The Story of Matakwa Safaris
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L’interview de Myriam et Fabien
Quoi de mieux pour parler de Matakwa Safaris que de présenter les deux créateurs de la société ? Myriam et Fabien se sont donc prêtés au jeu de l’interview : à lire sans modération, c’est un régal !
Myriam, can you introduce yourself?
Myriam: My name is Myriam, I was born in Pornic (France). Originally from Préfailles (France), my whole family has always lived in the countryside. My world is the farm, being close to nature. And in Namibia, most of the local population works in agriculture, which might explain why I feel at home there.
Tell us about your youth!
Myriam: I started working early, mainly in the restaurant industry. At 17, I moved to Switzerland for five years, during which I alternated between working and traveling: I visited a total of nearly 40 countries, with my longest stay being in India. I then went on to work in Crete (Greece), and England, always in the restaurant business. It was actually in England where I met Fabien. It was only after our meeting that I worked in France where we ran the restaurant La Gourmandine in Pornic for 25 years.
Fabien, your turn to introduce yourself!
Fabien: My name is Fabien, I am from Vendée (in West of France). I studied hotel and restaurant management in Noirmoutier and started my career in the restaurant industry in England.
And then, back in France?
Myriam & Fabien : Yes, after England, specifically London, we returned to France. Life in a capital like London and life by the sea are incomparable. The pace of a big city was great when we were young (laughs!). Then, we came back for a season in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie and then to Pornic to our establishment which we ran for 25 years.
How long have you been practicing photography?
Fabien: Since 2012. I started with long exposure, photographing Breton landscapes (West of France). In 2015, I became a professional photographer alongside my other activities. In 2016, I started wildlife photography, which required me to change my entire system, including the camera body, long lenses, etc. I have been nominated in several competitions in England and New York and regularly exhibit my work.
Did Namibia come into your life relatively late?
Myriam & Fabien: It was in 2015 that we went there for the first time. And there, it was almost a shock, a love at first sight: the country is desertic, THE great emptiness, and the landscapes are magnificent. It’s the second least populated country in the world, after Mongolia. We have returned at least once a year since 2015.
Myriam & Fabien: Fortunately, we had the experience from our travels and a solid practice in off-roading, because traveling in Namibia can be complicated. You are often alone in the desert, and in case of transportation issues, it’s crucial not to panic.
Airplane flights don’t pose any problems, do they?
Fabien: No, there’s no problem with the airplane flights; they’re international, so that works well. It’s afterward that it gets complicated: for the visits you want to do alone, most of the time in the desert. It’s like going on a rally by yourself, which can quickly go wrong.
Myriam: In case of a breakdown, it can take 24-48 hours before someone passes by. For example, during our first trip to Namibia, we got lost on a forest road, and the road was cut off by a flooding river. So, we got out of the 4×4 and marked the trees to find our way back.
Fabien: We’ve already seen a group try to cross a flooding river: the car got stuck in the middle, completely ruined. And so was their safari… That’s why we offer guides and want to share our experience. When our clients travel with Matakwa Safaris, it removes all the stress related to travel logistics, and they can focus on the landscapes, the expanses, the animals without worrying about the rest.
In terms of tourism, is Namibia a tourist destination?
Fabien: Yes, but not in the way we understand it in France. It’s nothing like Pornic in the summer, for example. There’s no mass tourism. The country fills up quickly because the number of accommodations is very limited, and that’s a good thing; it avoids the gathering of several 4x4s around a lion, as you might see in Kenya, for example.
How long do you need to stay there at a minimum?
Myriam & Fabien: For the safari to be enjoyable, without it feeling like a marathon, 12-13 days on-site is ideal, allowing for a relaxed pace to enjoy it. We change locations almost every day, traveling by 4×4. We can also adapt: we’ve accompanied a group that wanted to discover Namibia slowly. That safari lasted for 1 month.
Is there a geopolitical risk?
Myriam & Fabien: No, there isn’t too much tension in the country. We’re still in Africa, so stability is relative; for now, everything is fine, but things can change very quickly.
Isn’t it too difficult to drive in Namibia?
Fabien: Driving is on the right side, like in England. You need to have good navigation and 4×4 driving skills if you want to venture off the beaten path and fully enjoy it.
How do you go about observing animals?
Fabien: In the private reserves we work with, rangers and trackers accompany us to find the animals, always with respect for them. After several years in the field, we’re able to target different species to satisfy our clients. In national parks, we know the animals’ habits like a “naturalist.” We do everything we can to observe magnificent scenes.
Let’s talk about agriculture: what can be found locally?
Myriam & Fabien: Mainly livestock, and some crops. You can find strawberries, asparagus, and grapes.
And the climate? Is it hot?
Fabien: Hot, but not excessively so. It’s very manageable: it’s much hotter in Crete, for example. It’s important to stay hydrated because it’s a dry heat: you don’t realize it’s “too” hot for your body.
Myriam: The rainy season is usually January, February, and March. In winter, temperatures can drop to 0°C at night and reach up to 20°C during the day: quite pleasant for winter.
Do you still have things to discover in Namibia?
Myriam: Of course. We have plenty of visit ideas to share. And from Namibia, we’d also like to explore more of Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa.
A final piece of advice for people reading this interview?
Myriam & Fabien : Sure, it’s easy: come visit Namibia with Matakwa Safaris!