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Laura Minde is the first born of the founding Director Mr. Joackim V Minde. Her passion for adventure and spontaneity began at a young age, exploring the Ngorongoro Crater and the plains of Serengeti on family trips. These family adventures continued even leading to a summit of Kilimanjaro in 2011. Growing up in a family that deals with tourism and hospitality, Laura was able to acquire business acumen and experience in the tourist field from a young age.
Laura holds a dual master’s degree in International Hospitality Management from the French business school, EM Lyon, in partnership with renowned hospitality educational establishment, Institut Paul Bocuse. Her purpose in engaging in such advanced studies was closely connected to her upbringing and connection to Laitolya Tours & Safari.
The opportunity to be immersed in new cultural exchanges with local people and build friendships around the world is very meaningful to Laura.
Joackim Victor Minde was born on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in a small Village called Msuni. His first experience in the tourism industry began as a young man when he got an opportunity to work part time as translator for a tour group. He later saved enough money, at times going days without food from his clerk job, to buy his first car – a Volkswagen that he would hire for airport transfer from Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha and at times drive tourists to the then dense forest of Manyara National Park.
In 1979 he quit his job to establish Laitolya Tours & Safaris Limited with a small fleet of used cars. Joackim Minde went on to increase his fleet of cars, establish several hotels and lodges and be a part of several community development projects in his home town as well as in other parts of the country.
Joackim Victor Minde was best known for his love of wildlife, nature and the environment and received several awards, including the Kilimanjaro Regional manager’s environmental award for extensive tree-planting efforts.
Sadly in 2020, Joackim Victor Minde passed away, leaving his children to follow in his footsteps and continue the dream of showcasing the beauty and culture of Tanzania.
“Tanzania is my country. I love it most, I was born and brought up here. In 1979 I had a dream to share this beautiful and peaceful country with all folks of the world. Thus, I set out to establish Laitolya Tours and Safaris Ltd in 1979 as I felt it was my family and I’s noble duty to enable people of all walks of life to see what mother nature has endowed Tanzania with. Welcome and join us.” – Joackim Victor Minde
Lucy is the second generation of Tanzania’s oldest locally owned safari company. Growing up on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, Lucy’s love of beautiful Tanzania started at an early stage. Inspired by her father’s love for nature and stories of adventure, her love of history, wildlife and passion for the environment – it was only natural that Lucy decided to follow in her father’s footsteps.
With a lifetime of experience in safari and traveling around Tanzania, Lucy is fiercely passionate about tourism and will have you enthralled in her tales for a long while. Lucy’s accumulation of knowledge, experience and passion for nature ensures a most memorable Tanzania experience.
