Kim Paffen
Kim is a professional award winning photographer & travel writer with a crush on Africa. She has won the National Geographic Photo Contest of 2019 in the category ‘animal’ and several of her photos have been published in magazines, for example in National Geographic Magazine.
Traveling the planet - 5 continents explored and many countries visited - introduced Kim to a wealth of different landscapes, wildlife, cultures and amazing experiences, whereby every country has its own beauty with amazing people and hidden gems to discover. Kim is passionate about capturing those unique and inspiring moments that make people want to explore the world too.
Want maximum exposure for your (online) business? Kim can offer a fully integrated package that combines the best photographic images of your accommodation or tours to use on your own website and social channels including promotion of your business through the Traveltomtom platform which is listed Top 50 Biggest Travel Blogs in the World!
With over a decade of travel experience in combination with her photography skills, we are extremely happy to have Kim in our team. Discover the world’s most amazing places through her lens on her Instagram account @ourplanetinmylens or kimpaffen.com. Read more about her biggest passions, favourite continent and more in the article below.
Passion for travel and photography
My passion for photography developed after my urge to travel the world. I travel to learn and understand the world a bit better and it has taught me the value of memories and people over things. People and cultures from all over the world inspire me and I love to explore the beauty our life has to offer; from amazing landscapes and breath-taking sunsets to endangered wildlife and meeting inspiring people with their own unique traditions, sounds and food! Photography is a love affair with life and my camera is the perfect instrument of expression for me on my journey around the world! I love the experience of being behind the lens and the challenge of deciding how I want to capture a moment. I feel blessed that I’m able to travel and capture our planet the way I see it. I hope that my images and travel blogs will inspire you to go out and explore the world by yourself!
Why I love Africa
Every country has its own beauty, but being on the plains of Southern and Eastern Africa give me that special feeling. In Africa I feel somehow more grounded and I’m able to connect to nature, the people and myself. It forces you to be in the moment, because – in the bush – you don’t know what the next minute will bring. Being so close to nature makes me feel alive and free! I’ve visited over 10 African countries; some of them more than once and there really is something about Africa that feels like home to me. Asia, however, is the continent with my favourite food (from Sushi to Thai Curries) and where I love to travel to as well.
Photography and conservation volunteer
In the past I have had the privilege of living and volunteering in a private game reserve in South Africa, which was one of the best experiences of my life. I was happy to contribute to vital conservation within the reserve and motivated to learn more about wildlife photography, improve my photography skills and go on game drives to shoot photos of wildlife for educational initiatives. It’s also the place where my passion for wildlife photography was born. I loved working together on higher goals and see step-by-step improvement. If you are thinking about volunteering abroad, please do your research and find an ethical organisation. Look carefully at the work you will be doing and how it affects local people. Remember that if you don’t have the skills to do a job at home, you shouldn’t do that job overseas either.
Wildlife enthusiast
As a wildlife enthusiast and wildlife photographer I keep going back to Africa; for its nature, the people and my love for our beautiful – and sadly endangered – wildlife! I’ve also been working for different lodges around Africa, where I combine wildlife photography and lodge photography to promote their business. With my wildlife images I hope to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing and that it will inspire others to contribute to wildlife conservation. The fight for our wildlife has never been more important, so I hope my images can be a small reminder of lives worth saving.
Joining Traveltomtom
I joined the Traveltomtom team in 2018, to create more high quality content for the platforms’ followers and partners in the travel and tourism industry. For Traveltomtom I traveled to for example Uganda to write about gorilla tracking, to Madagascar to spot lemurs and explore Avenue of Baobabs including the best time to visit, to Israel to write about the lives in the shade of the wall around the Gaza Border, to Portugal for a Lisbon City Trip and to South Africa to hike table mountain, observe the African penguins and to spot the Big 5 in several Game Reserves and National Parks. Follow @Traveltomtom and my personal Instagram account @ourplanetinmylens to keep up with all my future travel adventures, travel blogs and travel tips.
Work with us
Want maximum exposure for your (online) business or do you need stunning photos to display your business, tours or accommodation at its very best? As a professional photographer I can offer you the best high-resolution images for your website, social media or other (printed) media including promotion of your business through the Traveltomtom platform. Inquire for the different packages and to discuss the possibilities.
Interested in purchasing some of the travel photos we have in stock? Get in touch through kim@traveltomtom.net and I will get back to you with the rates and possibilities.
Do you have any other photography and travel related questions or collaborations in mind like hotel or tour reviews and sponsored posts? I’d love to hear from you! The Traveltomtom media kit is available upon request.
Find below Kim's latest articles for Traveltomtom
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7 Reasons to stay at Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli
An exclusive safari experience in a 30.000-hectare private wildlife conservancy part of the Amboseli ecosystem, how does that sound? The Amboseli ecosystem is known for its magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the large elephant population.
In this blog I am excited to share with you 7 reasons why a stay at Elewana’s Tortilis Camp Amboseli has to be on your bucket list when you travel to Kenya.
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Elewana Collection Tanzania | a Unique Coffee & Safari Experience
Many people travel to Tanzania because it’s a popular African safari destination, but did you know that coffee production is a flourishing business in Tanzania as well? Coffee is Tanzania's largest exported crop, and the production of coffee employs more than 400,000 families. Apart from that, a coffee plantation experience is a great way to learn and explore more about Tanzania’s culture and history.
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Top 5 places to visit in KwaZulu Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is a province in South Africa, also known as Zululand. If you are a lover of safaris and the African bush but also prefer some beach time, then put KwaZulu Natal on your bucket-list to experience the best of both worlds.
KZN has many high-end private game reserves offering exclusive safaris and amazing wildlife experiences, like the peaceful Manyoni Game Reserve and exclusive Thanda Safari. Near St. Lucia, in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, you can enjoy one of the most stunning beaches with Cape Vidal as one of the best beaches to visit in a protected area. Kwazulu-Natal is easily accessible for most tourists as it has its own King Shaka International Airport, located in Durban.
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Best Things to Do in Eswatini: Top Places to Visit & Travel Guide
I recently explored Eswatini on a 6-day itinerary, it’s fair to say that the Kingdom of Eswatini is surprisingly amazing and well worth it to spend more time than only passing through.
In this article, I will share the best places to visit in the Kingdom of Eswatini, including activities and places to stay. Be prepared for amazing wildlife encounters, stunning nature, fun adventurous activities, and cultural experiences that enable you to learn more about the Eswatini culture and the Swazi lifestyle. You can visit all these places in a minimum of 6 days itinerary.
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5 Favorite Items Africa Lovers Packs for Safari
Are you planning to go on a safari in Africa? There are a few essentials you should pack to make the best out of your Africa adventure, from gadgets to clothing and electronics. In this blog Kim Paffen, a professional photographer and Traveltomtom team member sums up the first things she puts in her bag when going on a safari in Africa.
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EcoTraining Field Guide Course in the Maasai Mara
The best way to experience Africa’s nature and wildlife!
Are you looking for an exciting and educational wildlife experience in Africa that differs from an ‘ordinary’ safari trip to Africa? Consider a wildlife course! A wildlife course or safari guide training is especially interesting for those who love being in nature and wish to experience a wildlife adventure that includes learning about the natural environment and animals’ behavior - with the chance of obtaining an official FGASA qualification from the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa.
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House in the Wild Kenya | Boutique Lodge in the Maasai Mara
Lately I had the privilege of staying at a private family-owned boutique lodge named 'House in the Wild'. Located in the Enonkishu Conservancy, a beautiful remote location in the Greater Mara ecosystem with an incredible wildlife experience.
The House in the Wild Lodge is a mix of luxury, comfort, warm hospitality, good food and stunning nature. It felt like a home away from home where I didn't want to leave after a 4-night stay.
Kenya is without a doubt one of the most incredible wildlife and safari destinations in the entire world. Staying in safari-style (luxury) eco-lodges in the conservancies around the Maasai Mara National Reserve is in my opinion one of the best options to experience a safari of a lifetime.
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Le Mas de Cink Review: 10 Reasons to Stay in the Luberon (Saint Saturnin les Apt)
The main reason I traveled to the Provence was to photograph the lavender fields in Luberon and Valensole. However, there’s a lot more to see and do in the Luberon Region which makes it worth spending at least a week in this stunning area in central Provence.
When visiting the Luberon Region, it’s convenient to choose one base to discover the charming little villages of Luberon and its stunning nature. We stayed in Le Mas de Cink, a beautiful and cozy family Mas transformed into six spacious apartments located in the Northern part of Luberon, near Roussillon and Gordes. For 5 days, we explored the medieval villages, experienced the region’s lifestyle and tasted the Luberon cuisine and wines.
In this article, we share 10 reasons why ‘Le Mas de Cink’ is a great place to stay while road tripping through The Provence and why the Luberon Region should be part of your Provence Itinerary.
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11 Reasons To Book Remezzo Santorini in Imerovigli
The famous volcanic island of Santorini is known for its whitewashed villages, incredible sunsets and unique landscape. It’s a very popular honeymoon destination and definitely a place you need to visit, at least once in your life.
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11 Reasons to stay at Theatro Hotel Odysseon in Meteora, Kalabaka
Ever visited Meteora in Greece? This place was on my photography bucket list for quite some time. After exploring Athens and its historical sights, I hired a car and drove in 4,5 hours from Athens to the stunning rock formations and monasteries of Meteora. If you haven’t been there, I would definitely recommend to add Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to your travel bucket list.