About us

GLOBAL CONNECTION – Where two cultures unite and speak through the heart….

When we, Hans and Maaike van Dam, went on safari in Tanzania in March 2006, we crossed paths with a young guide, Silver Mmassy, who, over time, has had a huge influence on the rest of our lives. It was not only his knowledge of the English language, but particularly his sociable character and his vast knowledge of the wildlife in Tanzania which was something we noticed immediately. He was also an expert driver whom we felt comfortable with in the car.

We agreed with Silver, then still working for a large tour operator, to keep in touch through email. This is how our contact grew and when Maaike and I decided to marry in May 2007, Silver was invited as our special guest. He left East Africa for the first time and stayed with us for a month. It was a fantastic experience for him in a country below sea level, where you can moor a boat on a canal in your back garden, where a road goes straight over a large lake and there are no donkeys or cows on the roads.

Silver became one with our family, next to our 4 children. We agreed to take our family on holiday to Tanzania in July 2008. On the one hand, to introduce the Safari world of Tanzania to our children and, on the other, to meet Silver’s family and get acquainted with life in Africa. Through meeting the whole Mmassy family we were able to experience how social and business like these people are. They are real Chagga, the entrepreneurs of Tanzania. Because of the special friendship and trust that had developed, the idea arose to do something together in Tanzania. Silver is an active type, honest and social, a good base on which to start. The first step was to purchase a piece of land just outside Arusha.

When we decided to build a motel there, the time was right to start a small company. This is how Global Connection Ltd. came into being and our motel Paradise View was built on the side of Mount Meru. The name Global Connection interprets precisely what we want to bring into practice, to be able to connect people worldwide. This could start through organising a safari trip for tourists but also through Global Connection, or other companies in Tanzania, getting in touch with companies from all over the world. In the meantime the first important contacts have been made and preparations are underway for further developments.

Alongside the business, we would like to fulfil a cultural and social role in the area. We have the idea to support the orphanages in Mto wa Mbu, and create a shelter where we can offer them a safe haven and hopefully employment. Most orphans who stay in these places are AIDS orphans, there parents died of AIDS, and often they are HIV infected themselves as well. We are hoping for local and international support to realise this project and we wish everyone a warm welcome to this beautiful country….

Karibu Sana,

Hans & Silver

Global Connection Ltd