WE KNOW AFRICA
Welcome to the African Travel safari blog. In this space, we share inspirational stories and ideas on adventures in Africa, plus our latest social posts!
International Women’s Day | #EachForEqual
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
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!
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.
Fit for a King
After a long journey, King, a one-year old lion cub, has arrived at his new home in the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa. African Travel, Inc. is proud to support King’s journey in partnership with the Born Free Foundation, Shamwari Game Reserve and the TreadRight Foundation. I could not be happier to share King’s story, and its wonderful conclusion, with you!
King in his forever home at Shamwari Game Reserve.
Photo: Shamwari Game Reserve/ Born Free Foundation
Last October, King was rescued from a French apartment after authorities discovered that he had been living in terrible conditions and was being kept illegally. At the time, King was only a few months old and was being neglected and abused by his owner. It was absolutely devastating to see just how poorly such a beautiful wild animal like King was being treated. Thankfully, King was rescued and moved to Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue centre in Belgium that specializes in rehabilitation of sick and injured wild animals, where his story took a positive turn.
King begins his journey from Europe to South Africa.
Photo: Shamwari Game Reserve/ Born Free Foundation
When King arrived in Belgium he was a small, frightened lion who distrusted people. However, over the next nine months, the staff at the centre worked hard to rehabilitate King physically and emotionally. By the time he left Belgium, King’s confidence had grown along with his roar! During his time in Europe, the Born Free Foundation launched an appeal to move King permanently to their big cat sanctuary in South Africa, located in the Shamwari Game Reserve. Their appeal was successful, and King officially began his journey to his ancestral home in July.
King arrives at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa.
Photo: Shamwari Game Reserve/ Born Free Foundation
More than a year following the start of his ordeal, King departed Belgium on July 5th for the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary in the Shamwari Game Reserve. Born Free’s mission is to “keep wildlife in the wild” with a focus on taking in captive big cats living in poor conditions and giving them the opportunity to live freely in large enclosures in the natural environment. Because King has grown up in captivity, close to humans, he will never be able to re-join the wild, but his forever home at Shamwari gives him ample natural space to roam and be free.
King bursts out of his crate and into his new home at Shamwari.
Photo: Shamari Game Reserve/ Born Free Foundation
After a two-day journey on Kenyan Airways, King arrived at Shamwari on July 7, 2018. He was greeted by the experienced teams at the Born Free Centre, led by Catherine Gillson, and Shamwari, including veterinarian Dr. Johan Joubert. When animals arrive in new environments there’s a lot of uncertainty about how they will react. However, all reservations of King’s transition were quickly laid to rest when the wildlife team opened the crate and King burst into his new home running and leaping through his new environment immediately. It was a truly magical moment for everyone involved and it was captured beautifully in the video below.
For a year-old cub who has been through so much, King’s energy and confidence in his new setting is a tremendously positive sign. In the weeks following his arrival, the team at Born Free have reported that King has been eating, drinking and exploring his new home with a curiosity and self-assurance that is rare for new arrivals at the centre. Catherine Gillson, Manager of the Born Free Centre, is also positive that King has already grown in his short time there. With his fantastic start to his new life in South Africa, we are happy that King will finally be able to live the life he deserves: free and in a home fit for a king.
King, three weeks after his arrival at Shamwari.
Photo: Shamwari Game Reserve/ Born Free Foundation
At African Travel, Inc., we are proud to support King’s journey. We are absolutely committed to protecting Africa’s big cat populations in Africa and thanks to the incredible support we receive from our guests, we are able to make positive contributions to stories just like King’s. Our partner, the TreadRight Foundation, has also proudly supported King’s journey as a part of their Big Cat initiative, a new program aimed specifically at conserving the world’s big cats for generations to come. Thank you to Shamwari, Born Free, Kenyan Airways and everyone else who has been involved in making the end to King’s story such a happy one.
Interested in seeing King in person? Our Majestic South Africa can take you there. You will spend 3 nights at the Shamwari Game Reserve where you will have the opportunity to visit King’s forever home at the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary.
