Brave Africa Launch: A Behind the Scenes Look
We’re so excited to announce the launch of Brave Africa! It’s been more than ten years in the making, but we’re finally LIVE and ready to start taking bookings in August 2019!
The Journey to Launch
We’d love to tell you that it’s been a smooth road to get to this point, but that would be a lie. What we can say is that it’s been a thrilling journey every step of the way, and we’re so proud of Brave Africa.
Brave Africa began ten years ago in the heart and mind of Tabona Wina—our President and expert Guide. It was little more than a dream back then with no name and no real plan, just a lot of hope. It would take nine years for Brave Africa to start to take shape and the help of a Colorado couple: Patrick and Kelly Vo.
In August of 2018, Patrick and Kelly visited Botswana for an African safari adventure, and it was while they were in Linyanti at African Bush Camps that they met Wina. They knew immediately that he was someone special and had a wealth of experience about operating a safari, guiding guests, and exploring the Botswanan bush.
One thing led to another—as they always do—and the three of them started talking about launching their own safari company.
- Wina would lead the team in Botswana as the expert on all things safari.
- Patrick would bring his knowledge of running a successful company as the current CEO of BioTrack.
- And Kelly would bring her knowledge of content and digital marketing as the owner of Kevo Writing.
The rest, as they say, is history. For the last twelve months, we’ve worked night and day in both Denver, Colorado and Maun, Botswana to bring everything together. And it’s going incredibly well so far.
Where is Brave Africa Now?
Brave Africa is just a few short weeks away from launch. We’re currently working hard to get everything up and going.
Social Media
Our Brave Africa social media pages are all live, and we’re regularly sharing content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Each week, you’ll find new videos telling stories about what it’s like to go on a safari in Botswana. You’ll also get behind the scenes sneak peeks of what’s happening as we get our safari off the ground along with incredible pictures of the wildlife and more.
Running a safari is busy work, so follow us on social media to keep up to date with all that’s going on.
Safari Vehicles
The biggest thing happening right now is that all of our camp vehicles are coming together. We recently purchased two Toyota Landcruisers. They came to us as simple trucks and then immediately headed off to a shop to undergo an incredible transformation.
The cab is being cut off, and the truck bed is being transformed into three rows of seats, but that’s just the surface level work. The vehicles also get an updated suspension, enhanced engine/transmission, off-road tires, storage, and so much more. The difference is incredible.
Here’s Wina signing the papers to purchase our Toyota Landcruiser.
At first, it’s just a simple truck—nothing special about it.
After a few weeks in the shop, it’s already starting to take shape.
We’ll share updated photos of our Brave Africa safari game drive vehicles as we get them. We can’t believe how fast they’re already coming together and can’t wait for the finished product.
Supplies Truck
This week, we also purchased our supplies truck! This is a big deal. While, as our guest, you’ll never see this vehicle, it will always be working behind the scenes to move all of our camp supplies from Point A to Point B. It will be a powerful workhorse for us.
This sturdy truck will help move our supplies to and from camp.
When you’re on an all-day game drive, and we change locations (from Khwai to Savuti to Xakanaxa), this truck will be back at camp getting filled to the brim with all of our tents and other supplies. Our staff will then make the drive to the next camp, unload, and get everything set up before you arrive. You won’t even realize camp moved, expect that your tent will be in a brand new location.
Camp Supplies
A sneak peek at our plates.
Speaking of supplies, we’re working on that too. No safari in Botswana is complete without tents, plates, pillows, towels, rugs, chairs, food, lights, technology, and more. There are a thousand-and-one items needed to create a comfortable and luxurious camp experience, and we’re getting all that together right now.
Wina headed out to Gaborone and Johannesburg, South Africa to go shopping, and shop he did. We have an epic list of supplies that are being gathered together right now, ready to deliver to our office in Maun.
In a few weeks, all these little pieces will eventually come together to create the final Brave Africa product. We can’t wait to share it all with you when you come out for a visit.
Brave Africa Staff
We love Wina & know you will too.
Last, but certainly not least, we’re hiring all of our Brave Africa staff. We know that a safari in Botswana is only as good as its staff, and we’re hiring some incredible individuals. We’re bringing on a chef, mechanic, housekeeper, and more. We’ll introduce everyone as they come on board, so stay tuned.
Then, there’s Wina. He’ll be your main point of contact whenever you’re on safari with us. As your expert guide all day long, he’ll show you the haunting beauty of Botswana’s wilderness, the incredible wildlife, and the adventure you can find in every day.
Wina is the heart and soul of Brave Africa, and he’s so excited to share his expertise and passion for Botswana with you. If he can’t make you fall in love with a safari in Botswana, no one can. We can’t wait to introduce you in person.
What’s Next for Brave Africa?
So, what’s happening next for Brave Africa? We’ve got a lot going on.
Patrick and Kelly will be heading out to Botswana the first week in July to meet up with Wina and get work done. We’ll be completing test runs, getting all the supplies together, and working out a lot of kinks. It will be an intense week of work, but a valuable one.
From there, it will be a lot of last minute work and preparation for our first safari. Our first guests will be on safari in Botswana with Brave Africa on August 6, 2019! We’re just two months away.
Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you updated right here on our blog as things continue to happen.
