Education, Sport & Life Skills

THE LIONS JOURNEY

OUR ROOTS

Founded in 1999

Students at the Safari Simbaz Cycling Centre Kikuyu

The Safari Simbaz is a non-profit organization based in Kenya that is supported by the SAFARI SIMBAZ CHARITY TRUST (EUROPE) (UK Charity number: 1169946). Kenya has a population of 45 million, out of which 40% are under 15 years of age. A significant number of these young people are from villages and townships that face high levels of poverty and unemployment. This makes them targets for crime, substance abuse, and petty theft.

Safari and Simba are Kiswahili words. Safari means ‘a journey’ and Simba is a ‘lion.’ The ‘Safari Simbaz’ therefore denotes the journey we wish these young people to take with a lion’s spirit – being courageous, strong, determined, disciplined and dedicated team players.

David Kinjah founded the Safari Simbaz in his home town of Kikuyu, just outside Nairobi, to engage the youth while providing them an education; enabling them to become finacially secure and contribute to the sustainable future of their community.

From these humble beginings the Simbaz has grown and is now embarking on the construction of a new headquaters - the 'Chris Froome Academy' in Mweiga.

CHRIS FROOME ACADEMY

Cycling Pedigree

David Kinjah, the founder of Safari Simbaz, became Africa's first black professional cyclist. He has competed in multiple Commonwealth Games and used his earnings from the sport to benefit his community. Kinjah's efforts laid the foundations for Chris Froome, who went on to win the Tour de France four times.