Maurice Felix of SAFARI N SMILES

SHOW NOTES: How many CE conferences have you attended that bored you to death? When was the last time you sat in a stuffy, overcrowded room in the middle of a city you’ve visited too many times—just so you could get some CE credits? How awesome would it be if you could get your CE at a “destination location” instead? How excited would you feel if you could pair adventure with CE credits? That’s why Dr. Glenn Vo was excited to sit down with Maurice Mogo as Maurice was just as happy to sit down with Glenn, as a big fan of his books! Glenn’s good friend Elijah Desmond met Maurice on a safari in Africa. Why was Maurice on a cruise with Elijah? Well, Maurice is the founder and owner of Safari N Smiles—the means by which Elijah was getting his CE! Through his company, Maurice enables dental professionals (and their families, if they want to have them tag along) to experience a safe safari vacation in Kenya all while getting CE credits. So, what inspired Maurice to start up an idea like Safari N Smiles? Maurice grew up in Eastern Kenya in a very small village named Meru, at the slopes of Mount Kenya. His grandfather was a Game Warden for close to three decades—a good indication of his family’s long-lasting love for wildlife conservation efforts. However, Maurice had never visited the dentist until he was 12 or 13 years old. The dentist numbed his gums, prepared to extract some teeth, and Maurice quickly bolted out the door. Of course, Maurice had to go back to the dentist and get the life-changing treatment he needed. As a result, Maurice and the dentist ended up becoming two peas in a pod. Maurice started volunteering at the dental practice. His job was to interpret when there was a dental/medical mission trip coming to Kenya, he spoke four native languages! Maurice translated for the dentist and talked about lots of medical matters, but he didn’t really get into the profession of dentistry until he came to the U.S. in 2013. After finishing Dental Hygiene school in Erie, Pennsylvania, Maurice moved to the Washington D.C. area and has been practicing as a dental hygienist for four years now. Maurice’s love for animals and safari didn’t end when he moved to the U.S. He’d constantly talk to his patients about the animals over in Africa—lions, elephants, giraffes, you name it—and even guide his patients on how to go on a safe safari in Africa. After helping a few patients with going on a safari, Maurice thought he might be able to do the same for his colleagues. Thus, the idea of Safari N Smiles was born! Kenya isn’t just Maurice’s home—it’s also the place where safari travel originated. The best Kenya tours and safaris include Big 5 game viewing, incredible natural beauty, and cultural encounters, often combining Kenya’s top attractions with Tanzania and the tropical beaches of the Kenyan coast. For many dental professionals, we’re in this industry because we want to help—a great reason to partake in the next Safari N Smiles trip. Maurice is offering a CE conference, vacation, and dental/medical mission trip all in one—he has plans to help an orphanage for young girls who’ve been victims of abuse. Learn about: What made Dr. Glenn Vo get into dentistry? What part of Maurice’s story inspired Glenn to talk about it? How did Maurice’s experiences in Kenya inspire him? Who inspired him specifically, and how? What can you expect on a safari through Safari N Smiles? How does Maurice ensure everyone is totally safe during the safari? How long did it take Maurice to start Safari N Smiles? How much time and effort did it take to foster this brainchild into a booming enterprise? What were his moments of doubt, and how did he overcome them? How did the Nifty Thrifty community help Maurice to maintain his flame of inspiration and keep it from extinguishing? Why does Maurice think it’s important to witness Africa through the guidance of a local? Why do the books and videos create poor expectations? And more!