21 May 2018

A 23-year-old Mr Leon Oppedal’s vision was clear from a young age.

When he was only 16, he bought his first car from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) during an auction, rebuilt it and turned it into a camping car with the help of his father.

As soon as he completed his secondary school, he went on to study as a Professional Guide and went on to open his own safari tours company in 2016, which started to be fully operational in 2017 in Kasane.

Unlike other youths, his passion has never been to work for anyone, but rather to be his own boss.

“I have never liked being told what to do because my father raised me to be my own boss, which is why I decided to start my own business as soon as I finished school,” he said in an interview with BOPA.

He further stated that he always had the passion for working in the bush as a tourist professional guide, hence his line of studying.

Mr Oppedal enjoys his line of work, although it is not easy competing for clients with veterans, as most clients undermine him and find it hard to trust him to guide them through the park because of his age. He however tries his best to make the clients that trust him satisfied.

Challenges are part and parcel of every business, either small or big, so he has his fair share of challenges such as floods, which sometimes take place in the Chobe Enclave as he uses the roads to take his clients to Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti and other campsites.

Sometimes his cars get briken and he is forced to fix and service them, which holds him back and also costs him a lot.

“Sometimes it is difficult because we have to spend days without network connection, making it hard to call for help in case of a break down in the park,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Mr Oppedal has managed to buy three cars and his company continues to grow and expand.

His reputation has also changed because unlike when he began, people now trust him despite the age and some veterans help and guide him to make him a better professional guide.

“I do not know everything and I am forever learning. 

With the help of people who have been in this business longer than I have, I get to learn new things every day and that helps me to grow as a professional guide,” he said.

He further advised the youth to do what they love best and not wait to get a job, further encouraging those that already have their own companies to work hard because nothing comes easy.

“No one is too good to do certain things. 

I am my own boss, but I do everything even the most downgrading things, which is what keeps my business thriving,” stated Mr Oppedal. BOPA