Our Story
​
A family born in the East African wilderness. We started Olive Trek Safaris in 2012, after more than three decades of experience managing, and guiding within the hospitality & safari industry. With our deep-seated passion and experience, coupled with our core values we dreamt of creating life changing and authentic experiences for our guests.
Armed with this inspiring quote by Christopher McCandless
“The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun”
Our exciting journey began …..
Who we are
Pete & Ali Cadot
The visionaries:
Pete and Ali have been working in the industry together for well over three decades. Their experience ranges from managing some of the most luxurious lodges and camps throughout East & South Africa, and guiding with some of the most high end, and exclusive safari operators in Kenya.
Pete ~ the passionate, knowledgeable driving force, and your host on safari. Pete was born in Nairobi. His father came to Kenya in 1944, as part of the Royal Artillery, British Army. He later became a respected member of the advertising fraternity in both Kenya and South Africa. His fearless mother was born in Nyeri, central Kenya. Where she would often go hunting for the pot, on horseback. During these excursions, she would regularly be charged by elephant, grumpy buffalo, and the occasional lion.
As a qualified Chef, keen photographer with a huge portfolio, unrivalled natural knowledge and a bounty of bush skills, Pete lives to share his passion for conservation and local culture. He is renowned for his humour and caring nature.
Ali ~ the back of house and conscientious mastermind of Olive Trek Safaris. Born on a coffee plantation in Thika (a couple of hours drive from Nairobi), Ali had an incredibly unique upbringing. Her father, a coffee farmer/hunter, turned professional photographer, and all round mischief maker, lead safaris throughout East Africa for many years. Her mother, an inspiring philanthropist, and horticulturalist was a foster mother to a huge variety of animals, big and small. Ask Ali about her two younger sisters, both chimpanzees rescued from the pet and bush meat trade.
Chala Cadot
The artist, creative and the warmth of the family. An exceptionally talented professional photographer, her artistic flair and creativeness show through our aesthetic. Much like her father, her warmth and sense of humour are infectious.
Chala progressed through her career in the safari industry, having managed many exclusive camps, and lodges in both East and South Africa. Her experience lends itself to the finer touches and quality expressed in our offering.
An exceptional mum of two, and a continuous inspiration to the family. Chala is the life and soul of Olive Trek Safaris.
Torsten Cadot
Pragmatic, energetic and knowledgeable idealist, and your host on safari. Torsten developed a deep love and an insatiable curiosity for everything natural. Specialising in reptiles and birds, he gained most of his knowledge of the bush from growing up with local tribes, and from spending hours with his father Pete, absorbing as much information as possible.
Torsten left Kenya in 2011 to pursue a career in the British Military, and to satiate his zeal for international travel, and adventure.
Returning after a 9-year absence, with a host of stories of adventure and guarding the British Royal Family, he has settled back in Kenya to ultimately pursue his lifelong dream of leading adventure and photographic safaris, and guiding alongside his father.
"THE OLIVE TREE HOLDINGS LTD" was registered in Kenya in 2011.
OLIVE TREK SAFARIS is one of the subsidiaries of the holding company
Olea africana (African olive or wild olive) is one of the world’s oldest trees. It is a subspecies of the domesticated Olea europaea, which is grown in southern Europe and the Middle East, for production of olive oil.
The fruit is popular with people, wildlife and birds. Leaves are browsed by wildlife, cattle, goats. This tree is an asset on farms, especially in very dry areas because it is extremely hardy and is an excellent fodder tree.
A tea can be made from the leaves. The hard, heavy and beautiful golden-brown wood is used for furniture, ornaments, spoons and durable fence posts. An ink is made from the juice of the fruit. Traditional remedies prepared from this plant serve as eye lotions and tonics, lower blood pressure, improve kidney function and deal with sore throats, and the fruit to treat diarrhoea.
The olive tree is highly treasured and used in many other ways as well. For instance, Maasai women use it to freshen their gourds for storing fresh cow milk. They find a dry olive trunk, break it into small pieces, light it on fire, and drop burning pieces of olive onto the gourd. The dark soot is considered good to keep milk fresh. In addition, the Maasai use olive tree branches during traditional circumcision ceremonies. The branches are placed on either side of the village entrance to recognize the celebrant of that occasion. Olive branches are also handy during the dry season when shepherds give them to their skinny animals to eat and sustain them through the season. The Maasai also use the olive's hard wood to make clubs and walking sticks. It even makes an excellent traditional toothbrush!
