On the 17th of March we’ll host our first Insaka of the year. We are delighted to host one of Zambia’s serial entrepreneurs, Jo Pope who is involved in Proflight Zambia, Mojo Media and Best of Bikes. Join us for the event and listen to Jo Pope share her entrepreneurial journey with us.

Bio

In 1988 Jo signed up for a six-month stint working for Robin Pope Safaris in the South Luangwa, Eastern Zambia. She loved the bush, running safari camps and then the boss – so she stayed. It was some 22 years later when Robin and Jo sold their successful safari company and moved to Lusaka. During these years the Popes built up the company from a single 12 bedded camp to an award winning 60 bed, seven camp organization. Jo believes in an industry working together for greater success and over the years instigated and ran country wide marketing initiatives, always with promoting Zambia as a destination in mind. This concept went further and Robin Pope Safaris was founder member of an African wide marketing organization, Classic Safari Camps of Africa. Recently CSCA celebrated 20 years of marketing tourism with Jo in her fourth year of chairmanship. Seeing the potential for tourism to benefit the community directly, Jo established the award winning Kawaza School Fund and later founded the charity Project Luangwa, which brings a number of the lodges together to “ensure the people of the Luangwa Valley gain the full benefit of tourism by investing in education”. Always looking to solve problems Jo invested in aviation, as the tourism needs were not being met by the airlines. Some 16 years later, she continues to be involved as a shareholder and director of Proflight, Zambia’s only airline.

On leaving the Luangwa in 2010 Jo spent a couple of years donating time to assist the Zambia Tourism Board and administrated the process of rebranding Zambia’s tourism. Conservation and tourism go hand in hand and Jo is active on three conservation NGO boards. In Lusaka she has spread her investment wings and is now also involved in a variety of companies including selling motorbikes, creative advertising and music production. However, tourism and conservation remains in her bones. “If Zambia conserves her natural assets tourism can be a long term sustainable industry that continues to provide jobs and boost both rural and urban economies”.

Companies – shareholder and director

Proflight Zambia – the only scheduled airline in Zambia, serving nine Zambian and two regional destinations.

Procharter – over twenty years of flying charters in the region.

Chongwe River House – an eight bedded luxury safari house in the Lower Zambezi.

Best of Bikes – selling motorbikes and runs the first motorbike school in Zambia.

Mojo New Media – Creatives Unlimited. A dynamic advertising and activation company with a focus on empowering young creatives.

Mojo Music – live instrument recording studio and music label.

Tours Africa – tourism meet and greet at KK International Airport and transfers to Lusaka.

Limited seats available! RSVP Now!