UBUNTUTRAILS • Leadership Trails • Walking Safaris • Expeditions
Leadership by Nature
Our interpretation of Ubuntu is that as human beings we are not just human through our connection with each other, but also through our connection with the greater concept of nature itself. We believe in a world-concept of interconnection and balance and therefore we want to contribute to a circular and sustainable world. It is often just our comprehension of time and space that limits us to see the direct causalities.
We believe that people – leaders and their team members – are at their best when they are truly connected with their team and facilitate the team to reach their shared goals while having an understanding of the circumstances in which this needs to be done. Ubuntu is the foundation of our leadership training and guiding principles.
This has made us decide that our and your presence in Africa must also balance out. Through our Leadership Trails, Walking Safaris and Expeditions and your membership of our Tribe we contribute directly to the development of local entrepreneurship and quality of life of local communities.
As a professional, senior executive, entrepreneur or a leader of your own kind, you have gained a vast amount of experience over the years. You master your profession and you’re literally on top of your business. But in turbulent times like these, there is something nibbling at you. You feel it’s crucial to learn some new skills, to re-evaluate yourself, to challenge yourself or to put a new dot on the horizon.
Our Trails offer you an unrivalled opportunity to be out of your comfort zone and make space to learn new skills. It is an intensive leadership training in a walking safari setting. In pristine nature, far away from any human influence, you will be confronted with yourself and supported by your fellow participants – your tribe. Our training is based on professional safari trails guide training and modern leadership principles honing your soft skills. All Trails are guided by professional and highly experienced safari guides.
After settling in you quickly start participating in or leading activities, including individual assignments, team assignments, tests and competitions. Each activity will be evaluated by you, the group and the trainers directly after the activity and thus be transformed into a learning moment for all.
When you book your Trails with us you become part of our Tribe. Our Tribe is an online community of kindred spirits who have been on leadership walking trails with us before. The members of the Tribe are actively involved in sharing knowledge and information if they so desire. The Tribe will keep you updated about topics such as leadership, nature, conservation, endangered species, anti poaching, protecting natural habitat, sustainable tourism and human development through the projects in our Trust.
We help to make Ubuntu happen by investing part of the money of your bookings into the local communities via our Trust. The focus of our Trust is on the main areas for improving living standards and future potential of the population: (female) entrepreneurship, health (reduction of child mortality) and education. Employment automatically benefits from our presence in the area.
The allocation of funds is done in close cooperation with local community leaders in the areas of our operation. This pays respect to the tribal way of organizing life and it ensures all the money goes into the right pockets. If you wish, you can be actively involved in managing the funds and the allocation to our communal projects. For some projects it is also possible to give hands-on support through boots on the ground.
Peter has had a corporate career and is a serial entrepreneur. Besides that he is a fully qualified field and trails guide and has been taking people to the bush since 2010. He is the founder of Ubuntutrails and is currently the head facilitator.
Julien grew up in Kenya and started guiding at a young age. He is well known for his passion for all the small creatures in the bush, but also stands his ground as a trails guide facing off elephants and lions. His greatest quality besides teaching and guiding is his wicked sense of humor.
It is hard to find people that have had more close animal encounters in the African bush than Christo. His ability to create a guided experience and approach potentially dangerous animals on foot are second to none. Besides that he has a great sense of humor and is an excellent guide trainer.
Without a doubt, Rico is one the most experienced guides all over Angola. Steering a boat at sea, driving through the majestic sand dunes in the desert or being in the bush, Rico always makes you feel at ease. His favorite moments are the ones filled with adrenaline when exploring new territories and the ones sitting by the fire at night looking at the stars and sharing your life’s stories. In between these he is knowledgable, skillful and witty to the bone.
Before I joined this two week walking safari in Botswana I had already been to Africa quite a few times. And I thought I knew the bush and was at ease with it. But only after swimming in the river after the hippo’s had just left and having learned how to approach elephant on foot and spend some time with them in perfect harmony I realized Africa now is the natural place for me to be. Thanks UbuntuTrails for connecting me!
Being ‘of the grid’ surrounded by wildlife, making long bush walks including running into elephants, crossing rivers and steering your mokoro through the Okavango Delta is a lifetime experience by itself. However, this trip was more. It is also about leading your ‘team’ through the bush and providing hospitality to your ‘customers’. Just give me 24-hour notice, and I will join you again on the plane to Africa!
It is so beautiful to experience the rules of nature and to learn that these are also present deep inside yourself. You just have to wake them up. Trust yourself, your fellow travelers and the environment without losing sight of them.
As a general manager people expect you to always be in control. But when you’re in control you’re not going fast enough. The leadership course has learned me to trust my instincts and improvise when your plans don’t work.
I’ve been on trail with UbuntuTrails many times. I quickly realized that being in the bush requires one to be extremely knowledgable and very versatile. Every day you start with a plan. Executing this plan in such unpredictable conditions requires you to improvise almost immediately after you have left camp. On top of that you need to have courage and trust your team members when facing challenging situations such as encountering a herd of elephants or buffalo. When you are committed to each other and work together, you will always get the maximum out of each situation.
A leadership trail is a great way to challenge your personal leadership. I have always been an ambitious person but out on the trail I again realized that everything in life and in business is teamwork. Winning together is more fun!