African Travel, Inc. President, Sherwin Banda's Return to South Africa

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting my homeland South Africa. This visit was special for so many reasons – one of the main ones was getting to experience the wonderful work being done by The Amy Foundation. The Amy Biehl Foundations story is remarkable, and continues to attract volunteers from all over the world. As I grew up on the cape flats of Cape Town during apartheid, I know first hand the hardships that face the communities in this area.

The Amy Foundation aims to empower and uplift the youth of the communities by providing after-school programs in dance, drama, sports, music, cooking and more to children living in vulnerable communities around Cape Town. The programs help to keep kids off the street and engaged in an environment where they can learn life skills and most importantly, have fun!

 I also experienced a safari at Shamwari Game Reserve, which was truly breathtaking.  

Returning to the bush and experiencing the sights and sounds of Africa while on safari is truly one of my favorite things in the world. I am in a constant state of euphoria as I listen and see the magic unfold in the bush. Watching the sky change from day to night is like witnessing a beautiful masterpiece being painted before your eyes. Being in nature and completely surrounded by Africa’s wildlife is an experience everyone should have. One of my favorite moments on safari was being encircled by elephants. Being so close to the gentle giants is a moment I will cherish forever.  

Being amongst the wildlife also made me more passionate than ever about the need to protect and preserve this magical landscape for decades to come. Shamwari Game Reserve is home to some of the most advanced anti poaching units in the country. It is also home to The TreadRight Bat Hawk which works to aid Shamwari’s mission to stop poaching and protect the Africa’s wildlife.

The sustainable development and conservation philosophies of the Amy Biehl Foundation and Shamwari Game Reserve supports African Travel, Inc’s. vision to make a meaningful difference in the communities where we do business and reaffirms our pledge to the TreadRight Foundation. Our parent company, The Travel Corporation founded The TreadRight Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps to ensure the communities and environments we visit remain vibrant for generations to come.