The history of RPS
Our founder, Robin Pope began work in 1975 with Zambia Safaris, and set to developing his bush knowledge and guiding skills. Keen to create his own company, his dream came true in 1985 with the creation of Robin Pope Safaris alongside his wife Jo. They opened Tena Tena Camp a year later.
The next five years saw a huge growth for Robin’s safari operation; creating the renowned Mobile Walking Safaris and opening of Nkwali Camp. The next decade built on that early success with a new camp at Nsefu, conversion of Robin’s House to a private safari house (was originally their home), then Luangwa Bush Camping (combining comfort with camping out in the heart of the bush) and finally the Luangwa Safari House.
A new partnership was created in 2006, when Robin and Jo joined forces with Molecaten, a Dutch family run company. Ton and Margaux de Rooy expanded the company into Malawi and built Pumulani on the shores of Lake Malawi in 2008, Mkulumadzi in Majete Wildlife Reserve in 2011 and Kuthengo Camp in Liwonde National Park in 2018.
2011 also saw the addition of Luangwa River Camp in Zambia’s South Luangwa. Crossing yet another border a few years later, John’s Camp in the raw wilderness of Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, joined the fold.