Our Story
Our Story
We never set out to build just another travel company.
What brought us together was a shared love for wild places and the belief that the most meaningful journeys happen far from crowds, where nature still feels untouched and every encounter feels genuine.
For more than a decade, we have explored Kenya's remote mountains, deserts, valleys, conservancies, and communities, building trusted relationships throughout the country. We create tailor-made journeys across Kenya, with a specific love for the extraordinary wilderness of the north, not only for its breathtaking landscapes, but for the warmth, resilience, and generosity of the people who welcomed us.
Those experiences became the foundation of Ajabu Wild. Today, every journey we design is built on first-hand knowledge, trusted local partnerships, and a genuine desire to share a side of Kenya that few travellers ever experience.
Travel with Purpose: Peacebuilding, Conservation & Community Tourism
We believe the most meaningful journeys do more than create unforgettable memories, they leave places better than they found them. Both founders of Ajabu Wild have a background in peacebuilding and international development with years of work in Northern Kenya.
Ajabu Wild was founded on the belief that thoughtfully designed tourism can become a powerful force for good. Beyond creating extraordinary wilderness adventures, through our work in select communities and locations in northern Kenya, we aim to deepen peace and social cohesion, generate sustainable livelihoods, strengthen local ownership of tourism, support conservation, and contribute to the long-term prosperity and stability of some of the areas in which we operate.
How does this work in practice? Our contribution to social impact is context-specific. Some of our travel locations take clients across old conflict lines that have been resolved in recent years. In Malaso or Kapedo/Silale, for example, we offer multiple-day hiking trips in which local guides and porters from both formerly conflicting communities work together, building friendships and dignified livelihoods that increase the incentive to maintain peace. By establishing campsites in locations with limited tourism infrastructure and promoting beautiful, under-visited conservancies, we generate new sources of income and increase the financial viability of these areas. The lodges we choose to work with also hold high standards on giving back to the community and leaving as light a footprint as possible.
At Ajabu Wild, we aim for extraordinary journeys to create extraordinary impact, too.
Ajabu Wild's Founders
Dr. Theo Hollander
For Theo, northern Kenya is far more than a destination. As an international peacebuilding professional, he spent more than fifteen years working across Africa to help transform conflict-affected societies into more peaceful and resilient communities. During this time, he developed a deep connection with northern Kenya, building lasting friendships and trusted partnerships across the region. Theo co-founded Ajabu Wild because he believes tourism can play an important role in strengthening local economies, supporting conservation, and reinforcing long-term peace. His journeys, as a Kenya safari and northern Kenya specialist, combine a passion for wilderness with deep knowledge of Kenya's history, cultures, and landscapes, creating experiences that are as insightful as they are adventurous. Whether sharing stories around a campfire or playing guitar beneath the stars, Theo brings warmth, curiosity, and an infectious enthusiasm to every expedition.
Dharini Nathwani
With roots spanning Africa, India, and the United Kingdom, Dharini developed a lifelong passion for Kenya's landscapes and cultures after spending much of her childhood in the country. Over the past decade, she has combined her background in international development with her love for adventure to design authentic journeys throughout Kenya. She has an exceptional knowledge of boutique lodges across Kenya, and her extensive network of trusted local guides, conservancies, and community partners enables Ajabu Wild to offer experiences that go far beyond conventional tourism. Dharini believes the most memorable journeys are those that create genuine human connections and leave travellers with a deeper understanding of the places and people they encounter.
“My memories of wild Africa, although punctuated by high points of excitement, are filled with the moments and times of serenity: times when it seems the balance, all too briefly, is perfect.”
Dharini