(Courtesy of Vicky Law)

The feature film The Trail, better known as LA PISTE, focuses on the relationship between a British geologist and his daughter against the backdrop of one of the most remote and exotic locations in Namibia. The most impressive part of the film is the country's spectacular scenery, including the oldest desert on earth and the largest sand dunes, Skeleton Coast, the Kamanjab town and Walvis Bay.

These locations are still unfamiliar to most Chinese people, but this is not the case for Vicky Law.

Hong Kong to Windhoek

Law's entire family immigrated to South Africa from Hong Kong in the late 1980s. After over 20 years of working and living in Africa, she has fallen in love with the continent.

"In early 2007, I moved to Namibia and started my own travel agency from scratch, due to its comfortable environment, friendly people and beautiful scenery," Law told ChinAfrica. She used an easy-to-remember name "Lion King Travel" for her company, as the lion is one of the big four animals of Africa.

Situated on the southwest coast of Africa, Namibia is a country of contrasting landscapes. These range from the spectacular Namib Desert, the popular wildlife destination Etosha Park, and the quaint costal city of Swakopmund.

According to the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), the country receives around 1 million tourists from all over the world each year, with tourism revenue accounting for about 10 percent of its total GDP. It has long been a favorite destination among European travelers. Comparatively, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Namibia is quite small, especially when Lion King Travel started its operations in 2007.

Also in the same year, China granted Namibia approved destination status for Chinese travelers. Since then, the number of Chinese visiting the country has been increasing rapidly. "Our company is reaping benefits [from this], with the annual sales growth of about 20 percent [in recent years]," said Law, now Managing Director of Lion King Travel.

She had worked as the managing director of Asian Pacific Region for Sun International of South Africa for seven years. With a wealth of experience in the tourism industry, it is no wonder that her company developed a reputation for professional and highly attentive services.

"The tourists we have received are mostly from the Chinese mainland, the rest [of tourists] are from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Our clients mainly include high-end holidaymakers and business groups," said Law. Her in-depth understanding of the Asia-Pacific tourism market also helps Lion King Travel to attract some customers from Singapore and South Korea.

According to Law, the typical travelers to Namibia are middle-aged Chinese people with middle-to-high incomes. "Most of them don't know much about the country, but have a great curiosity for exploration on the continent."

Lion King Travel's trips are therefore tailored to suit their different requirements for high-end tourism. "Sightseeing tours have been normally arranged for business travelers while outdoor activities such as tribal adventures and desert motorcycle tours are more suitable for younger tourists and photographers," she added.