Meet Saurabh Khetrapal | Chief Smiles Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saurabh Khetrapal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saurabh, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For me, it wasn't really about starting another business. I'd already spent nearly two
decades building technology companies in Silicon Valley. The question I kept asking
myself was: what do I want the next chapter of my life to stand for?

I grew up in Tanzania, where wildlife and nature were simply part of everyday life.
Even while I was building companies in tech, I always felt a connection to the land
that shaped me. Eventually, I realized I didn't just want to visit Africa—I wanted to
contribute to its future.

Fair Trade Safaris was born from that idea. We wanted to create extraordinary travel
experiences while proving that business can be a force for good. Today, every safari
we sell helps fund conservation, education, and community development projects
across Africa. It felt like a way to combine entrepreneurship, purpose, and my
personal roots into one mission.

What should our readers know about your business?
Fair Trade Safaris is a luxury safari company with a very simple mission: to prove that travel can be a force for good.

We create extraordinary safari experiences across Africa—to places like Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa, and beyond—but what truly sets us apart is that 100% of our profits are donated to carefully vetted nonprofits focused on wildlife conservation, education, poverty alleviation, and community development.

What I’m most proud of isn’t the destinations we offer, although they’re incredible. It’s the fact that every traveler becomes part of something bigger than themselves. A safari isn’t just a vacation—it’s helping protect wildlife, support local communities, create jobs, and fund projects that have a lasting impact.

As for how I got here, it certainly wasn’t a straight line. I grew up in Tanzania, where wildlife and nature were simply part of everyday life. Later, I received a scholarship to study in the United States and eventually spent nearly two decades in Silicon Valley building technology companies. On paper, my career was moving further and further away from Africa.

But there was always this feeling that I wanted to reconnect with the place that shaped me and contribute in a meaningful way. Eventually, I realized I didn’t just want to visit Africa—I wanted to help protect it and support the communities that call it home.

Was it easy? Not at all.

One challenge was convincing people that luxury travel and social impact don’t have to be separate things. There’s often an assumption that if something is purpose-driven, it must involve compromise. We wanted to show that you can have a world-class, five-star safari experience while simultaneously creating positive change.

Another challenge was building a business around long-term impact. Conservation and community development aren’t problems that can be solved overnight. They require patience, trust, partnerships, and a willingness to focus on outcomes that may take years to fully materialize.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that authenticity matters. People are looking for meaning. They want to know that their choices—whether it’s where they travel, what they buy, or how they spend their time—can contribute to something positive. When you’re genuinely aligned with your mission, people respond to that.

What I’d want the world to know about our brand is that we’re not really in the travel business. We’re in the transformation business. We use travel as a vehicle to connect people to nature, to different cultures, and to a deeper sense of purpose.

And what I’d want people to know about my story is that it’s really a story about coming full circle. I went from growing up in Tanzania, to building companies in Silicon Valley, and then back to Africa with a renewed sense of purpose. Fair Trade Safaris is my way of giving back to the continent that gave me so much and helping ensure that future generations can experience the same magic that shaped my life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m probably going to give a slightly unconventional answer because my favorite place to show someone isn’t a city—it’s Africa.

That said, if it were someone’s very first trip to Africa, I’d probably steer them toward Southern Africa because it offers such an incredible combination of experiences. In one trip, you can experience world-class cities, spectacular wildlife, and beautiful beaches.

I’d probably start in Cape Town, which I think is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You have Table Mountain, incredible restaurants, wineries, beaches, and a fascinating blend of cultures and history. It’s the perfect introduction to the continent.

From there, we’d head into the bush—perhaps to Botswana, Timbavati, or the Sabi Sands area adjacent to Kruger National Park. This is where you get those iconic safari moments: lions on the hunt, elephants crossing in front of your vehicle, leopards draped across tree branches, and unforgettable African sunsets around a campfire.

Then I’d finish the trip somewhere like Mozambique or Zanzibar, where you can spend a few days slowing down, walking on pristine beaches, eating fresh seafood, and reflecting on everything you’ve experienced.

Now, if they asked me where my heart is, I’d probably say East Africa.

There’s something magical about Kenya and Tanzania. The vast open plains of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti, the deep connection between wildlife and local communities, and the conservation stories unfolding there are incredibly special to me because that’s where I grew up and where my love for nature began.

But regardless of where we went, the thing I’d want them to experience most isn’t the luxury lodges or even the wildlife. It’s the people. The guides, conservationists, trackers, and local communities who bring these places to life.

The wildlife gets you there, but the human connections are what stay with you. And that’s usually what transforms a great trip into a life-changing one.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
That’s a great question because none of us gets where we are on our own.

If I had to dedicate a shoutout, it would first be to my parents and family. Growing up in Tanzania, they gave me a deep appreciation for nature, wildlife, and the incredible diversity of people and cultures around us. Many of the values that guide me today—curiosity, humility, respect for others, and a sense of responsibility—started there.

I’d also give a shoutout to the teachers, mentors, and scholarship programs that opened doors for me. Receiving an academic scholarship to study in the United States changed the trajectory of my life. It wasn’t just an education—it was an opportunity. There are countless talented people in the world, but talent alone isn’t enough if someone doesn’t open a door for you along the way.

I’d also recognize the entrepreneurs, colleagues, and teams I worked alongside during my years in Silicon Valley. Building companies taught me a tremendous amount about resilience, innovation, and leadership, but it also taught me that success is always a team sport.

And finally, I’d give a shoutout to Africa itself. The landscapes, wildlife, communities, and people that shaped my childhood have influenced almost every major decision I’ve made. In many ways, Fair Trade Safaris is my attempt to give back to a place that gave so much to me.

When I look back on my story, I don’t see a series of individual accomplishments. I see a long chain of people who invested their time, trust, encouragement, and belief in me. Whatever success I’ve had is built on that foundation.

Website: https://www.fairtradesafaris.com/luxury-african-safaris/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairtradesafaris/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairtradesafaris

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fair_Trd_Safari

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairtradesafaris

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65pZO7sWrlZdvrisruyiwQ