I am on a mission to mindfully travel, explore, and capture the world with love and respect for our planet in order to help people travel the world in an ethical, authentic and mindful way, through this blog and my group photo safari trips in Africa. I believe that travel makes you a better person and truly enriches your life if you treat 'Mother Earth' and all its inhabitants the way you want to be treated, with love and respect! I advocate for sustainable travel and the protection of our wildlife. Nature can heal us and everyone deserves to see these beautiful places and moments that have impacted my life - through my images or travels.
With this travel and photography platform 'Our planet in my lens', I aim to...
Mission and aim
I am on a mission to mindfully travel, explore, and capture the world with love and respect for our planet in order to help people travel the world in an ethical, authentic and mindful way, through this blog and my group photo safari trips in Africa. I believe that travel makes you a better person and truly enriches your life if you treat 'Mother Earth' and all its inhabitants the way you want to be treated, with love and respect! I advocate for sustainable travel and the protection of our wildlife. Nature can heal us and everyone deserves to see these beautiful places and moments that have impacted my life - through my images or travels.
With this travel and photography platform 'Our planet in my lens', I aim to...
I’m Kim, a Dutch travel and nature photographer, travel writer, and certified (apprentice) safari guide with a huge love for the African Bush and its wonderful wildlife. I gave up my great position as a Policy Advisor at the local government to pursue a career in photography, travel content creation, nature conservation and to travel the world while taking people with me on group trips with a focus on Africa.
I won the National Geographic Photo Contest of 2019 and qualified as a finalist in the Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2020. My images are published in f/e National Geographic, Msafiri (inflight magazine Kenya Airways) and in NatGeo Calendars.
Lover of coffee, comfortable on flip-flops, and fond of hats while traveling so that I don’t have to do my hair. Always taking the scenic route. Happy when I hear the birds sing in the morning, and excited every time the sky turns in pretty colors. Interested in self-development and committed to being a more responsible traveler. As a nature and wildlife enthusiast at heart, I feel very much at home in the African bush.
I studied Geography teaching but ended up with bachelor's degrees in Consumer Services Management and Public Administration with a 9-5 job as a Policy Advisor at the Dutch local government. Because it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and live your best life, I decided to quit my job and build my own business to experience more freedom. On this travel and photography blog, I share my travel experiences, travel images, and amazing captures of our free-roaming wildlife, taken on OUR PLANET.
The longer version...
When we travel, we take in the energy of each new place in a way that can transform us. Travel infuses us with new energy and increases our sense of being connected to a larger world. This energy of connection stays with us and uplifts us even after we leave. Travel enriches you more than I can explain.
People and cultures from all over the world inspire me and I love to explore the beauty our life has to offer; from amazing landscapes and breathtaking sunsets to (endangered) wildlife and inspiring people with their own unique traditions, sounds, and food.
The first country I’ve visited outside of Europe was Thailand, followed by South Africa, where I worked as a photography and conservation volunteer. I loved spending most of the day in the outdoors, connected to nature.
Traveling our planet - 5 continents explored & 37 countries visited - introduces me to a wealth of different landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and amazing experiences. Memories that will last a lifetime.
My love for photography developed during my volunteer work in a Game Reserve in South Africa, where I contributed to vital conservation within the reserve, learned the basics of photography, and went on game drives to shoot wildlife images for educational initiatives.
Photography is a love affair with life and my camera is the perfect instrument of expression for me on my journey around the world.
I love to look at the surroundings in a mindful way and capture moments that draw my attention. Nowadays photography has become one of the most important reasons I travel. Therefore, you will hardly see me without a camera.
Spending quality time in the African bush gives me that special feeling. In Africa, I feel somehow more grounded and connected to nature, the people, and myself.
It forces you to be in the moment because - in the bush - you don't know what the next minute will bring. Being so close to nature makes me feel alive and free!
I've visited 12 African countries, some of them more than once and there really is something about Africa that feels like home to me. As a wildlife enthusiast and wildlife photographer I keep going back to Africa; for its nature, the people, and my love for our beautiful - and sadly endangered - wildlife! Blessed to be an FGASA-certified apprentice field guide since 2021, which is of great value when taking others on a (photo) safari trip to Africa. Interested in mindfully exploring the African bush with me? Get in touch!
With my wildlife images, I hope to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing and that it will inspire you to contribute to wildlife conservation. The fight for our wildlife has never been more important, therefore I hope my images can be a small reminder of lives worth saving.
Free photo download!