“The biggest lesson from Africa was that life’s joys come mostly from relationships and friendships, not from material things. I saw time and again how much fun Africans had with their families and friends and on the sports fields; they laughed all the time.” – Andrew Shue (American actor)
When you travel to Africa, you will be changed by the people you meet. The beautiful landscapes and the Big 5 will be seared forever into your mind, that’s for certain, but it is Africa’s people that will capture your heart and leave you longing to return.
As a team, we have been privileged to experience many trips to various African destinations – from gorilla trekking in Rwanda to Urban tourism in Nairobi, when we look back on these wonderful visits our most powerful memories are – without contest – linked to the special human beings we have met.
Every time we hear my fellow African citizens’ personal stories, learn about their ways of life and visit their homes, it gives one the opportunity to reinterpret ourselves and expand your worldview. We don’t believe it’s an overstatement to say that each trip leaves its mark on my heart and my soul.
SPECIAL TRAVEL MEMORY BY ROBIN
On one of my trips to South Luangwa in Zambia, our guides and their friends arranged a traditional meal around the fireplace. This was no ordinary meal. There were no chairs or tables – we all sat on cushions on the floor. The meal was prepared as the locals would enjoy it, family-feast style with a range of meats and vegetables and no cutlery. After dinner everyone shared their life experiences – what it is like living in a remote destination, being schooled under really trying circumstances and how they came to work in the wildlife tourism industry. Their discussion and views on dating and lobola was fascinating (they explained the primary purpose of lobola – which is to build relations between the respective families, as marriage is seen to be more than just a union between two individuals). It was a frank and eye-opening, shared experience. By swapping our stories I believe we all learned so much and gained a deeper understanding of our different cultural upbringings.
Now, after many years of enjoying meaningful connections, we know for certain how essential a human focus is towards fully and truly experiencing a destination. The impact is profound. Through meaningful encounters with Africa’s beautiful citizens, you will be transformed by your travel experience. These interactions will stay with you long after you return home, and they will help shape your understanding of this amazing continent.
We recommend a fuller visit to Africa – rather than just an in-and-out, five-star safari experience. With our well-established connections to local change-makers, we can be exposed to a melting pot of cultures, creativity, languages and histories, curated to our unique interests. Some of the key themes we focus on are Art and Politics, Conservation and Environment, Innovation and Education and Community, as well as other more niche curate experiences that fall outside of these themes.
When we travel, we open our hearts to people in a way that we don’t seem to at home. Guests often say that they leave a place crying from saying goodbye to the amazing people they have met. Maybe that’s because the people they meet are working for the good of the world and for the happiness of their visitors. Or perhaps it’s because guests get to witness, up close, individuals going through real transformation through their engagement with nature.
By connecting with inspiring locals, a journey to Africa has the power to stretch your human experience, invite the extraordinary and leave you changed, forever.
