Our Story

It really began in the ’60s, when a 4-year-old Luca wanted to impress his dad and slept all alone in a tent in the family Italian vineyards. He wanted to prove he could go on safari! Luca came to Kuku Group Ranch, the Maasai 283,000 acres reservation where Campi ya Kanzi is, in 1975 when he was just 11 years old. 20 years later he came back with his then-girlfriend; now wife, Antonella. Together they engaged the local Maasai landlords and formed a unique partnership, creating the community-owned lodge Campi ya Kanzi.

More than 20 years and 3 kids (Lucrezia, born 2002, Jacopo born 2007, and Lorenzo, born 2009) later, this is their home. Together with amazing Maasai who with them built the lodge, like Parashi, Matasha, Samson, Pashiet, Lengou…

Here is our African journey in images and a few words.
Come and continue living it with us!

1975

The adventure begins!

Luca with his mom and brother in Iltilal, during a family safari. Campi ya Kanzi would get built on those hills in the background 21 years later!

1975 - 1994

Dreams

20 years to dream of Africa!

1995

Tourism Joint Venture

Luca & Antonella visit the Chyulu to discuss with the Maasai landlords creating a tourism joint venture. We lost this year’s images in a fire… the hardship of living in the African bush.

1996, 1997

Two Years in a Tiny Tent

We lived in a tiny tent for two years, building Campi ya Kanzi. Images are gone, because of the mentioned fire, but sweet memories will remain forever…

1998

Campi ya Kanzi Opens

We open Campi ya Kanzi, the first fully photovoltaic lodge in Africa! Here are some images of our beginning.

1999

Yago

Luca & his beloved Yago, an Irish setter who followed us from Italy. We got married that December.

2000

Samson from the start

A very young Samson Parashina with his team… we love how Samson grew from waiter to UNEP Champion of the Earth and now MWCT Chairman!

2001

Tembo House

The entire team of Campi ya Kanzi lined up outside Tembo House. Luca still had some hair!

2002

Life at Kanzi

Antonella with Lucrezia in her womb.
Antonella with Matasha, Kibo, and Yago.
Lucrezia was born that July.

2003

Lulu and the team

Antonella with a 1-year-old Lucrezia, who then joined the team!

2004

Hike in the Chyulus

Matasha, Antonella, and Luca, on the very top of the Chyulu Hills, in the magical cloud forest

2005

Little Lulu

Sarijore (Samson’s oldest son) and Lucrezia, so sweet! Safari memories.
Lucrezia and her four-legged friends: Selous, Kibo, and Sambu.

2006

Safari with Lulu

Antonella and Luca on safari with Lucrezia.

2007

New baby brother!

Antonella with Jacopo in her womb.

2008

Christmas in the Chyulus

Xmas family photo, Lucrezia was already an Obama fan!

2009

Pongo the bushbuck & Lorenzo is born!

A terrible drought made a bushbuck, Pongo, befriend Lucrezia. He lived with us till the first rains came. We kept seeing him around the home for years to come.

Lucrezia and her schoolmates at a Xmas play.

Lorenzo is born, here is the whole family.

2010, 2011