A CUSTOM CMS WEBSITE FOR A SAFARI BUSINESS.

THE PROJECT OVERVIEW

Mongoose Safaris needed a complete digital presence built from the ground up with no brand system, no content, and no previous site. The objective was clear: create a high end, conversion focused website that communicated the exclusivity of their safari experiences while giving them a scalable platform for future growth. The result had to look premium, feel effortless, and perform reliably across devices.

MY DESIGN PROCESS

We began with stakeholder sessions and a deep dive into the safari travel landscape to understand what buyers actually look for and where competitors fall short. From there, we shaped a design direction rooted in clarity, credibility, and strong visual storytelling. The process was tightly collaborative, working in sync with development and copywriting to ensure the brand narrative, user experience, and technical build all moved as one.

DESIGN EXECUTION

The visual language drew from modern luxury travel, with minimal layouts, warm earth driven tones, and large immersive imagery. Every UX decision followed one principle: reduce friction. That meant intuitive page flows, clear calls to action, and a navigation system that made exploring itineraries, regions, and accommodations feel natural. Behind the scenes, the information architecture was structured for scale. As the business adds destinations or new travel products, the system can grow cleanly without rework.

DEVELOPMENT

Rather than forcing the client into a generic CMS, we partnered with engineering to build a custom backend designed around how Mongoose Safaris manages its content. Every component, from media handling to metadata controls, was developed to support their real operational needs. After the core build was complete, we ran structured testing across the Figma prototype and staging site, gathering user and stakeholder feedback to refine the experience and ensure reliability at launch.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

The project delivered a seamless blend of thoughtful design and robust functionality, resulting in a website that’s both visually engaging and technically powerful. Each element was purpose-built to enhance the client’s control, streamline content management, and maximize performance. Key highlights include:

MY ROLE

I guided the project from the first conversation through launch, acting as the link between the client vision, the design team, and the engineers building the platform. My focus was to give the project a clear creative direction while keeping the execution grounded in what the business actually needed. I shaped the visual language, defined the user experience, and set the standards that carried through every page and component. On the technical side, I coordinated closely with development, translating requirements, removing blockers, and making sure the build lived up to the design’s intent. SEO and content structure were also part of my remit. I mapped out how the site should be organized, how each page should support search visibility, and how the CMS needed to function so the client could grow their content without friction. After launch, I continued to oversee updates and improvements, keeping the platform aligned with evolving goals and ensuring the site remained strong, stable, and future ready.