Sowing the Seeds

Some readers might know or remember me from my previous blog, but if you don’t and have been to Angama, then you certainly know my furniture, having sat comfortably in the libraries of the Mara or closed your eyes on one of my beds in Amboseli.  

Our journey, 15 years in the making, reflects the timeless value of craftsmanship, creativity, and family. Rooted in a rich heritage, our expertise in carpentry and joinery dates back to the early 20th century when our forefathers opened a woodworking atelier in Malindi on Kenya’s coast.

In 2010, we carried on the legacy when we established Dumont, a family-owned and operated company specialising in designing and producing high-end furniture, joinery, and interior fit-out contraction. From the beginning, our goal was simple yet ambitious: to create beautiful and functional furniture.

What started as a modest workshop with a few tools and a lot of enthusiasm has grown today into a thriving business that continues to push the boundaries of design. Our family’s involvement in the day-to-day operations means that our values extend beyond the workplace. We treat our employees like family and foster a supportive, collaborative environment where creativity can flourish.

To work with wood is to engage in a respectful conversation with nature, acknowledging its inherent qualities and limitations. As a medium, wood carries the essence of the natural world. Its grains, textures, and imperfections tell stories of growth, time, and the environment from which it originates.

The principles of sustainability and ethical responsibility play a crucial role in our work; engaging with natural materials comes with the responsibility to respect and preserve the environment. For this reason, we developed our Zero Waste Program, transforming timber offcuts from our production into meaningful items. Angama has been a big contributor to this program, constantly supporting our replanting efforts.

We also strongly believe in the power of human touch over mechanised production and deeply value the patience and dedication that traditional craftmanship requires. Just as a piece of wood must be carefully manipulated and refined, the skills of a master carpenter must be cultivated over time. This philosophy inspired WAYA, our social impact programme, which aims to create a vocational training centre to pass on technical and life skills to future master craftsmen. You will find our WAYA products in the Angama Safari Shops (both in Amboseli and the Mara).

Finding a reliable source of seedlings has been one of the biggest challenges in the campaign. We opted to open our own nursery within the old Sikh Temple in Kenya. By engaging and involving the local community around the temple in the importance of reforestation and caring for the environment, we have been able to propagate not only the trees but also other flora, which we happily donate to different institutions.

To Angama, our partners and friends — thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to many more years of creating exceptional pieces and continuing to uphold the values that have guided us for the past 15 years. Here’s to the next chapter of our story together and to many more years of crafting beautiful, inspiring and iconic spaces.