Be Brave...

In Eastern Tanzania, south of the small village of Mkwaja, directly opposite the infamous island of Zanzibar and nestled in the corner of Saadani National Park, (which is the only Wildlife Sanctuary bordering the sea), you will find a little patch of emerald green paradise that offers a unique combination of ‘beach and bush’ and has this indescribable power to touch your soul. It was known as Tent With a View (now known as Simply Saandani).

Leaving the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, and heading north along the coast, you have to travel a long and often uncomfortable 5-hour drive through city, village, National Park, off road and uneven sandy paths, to finally arrive at the hidden plot of land that has been purpose built with 11 guest bandas (wooden huts), bar and restaurant, research centre, kitchen and staff quarters. Tent With a View, was remote, solar powered and totally immersed in nature.

It can also be reached by air (scheduled flights) and private helicopter! – which is what happened when I was managing the lodge a few years ago and someone unexpectedly landed their private helicopter on the beach in front of the restaurant so they could re-fuel!! (Incidentally, that’s how I got the aerial shot in the photo as there was no drone photography back then!).

In 2013, I was heading back to Mallorca for my third season working on the Super Yachts, when I got a message out of the blue from a wonderful friend Celine who I had met in Peru back in 2004. Our paths had kept crossing in different parts of the world over the years and although we clearly shared a deep love for travel, what I noticed was that we also shared this excitement for life, this openness to opportunity and this passion for people and the environment. 

Celine had been given a job opportunity that, as much as she wanted to accept it, could not due to her (then) recent commitment to the UK, and so she recommended me!

It was to be my most random experience thus far. To manage an Eco Safari Lodge in Africa! This was the only coastal National Park in Tanzania, and I would be looking after a wild and remote place, doing an alien job, be the only female, the only non-local in a team of 30 and have no support or knowledge of the local language.

The idea both excited and scared me – which is exactly where I like to think we thrive.

Africa, as a continent, held the most fear for me, and this experience would undoubtedly fling me far out of my comfort zone on every level.

Having to decide between the ease of another season on the Super Yachts and this utterly unknown opportunity that seemed to have found me, I was intuitively drawn to accept the new challenge…and so I did!

It’s not very often that you will witness someone accomplish anything great and spectacularly rewarding whilst living inside their comfort zone. It’s too easy a trap to fall into and before you know it you’re being stagnated with the familiar and the comfortable. 

So shake it up a bit and move away from what you know. 

Find whatever ways you can to break clock-watching and monotony. 

The second I arrived on the plot of land where the lodge was situated, I felt its magic. The feeling of peace and calm washed over me as instantly as the relief from a hot day is when you plunge into a cool ocean. I was shown to my ‘banda’ on the beach and given time to un-pack before dinner and my chance to meet the team. My room was made entirely from natural materials, simple, yet homely and on my bed, the housekeeping had created a swan with the towel and strewn leaves around it in the shape of a heart. I could see vervet monkeys playing in the trees just outside my small balcony and I could hear the ocean. A huge smile spread quickly across my face and I knew there and then that this had been the right decision. I unpacked quickly and re-arranged the leaves on my bed to spell out ‘Asante’ meaning thankyou in Kiswahili before leaving the room for dinner. As I left the banda, a tall, lean Masaai was waiting for me and walked me the 10 minutes along the desolate beach to the restaurant. His name was Rafael, a quiet and gentle soul, and he was to become a dear friend over the following months ahead…

 Some of the team (2014)

I was slowly introduced to my team. The restaurant staff, housekeeping, chefs, gardeners, Massai and armed guards, safari guides and Jonny (who I would be working closely with). I fell in love with Tent With a View and indeed East Africa within 24 hours and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. 

Sometimes what can initially seem to be the biggest and most daunting of challenges, ends up leading you on a journey to the most surprising and magical of places.

Find some way in your weeks to break away from the normal, ordinary and easy...get uncomfortable and see what happens. 

Make Mondays more memorable...

Make Tuesdays more transformative...

Make Wednesdays more welcoming…

Make Thursdays more thrilling…

Make Fridays more fulfilling… 

Make Saturdays more spontaneous…

Make Sundays more stimulating…

Start that new hobby, adventure, goal, travel trip, job, relationship, challenge… 

Don’t you agree that the ache of regret far outweighs the discomfort of a calculated risk?

Be brave, leap out of that comfort zone and find some new paths to follow...

Asante sana

Natalia x

Please share these ramblings with anyone you feel would like to hear them and connect if you want to find out more about talks, workshops, coaching or collaborations.