She was born in Frankfurt, Germany in June 1986, raised by a single Mum who had come to Germany from France when she was only 19 years old. she went traveling around Australia and then went to England to study Biology and Conservation at Bath Spa University. During that period she spent two months in Zimbabwe to do research for dissertation on human-animal conflict. It was at that time that she fell in love with Africa and promised herself she would be back soon. After graduation she came to Tanzania as a volunteer for a London based Conservation NGO
She moved to Mafia Island, south of the famous Zanzibar,working in a Marine Protected Area doing fish censuses.It was there where she met her husband. She met him on the first day on the island while strolling through the village and she was taken by him straight away. In January 2012 she decided to move to his family’s home in the Masai Steppe. She would support his family and they would live a traditional Masai life, living off the land and off the cattle.
What kept her sane was his lovely family. She fell in love with their culture and the way they lived their lives, close to nature and their animals. They were so welcoming and tolerant towards her. Taking her in with no questions asked. They put Masai jewellery on her and dressed her in their clothes. They were trying to turn me into one of them right from the start. They made sure they provided her with all the basic comforts they could give her, like hot water for showering, extra blankets to cushion their hard beds, cooking for her, taking her on walks.
Basically looking after her as well as you would after a small child. They really tried their hardest to make the transition easier for her. All her friends and family love the way she lives and all of those who have been to visit her are so humbled by the kindness and generosity of the Masai. That they support them in any way possible and often come back more than once.
