Part Two: Still Guided by the Same Spirit
More memories, familiar faces and a look ahead as we celebrate 40 years of Robin Pope Safaris.
Well, hello there. I hope that you are fabulously well and have had a wonderful weekend.
Last week, we handed over to those who started it all, as Robin and Jo took us back to the early days of Robin Pope Safaris. And what a journey it has been! If you missed their wonderful recollections, you can catch up here.
This week, our 40th anniversary celebrations continue with the Slager and De Rooij families, whose own African adventure became part of the RPS story in 2006. There have been new camps, plenty of lessons learnt and, as you might imagine, a few unexpected moments along the way.
But enough from us for now. We will let them tell you…
Looking Ahead: Ton & Margaux
“Our journey with Robin Pope Safaris began in 2006. Fresh from the Netherlands, young, ambitious and ready for an adventure, we had moved to Malawi with a plan: to build a lodge and establish a safari company.
In Zambia, we came to know Robin and Jo and became involved with RPS in South Luangwa. It was a real privilege to work alongside them during those first few years, learning from their experience before eventually taking over from them.
What they had created was something truly genuine – not simply a safari company, but a wonderful collection of people, friendships and returning guests, all bound together by a special atmosphere and a deep connection to place.
That was exactly what we wanted to carry forward.
With backgrounds in law and economics, and no experience of working in Africa, we were probably a little naïve. We thought, “How hard can it be to build a business?” Quite hard, as it turned out!
Contracts and promises did not always mean quite what we expected, skilled people and materials could be difficult to find, and even the most basic communication could be a challenge.
Building our first lodge, Pumulani, took around a year and a half, and we learnt a great deal—often the hard way. There were plenty of funny moments too. One day, our contractor told Ton that the French chef who was helping to train the kitchen team wanted to “hang the chefs”. After a moment of alarm, we realised he simply wanted to hang some shelves!
A few years later came Mkulumadzi Lodge, tucked away in a remote corner of Majete Wildlife Reserve. Reaching the site initially meant crossing the river on foot, and we eventually built a swing bridge to provide access. We researched historic water levels and carefully calculated the best place to position it; yet, over the years, the bridge was still washed away several times.
But, as the saying goes, TIA: This Is Africa. You make a plan… and then, sometimes, you make another one!
In 2014, we embarked on a new project in Liwonde National Park. We had found an incredible location, but a public road ran past the proposed camp site. We were assured that the road would be relocated, and so construction began. Then, just two months before opening, we learnt that the road would remain.
We had to make the very difficult decision to walk away. Materials and camp equipment were stored wherever we could find space at our other lodges and even at our home in Lilongwe. It was a frustrating and painful chapter, particularly when we were surrounded by daily reminders of what might have been.
Fortunately, that was not the end of the story. After African Parks became involved in Liwonde a few years later, we found another beautiful location and finally opened Kuthengo Camp in 2018.
Along the way, we also welcomed three children. After 13 years in Africa, we decided to return to the Netherlands, giving them the opportunity to experience and get to know our home country too. Responsibilities were carefully handed over to trusted people who had grown alongside us and were ready to lead, with our continued support.
Through every challenge and change, our purpose has remained the same. It has never been only about offering a beautiful place to stay or an exciting safari. It is about helping our guests to experience nature fully; to connect with the landscape, its people and the communities around them, and to return home with memories that feel genuinely meaningful.
We are incredibly proud of our teams for creating that feeling, time and time again.
We care deeply about this part of Africa and about protecting everything that makes it so special. We hope our guests leave feeling connected to these places and their people; and perhaps a little protective of them too. If they return home as ambassadors for the wildlife, communities and future of this region, then we feel we have achieved something very special.
None of these 40 years would have been possible without the extraordinary people who have shared the journey.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Robin Pope Safaris story; and to all those who continue to help us write its next chapter.
As we look to the future, we remain proudly guided by the same spirit.”
40 Years in Numbers
Well, there you have it – from shelves and swing bridges to the determination to keep going when plans changed! Our thanks to Ton and Margaux for sharing their story and reminding us that, while much has grown and changed, the heart of RPS remains wonderfully familiar.
And speaking of how far we have come, here is a little look at then and now:
The stories continue… From the first It’s Monday newsletter to more than 1,256 stories shared.
And the story continues…
From one camp and 19 team members to the RPS we know today, there is certainly plenty to look back on. But behind every number are the people who have helped make it all happen.
Next week, we will round off our anniversary series by celebrating some of those people: our teams, returning guests, suppliers and key partners, whose dedication, friendship and support have helped shape these 40 years.
Until then, have a fantastic week ahead, filled with smiles and laughter, and don’t forget to look after one another.
