet meals, including a magical sunrise bush breakfast on the savanna.
The camp’s spacious tents felt like home, featuring beautiful hardwood floors, plush king beds, double vanity sinks, and refreshing rain showers. From the tent’s elevated terrace, Taryn basked in the sweeping views of the Serengeti, dotted with acacia trees, golden grasses, and grazing zebras and wildebeests.
⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰
Kantabile Arika was founded in 2018 by Godwin Temba, a member of the Chagga tribe originating from the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, and his wife Vivian. Temba started in the tourism industry as a porter for mountain climbers. He became a mountain guide and safari guide before taking the leap of faith to establish his own tour company in 2007—a venture that serendipitously that led to his future wife. With no generational wealth, he says, “bootstrapping this business with no foreign investment was no small feat.”
Now, his company operates two exclusive sanctuaries of six luxury tents in the Serengeti: Aurari Camp and Cherero Camp. Temba told Travel + Leisure he infuses his camps with a profound respect for the environment, employing regenerative practices such as using solar-powered energy and forgoing swimming pools or bathtubs since the “search for water is the story of the Serengeti.”
His camps also foster a deep connection to his homeland and reflect the guiding principle ujamaa or familyhood, a communitarian belief he says is “distinct from Western individualism.” Temba prioritizes hiring villagers, recent graduates, and women and allocates a portion of profits to support a local school.
Follow this link to read the full article on Travel + Leisure by Taryn White.
