TEAMBUILDING

          Client: Engineers 
          Origin: The Netherlands
          Participants:  Company Employees
          Number: 50 people

Locations:

Samburu, Northern Frontier

Challenge:

To organize a unique and unforgettable team building day full of fun and experiences but one that will also help members discover each other.

Realization:

1. Guests fly to Sarova Shaba. This exotic lodge commonly referred to as “Africa’s Treasure Island” is situated in the ‘Born Free Country’, home to the legendary conservation couple, George and Joy Adamson and has become synonymous with Hollywood stars and fame as many international acclaimed films have been shot here including the now famous “Survivor Africa”.
   
2. On arrival, guests are welcomed with true Samburu experience, refreshing drink and face towel. Thereafter they are pampered to a welcome cocktail set up in the bush in their honour. After introduction, the group is subdivided into two tribes- Samburu and Boran and are expected to come up with a unique (original and intimidating) war cry and slogan to identify itself. Each team appoints a tribal chief. After this task has been completed teams showcase their might through their war cry, song, dance and slogans. The chief then goes through an initiation ceremony.
   
3. Necessity being the mother of all invention, the teams are required to make a fire using traditional means and by now team dynamics have started to emerge as challenges heat up, leadership, problem management, teamwork, resource management and a variety of other team dynamics all come to the front as personalities exhibit their management and operational styles and cultures. Challenge to survive is now embedded in the team members’ minds and the desire and determination to win. Having broken the ice, teams retire to bed early after being treated to a sumptuous African dinner.
   
4. An early wake up call at 4:00 am. Team pride and spirit to outlast, outwit and survive is the driving force for the day. Teams are driven into the vast ‘Born Free Country’ where they commence the mini Survivor Challenge by fetching their own breakfast, making own fire and cooking breakfast. Thinking outside the box, problem solving and innovation are some of the lessons in this challenge. Various other activities follow in the day ranging from passive games all the way to high intensity thinking ones. These include goat racing, shelter building, ski race, long-run challenge (in blind folds), crossing streams, ‘Shaba’ Olympics and various survivor moves. The teams are tested on commitment, decision making skills, project management, organisational skills, communication skills, resource management, problem solving, time management, art of delegation, trust, strategic planning, attention to detail, acceptance, team selection skills and ultimately the value of team work.
   
5. Come evening, teams are treated to a sun downer cocktail. The tribal council evaluates how each team performed and with the help of the teams they assess each member’s performance, challenges faced, weaknesses encountered, lessons learnt, chiefs’ performances and so forth. After discussing a suitable implementation action plan for future success, the judges announce the winning team followed by award of presents and speech making by chiefs. Thereafter a riveting African bush dinner with traditional Samburu and Boran entertainment follows to help teams unwind, harmonize and declare truce. Teams gather around the bonfire to chat and recap and thereafter retire to bed at leisure before departing for home the following day.