How a Safari Question Launched an International Business

This post is part of "The Entrepreneur's Safari" – a series of candid reflections exploring the entrepreneurial journey building a safari business with a Kenyan business partner alongside lessons learned from leadership and business development.   

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How a Safari Question Launched an International Business

There's a moment that changes everything. For me, it happened on a dusty road in Kenya, inside a Land Cruiser, surrounded by acacia trees and endless savanna.

I was on safari in November 2023, peppering our guide Anthony with industry questions about average daily rates, peak season visitation patterns, and marketing strategies. He looked confused. After all, I'd mentioned my NGO role earlier – these weren't typical tourist questions.

"I'd give anything to return to tourism," I confessed, revealing my background in the industry.

Anthony's response was casual but would prove life-changing: "You could. We could go into business together."

I smiled politely and changed the subject. Just another passing conversation on safari, or so I thought.

That evening, as I shared the exchange with Dave, my partner, his response caught me off guard: "You know, you could do that."

Four simple words that made me pause.

The Unexpected Business Meeting

The next morning, as we set out for our game drive, I approached Anthony with new purpose. "Let's talk about this business idea. Here are some of my thoughts..."

What unfolded wasn't just a game drive – it was our first unofficial business meeting. As elephants grazed nearby and zebras crossed our path, we discovered an extraordinary alignment in our vision, values, and approach to safari experiences.

Then Anthony revealed something remarkable: he had registered the name "Complete Safaris" in Kenya back in 2012 – eleven years before our chance meeting. He'd been holding onto this vision, waiting for the right partnership opportunity.

The Business Insight: Preparation Meets Opportunity

The entrepreneurship world loves to quote "luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity," but I've never experienced its truth more clearly.

Anthony had carefully chosen the name "Complete Safaris" years ago, considering both its meaning and even its alphabetical position for directories. Meanwhile, I had been building skills in tourism, marketing, and project management without realizing they were preparing me for this specific opportunity.

What appeared as lucky timing – the business name being available in the US, unclaimed on social channels, and with an available URL – wasn't just good fortune. It was the culmination of Anthony's foresight and my accumulated expertise converging at the right moment.

The Lesson for Entrepreneurs

Sometimes the best business opportunities don't come from deliberate networking events or strategic planning sessions. They emerge from authentic conversations when you're simply being yourself and expressing your genuine interests.

The key is recognizing them when they appear and having the courage to say, "Let's explore this further."

When I sent out holiday cards in December announcing my new business venture (while assuring everyone I wasn't leaving my corporate job "for a long time"), I had no idea how quickly things would evolve. That "long time" turned out to be just a few months.

Your Turn

Has an unexpected conversation ever opened a business opportunity for you? Or is there a casual suggestion someone made that you initially dismissed but might deserve a second look? Sometimes our next chapter begins with a conversation we nearly forget.