Meet the Curators

Every remarkable journey begins long before you board a flight

At The Soluna Experience, we believe the most memorable journeys are thoughtfully designed, deeply personal and rooted in genuine local knowledge. That's why we spend weeks each year exploring Africa firsthand—revisiting destinations, discovering exceptional stays, meeting local guides and uncovering experiences that rarely make it into a guidebook.

We don't believe in selling destinations we've only read about. Every recommendation we make is shaped by our own travels, conversations and experiences across the continent.

Over the years, we've built trusted relationships with lodge owners, guides, conservationists and local partners who share our passion for authentic, responsible travel. These relationships allow us to create journeys that are not only seamless, but also deeply connected to the people and places that make Africa extraordinary.

Whether you're dreaming of watching elephants roam beneath Kilimanjaro, wandering through the blue streets of Chefchaouen, discovering Madagascar's unique wildlife or witnessing the Great Migration across the Maasai Mara, every itinerary is designed around your interests, pace and travel style.

More than travel planners. Your journey's curators.

We're Matt and Ruth, the founders of The Soluna Experience.

Together, we've explored Africa extensively, not simply to build itineraries, but to understand what makes each destination truly special. From inspecting boutique properties and remote safari camps to sharing stories with local communities over countless cups of coffee, every journey we take helps us create better journeys for our travellers.

For us, luxury isn't defined by five-star hotels alone. It's found in the warmth of a guide who knows the land by heart, the quiet moments between unforgettable wildlife encounters, the charm of independently owned properties and the confidence of knowing every recommendation comes from firsthand experience.

When you travel with Soluna, you're not choosing a package. You're choosing a journey that's been thoughtfully curated by people who know, love and continually return to the places they recommend.

Our
Approach

Get to Know Us

Every journey we create begins with a simple question:

If we were taking this trip ourselves, would we choose this?

That question guides every recommendation we make.

Before a destination becomes part of a Soluna journey, we experience it ourselves. We stay in the properties, drive the routes, meet the guides, explore the neighbourhoods and spend time understanding the rhythm of a place beyond the highlights.

It's how we've built a trusted network of local partners across Africa—people who share our commitment to exceptional hospitality, authenticity and responsible travel.

We believe luxury is deeply personal. For some, it's waking up to elephants outside a safari camp. For others, it's a hidden riad tucked away in the medina, a quiet beach with no crowds, or an unhurried conversation with a local guide who brings a destination to life.

No two travellers are the same, and no two Soluna journeys should be either.

Every itinerary is thoughtfully designed around your interests, travel style and pace, balancing iconic experiences with meaningful moments that make your journey uniquely yours.

Meet Ruth & Matt

Matt Tharakan

Matt is happiest on the road. Whether he's jumping off a cliff in Kilifi, navigating the backroads of Madagascar, sharing stories around a campfire under the African sky or eating his way through Morocco, his favourite part of every journey is uncovering experiences that travellers rarely discover on their own and turning them into journeys that feel deeply personal.

Matt believes: Every great journey begins with curiosity..

Ruth D'Roza

Ruth believes that the smallest details often leave the biggest impression. Whether she's discovering a beautifully designed boutique stay, sharing a meal prepared with generations of family tradition or finding the perfect spot to pause and simply take in a landscape, she's always looking for the moments that transform a holiday into a lasting memory.

With an instinctive eye for design, hospitality and thoughtful experiences, Ruth brings a refined perspective to every journey we curate. She believes true luxury isn't about excess—it's about feeling welcomed, cared for and completely at ease, wherever you are in the world.

Ruth believes : The smallest details are often the ones people remember long after they return home.

Why We return

Africa is constantly evolving, and so are the journeys we create.

That's why we return to the destinations we recommend, year after year.

We add new and revisit properties to ensure they continue to meet our standards. We discover new experiences, strengthen relationships with local partners and spend time exploring beyond the familiar, always looking for places and moments worth sharing.

Every recce trip helps us refine our itineraries so that when we recommend a lodge, a guide or a hidden café, it's because we've experienced it ourselves.

For us, firsthand knowledge isn't a luxury—it's a responsibility.

Because every recommendation we make carries our name.

"From start to finish, everything was handled so thoughtfully and seamlessly. Every detail was carefully curated, and the entire journey felt personal rather than commercial. If you're considering travelling with Soluna, you can blindly trust them."

- Kiran Vinod, Kenya

"Even the smallest details—from packed breakfasts and idyllic picnic spots to interesting pit stops—were thoughtfully included. Behind every journey is an incredible amount of planning, care and attention, and it shows."

- Bharati Sridhar

"If you're planning a Kenya safari, just book with Soluna. The entire trip was seamless from the moment we landed until we flew back. The properties were stunning, the service was exceptional, and every recommendation exceeded our expectations."

- Devayani Amitabh

Ready to begin?

Whether you're planning your first safari, celebrating a milestone or simply dreaming of exploring Africa, we'd love to help you create a journey that's thoughtfully designed around you.

Every itinerary begins with a conversation. We'll get to know how you like to travel, understand what matters most to you and curate an experience that's entirely your own.

We look forward to helping you discover Africa, one unforgettable journey at a time.

Talk to us >