While the action and drama of the Great Migration unfolds in the Northern Serengeti, we take a moment to reflect on an individual working to keep the lights on in Namiri Plains.
Born in Kalenge Village, located in the Kigoma region near the shores of Lake Tanganyika, 43-year-old Zablon Bwango’s appetite for life has always been driven by curiosity. As a young boy, and with the help of his dad, he often fixed small things and in his free time, he chased the wind and watched the lake as though it held answers to all his questions.
At seventeen, just as he was finishing primary school, his life changed course. His parents moved to the Serengeti to work in hotels, and Zablon followed. It was there, in the heart of the wild, that he landed his first job, as an electrician, in a safari lodge belonging to a chain of hotels and lodges throughout East Africa. His talent was undeniable and those around him noticed the spark. As a result, he was sent to Nairobi for further training in management and supervision. He returned with sharpened skills and a new sense of purpose. For four consecutive years, Zablon was named Best Employee across the group, a testament to his discipline, relentless curiosity, and refusal to accept failure.
But Zablon wasn’t one to rest on past successes. A broken solar system would mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life. For months, no one managed to solve the issue at hand, until Zablon rolled up his sleeves and had a go. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and one of Asilia’s directors caught wind of it. This led to the next step in Zablon’s eventful career. He enrolled within Asilia and took on the role of Technical Supervisor for Namiri Plains and Dunia Camp. Today, as Head of Maintenance for both Dunia Camp and Namiri Plains, he leads a team of five with the same passion and curiosity that began in his childhood.
His home is now in Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria, where his wife, a schoolteacher, and their two daughters, aged nine and seven, await his return between work rotations. His continuous drive to be the best, lead him to once again winning Best Employee of the year, this time with Asilia. The reward was a large television which he proudly carried into his home as a gift for his daughters.
But his journey hasn’t been without challenges. It was his interest in the lake, that led him into a tragic accident at a young age. While swimming with his brother, he nearly drowned, and the incident left him with persistent ear problems. For years, poor healthcare failed to diagnose the issue, until, at the age of 28, doctors finally discovered both his eardrums had ruptured. Thanks to consistent treatment, supported by Asilia’s industry-leading insurance cover, his hearing is slowly returning.
Today, Zablon remains committed to learning more about solar energy, not just as a technical pursuit, but as a legacy for future generations. His life is a testament to what curiosity, resilience, and passion can build, even from the most remote corners of the world.
Experience the warmth of genuine East African hospitality on your safari adventure with Asilia.
