In this year of our 20th birthday, we invite you to feel closer to our people, the backbone and the lifeforce of Asilia. Through this series of short blogs, we’ll introduce a cross-section of our people for their reflections on Asilia over the years and their thoughts on things to come.
Doris Moshi
In 2018, Doris Moshi applied to join Asilia as a waitress. Her application was successful and, after completing the onboarding and training process, she took up her first waitress post at Oliver’s Camp in Tarangire National Park. Her natural charm and outgoing personality were quickly noticed, and she was soon called to Sayari Camp in the northern Serengeti where she was elevated to the rank of head waiter. After two years she moved again, this time to Dunia Camp to join the all-female team making waves across the industry, where she was head of the food and beverage service department. Her easy leadership style and approachable nature, coupled with her natural thirst for knowledge, made her an obvious candidate for management training. The training process had her spending time in different scenarios across Oliver’s, The Highlands, and Namiri Plains until she qualified as an Assistant Manager and was returned to Sayari Camp as a part of the management team.
For Doris, one of the key factors that sets Asilia apart from other similar companies in East Africa, is the commitment to positive impact. Giving back to surrounding communities by hiring local staff and purchasing fresh produce from local farmers generates a wider benefit through the mechanism of tourism. The use of solar power throughout the camps, coupled with rigorous recycling projects, the use of chemical-free products, and programs to remove single-use plastics all contribute towards making the company the most ecofriendly it can be. For Doris, the opening of Usangu Expedition Camp is a perfect example of Asilia’s commitment to positive impact. The presence of the camp creates employment opportunities and brings support to local communities, while simultaneously contributing to conservation through the eradication of poaching.
Over the course of her employment with Asilia, one of the key changes she has seen in Tanzania is the phasing out of foreign camp managers in favour of local talent. In conjunction with the process of re-staffing post-Covid, it has been refreshing to see the improved support of local communities as new staff were hired and managers were promoted from within existing teams. Doris loves to learn new things and is passionate about acquiring and transferring knowledge, evident through her career growth with Asilia. For her, it is the variety of training that is conducted within the company, exposing all staff to the opportunity to learn from other departments. The willingness to invest in its people and create opportunities for both their personal and professional growth, is another key contributor that Doris recognises in both her career and the strength of Asilia.
Doris is proud to work at Sayari Camp. “It has a nice story, coming from a humble mobile camp to grow and become Asilia’s first permanent camp”. While the camp is mostly known for its proximity to the Mara River and the migration experience it offers, Doris prefers to highlight the onsite microbrewery. Solar powered, it not only produces beer, but also sparkling water which is supplied to both the camp and the nearby TANAPA ranger station. She says this installation has significantly reduced the amount of plastic waste and demonstrates Asilia’s commitment to pioneering sustainability efforts. However, when asked for her favourite camp, she chooses a diplomatic approach. “I find each camp to be my favourite, as each has different people, its own unique beauty, and contrasting landscape, making each camp a different experience of its own.”
Explore with Asilia and find your favourite camp.
