Meet Vincent Kokomane. Determined to be successful from a young age, Vincent has worked his way up the tourism ladder from the very beginning. 

Part two of our journey following the lives of this amazing pair of local heroes in tourism in Africa.

Towards the end of John’s proud career working at Camp Okavango, he mentored his nephew as he began his career in tourism.
We hear more from his nephew, Mc Odumetse, about his early days coming into tourism as a barman to becoming Operations Director of one of the most successful safari groups in Botswana.

We chat more with Mc and his amazing uncle John about the early days of life in the Okavango Delta and their stories and love for the place.

Two great people showing the story of low-impact responsible tourism on the precious ecosystems but importantly the lives of the citizens of Africa.

Thank you John and Mc!

For our next interview we are trying something slightly different. We’re taking you on a journey with two remarkable individuals who have made their mark on the travel industry.

John Kata was born into a nomadic community living off the land in the Okavango Delta. When his family moved down to a town a few hundred kilometres away to start a new life, John remained behind to help build one of the country’s most established luxury safari properties – Camp Okavango. This was 1980. In 2019 after nearly 40-years of guiding international visitors through this remarkable wilderness, John retired from that very same camp.

Possibly the Botswana’s longest serving member of staff in the safari sector. We’re also joined by his nephew Mc Odumetse who after losing his father at a young age has always looked up to John as his father figure. Mc started in tourism as a waiter and went on to guiding. Today Mc is the director of operations for Chobe Holdings which owns and operates 13 top end safari camps and lodges in the region.

In order to take you on this journey to really uncover the story we asked Mc to translate for his uncle John as we explore his history and the early days to where we are today. Two wonderful people – absolute local heroes in tourism that really epitomise what this series is all about. We hope you enjoy!

If you haven’t caught our first series – Women in Travel – please do have a listen. In this first episode of Local Heroes in tourism in Africa we wanted to bring you another amazing woman. Barbara spent her childhood helping her single mother tend the fields and walk hours and hours to school every day. Her mother sacrificed everything to help Barbara take an opportunity to get a sponsorship and higher education. After that there was no stopping her and she pledged the rest of her career ensuring she helps others get the same opportunity.

Through her company Wild Horizons in Zimbabwe who run an incredible tourism operation, she works extremely close with the directors managing all aspects of the business including the charitable work. Along with the hundreds of children that Wild Horizons support, Barbara along supports 17 children. She is a true icon when it comes to understanding how tourism benefits the local community. Well done Barbara for all your commitment and enjoy this powerful chat with this remarkable lady!

Our interviews meeting inspiring people in the African travel industry is back with series 2 – Local Heroes in tourism in Africa.

We have spent a lot of time getting hold of some lovely people with inspiring stories about their journey in African tourism. We bring you the people who do not normally have the platform to share their story. The next series will not only take you on journeys through the lives of people wonderful people from Africa, but they will also inspire you about the beautiful destination and the good that tourism can do for the communities and protected areas.

We interview a man who was born within a nomadic community living in a remote part of the Okavango Delta. A man who went from a community of hunter gatherers living off the land to becoming a professional guide and ultimately mentoring his beloved nephew to become an industry leader in the safari business in the country.

A wonderful woman speaks to us about her tough upbringing in the highlands of Zimbabwe helping her mother tend the fields while walking everyday, sometimes two hours each way just to get to school.

We meet a man who is helping create a brand new game-reserve and conservation area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He was born on the very same land that is now becoming a community involved project in re-wilding this stunning area.

Just a few of the Local Heroes that will be sharing their inspiring stories with us as we bring you closer to the beauty of our continent and the people involved in tourism here.