International Women’s Day | #EachForEqual

March 5th, 2020, by

When Lucille Sive learned that the campaign theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #EachForEqual, she said “I love it!”

As the CEO for African Travel, Inc., Lucille Sive knows a thing or two about equality. Born and raised in South Africa, Lucille grew up during apartheid. “Without equality you cannot have a thriving community or business,” she says. When it comes to women and business, she firmly believes that taking risks can be one of the best things we can do for our careers and that sometimes you can make a decision in your life that changes the course of it in ways you never dreamed.

That’s what happened to Lucille when she accepted a marketing position at Lion World Travel. She had no travel or marketing background. What she did have was a desire to learn and that desire sparked a fiery passion for all things Africa. “Along my TTC journey I’ve done almost everything from the bottom upwards,” she said. “For females, you sometimes just have to jump in and make sure that you know every job that there is to know.” That philosophy paid off when a few years after joining the company, the owner asked her to run it. Seven years ago, she was named CEO of African Travel, and now oversees all the Africa offerings for TTC’s brands.

People measure success in different ways. For Lucille, success is all about how happy you are in what you do, and she is extremely happy in her life and her career. She credits being passionate about all things Africa for what helps make her life a success. Being a female business leader in any industry can be a challenge or an opportunity. Like an experienced wildlife tracker, Lucille looks for opportunity in everything she and her team do. So much so that her team often tells her that she always making lemonade out of lemons.

International Women’s Day is personal to Lucille because March 8th is also her birthday. She quotes the African proverb that says, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.’”

Lucille takes a lot of inspiration from women in Africa, who she finds incredibly resourceful and resilient. With its focus on sustainability, African Travel, Inc. partners with women entrepreneurs in the destinations they visit to purchase unique and locally crafted gifts, like intricately beautifully beaded elephants and rhinos as guest amenities. “Most of these women are single mothers and widows who must feed their families and the money they earn doesn’t just take care of them; it gets cycled back into their communities,” she said. “I’m continually inspired by women from local communities working on the conservation front, or who run lodges with an emphasis on protecting elephants, rhinos and other creatures.”

Lucille will tell you that equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. “I tell people that TTC is one of the nicest places to work at and I love what I do. I have opportunities here that I would never have had anywhere else because the Tollman family believed in me,” she says. “Individually, we can all have our own thoughts and we can all make a difference and we can all make sure that we celebrate women’s individual accomplishments, but together we can change the world.”

Sherwin's #TTCTop10 Bucket List

January 13th, 2020, by Sherwin Banda

A new year brings new adventures and I’m eager to fill it with travels. I’m blessed to have been born in Africa and look forward to discovering new places and rediscovering favorites on the continent. I also can’t wait to explore a few new destination experiences with my family recommended by my The Travel Corporation colleagues. Whether you like going it alone or in a group, traveling as a family, or a couple, I hope my #TTCTop10 Bucket List inspires you!

My Top 7 Africa Places

The next ‘it’ family spot

Africa is a wonderful place to experience with family. While I love showing my son my South African homeland, I can’t wait to take my family on our Beyond the Rainbow to Zimbabwe. The country is somewhat overlooked and unexplored but you’ll not only be awed with a different perspective on Victorial Falls, but also by some of the greatest game-viewing on land and water safaris. For another fantastic family option, especially mutli-gen gatherings, I recommend Best of Botswana and Victoria Falls.

Conservation and meaningful connections

So many travelers want authentic connections and to help the planet. My answer: go to Kenya! At Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, for instance, you’ll learn about their rhino rehabilitation efforts and experience wildlife through horse and walking safaris. In Kenya’s north, visit the singing wells of the Samburu tribe and observe the warriors perform an age-old tradition as they chant and collect water for their cattle. I plan to visit Kenya with my son and add an experience helping a local northern Maasai Mara community. It’s a great way for him fulfill a class project with real world impact and for us to experience giving back together.

Botswana’s new eco-safari lodge

Wherever I travel, I always look for ways to re-connect with nature, so I am very excited about Xijera, the new Red Carnation Hotel Collection safari lodge. It’s set in the Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta where wildlife viewing is incredible. The area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Africa, where over a third of the continent’s elephants roam. I can’t wait!

Extraordinary Adventure

For my more adventurous friends, and anyone looking to be surprised by the extraordinary, I highly recommend our Discover Rwanda. The country’s variety of wildlife viewing and new lodges is drawing travelers but it’s the people and the beauty of “the land of a thousand hills,” that is stealing hearts. A tip though, permits are limited to see the country’s star attraction—the endangered mountain gorilla—so start planning now.

Ultimate desert safari

I always like to look for new ways to go off the beaten path on safari. Namibia Desert Escapes, African Travel’s flying safari, delivers this with a one-of-a-kind desert safari exploration in one of the most other-worldly places on the planet. I’m always amazed by Namibia’s contrasts and love to explore the wildlife rich Etosha National Park, the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei and shipwrecks along the Skeleton Coast. Creatures here continually adapt to their harsh environment, which is really something to behold.

Africa’s magical islands

The islands of Africa from Mozambique to Zanzibar are often overlooked but are some of my favorites. They boast pristine beaches and are easily combinable with a safari experience. Right now, I’m fascinated by one and Magical Madagascar is calling. Often referred to as the eighth continent, this island is home to 5 percent of the world’s wildlife and vegetation. The year-round 70-degree Indian Ocean is also a huge draw to me, as is seeing 11 species of lemurs!

South Africa’s winelands provide more than award-winning grapes.

A taste of South Africa

And finally, I can’t miss recommending South Africa! I’m especially eager to tuck into the culinary scene in and around Cape Town. Wolfgat, recently voted #1 in the World’s Restaurant Awards, and beautiful wine regions like Stellenbosch and Hemel-en-Aarde are just a road trip from the city. As a special carrot to kick start a journey, we’re offering $1,000* off per couple on our most popular trip the Southern Explorer. So, you have no excuses!

And a few more places I can’t wait to visit…

Old world charm across the Atlantic

I called London home for several years and am excited to return for a friend’s wedding. Since it will be my son’s first time, I’m excited to revisit iconic attractions and new places through an Evans and Evans tour. While on that side of the Atlantic, exploring the Emerald Island through Intimate Ireland, a Brendan Vacations private chauffeur driven journey is tempting. Staying at Ashford Castle will be an adventure my son will love.

My secret gift splurge

Egypt is steadily gaining attention as a safer destination and an amazing way to explore ancient civilization. This time I’d like to see it on Uniworld’s Splendors of Egypt and The Nile and then journey further into the region with our Secrets of Jordan. While you may be in awe of Petra and the Bronze Age settlements in Jerash, I’m most eager to see local women’s association, Iraq Al Amir, and purchase their handcrafted gifts for my friends and family.

Pura Vida family time

I’m intrigued by Costa Rica and want to take my son gliding along the canals of Tortuguero under the watchful eyes of colorful toucans and trek the Pura Vida playground along the slopes of the Arenal Volcano. I suspect Trafalgar’s Monkeys, Jungles and Volcanoes will help bring out the child in all of us.

International Leopard Day 2019

May 3rd, 2019, by Katherine Watts

Happy International Leopard Day!

In honor of International Leopard Day, we’re sharing our top seven facts about the elusive leopard.

Most leopards are light coloured and have dark spots on their fur called “rosettes,” because they look like roses.
Leopards are solitary animals. They only spend time with others when they are mating or when they are raising their young. They are also nocturnal and spend their nights hunting instead of sleeping.
Leopards have varied diets and aren’t picky eaters! They are ambush predators and will crouch low with bent legs and their head low as they approach their prey and sneak up and pounce before it has a chance to react.
They can run up to 36 mph (58 kph), jump forward 20 feet (6 meters) and leap 10 feet (3 m) straight up, so it’s no wonder they’re great hunters!
As skilled climbers, leopards spend more of their days resting in tree branches during the day. They also often dray their heavy prey up into the trees to keep it away from other animals.
Unlike most cats, leopards are also skilled swimmers and like the water.
Although leopards are classified as a roaring cat, they rarely roar. Their voice is more of a raspy bark.