Who We Are

July 2010

We are about to embark on an extraordinary volunteer trip into Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa. This is the first time we have offered a trip of this kind. We have teamed up with The Rural Women's Movement and are looking forward to working with the women and girls (and young men) out in Zulu country to help empower them to be more self- sufficient. Rural Zulu women have very few rights. It's time that changed. With organizations like the Rural Women's Movement, these women and girls have a chance at happier lives.

So when we say, we want you to have a one-of-a-kind travel experience with The Cultural Explorer that you can’t find anywhere else — dreams fulfilled and new connections made.  We mean it, and we deliver!

So whether you are looking for a cultural or philanthropic travel experience, we want to give you the opportunity to make a real difference as you travel and contribute to the people and communities you visit.   We believe that your generosity as a traveler can impact those you meet. We want you to come home feeling like you have had the ultimate cultural experience.

So many people are drawn to Southern Africa. Oprah, by opening her Leadership Academy for Girls outside of Johannesburg, leads the way in what can be done to help the young people of South Africa. But there are so many other ways to help. It can be as simple as donating books for a bare school library or donating computers for classrooms. Or it could be a simple suggestion that gives someone a new business idea.  Or it could be working on a project to get electricity into rural Zulu villages.  It does not take much to make a big difference.

In looking back, one of our favorite trips last year was the Animals and Art trip we did in May. We had an experience that was unplanned and unexpected that stunned us all. It started out in a remote tribal village in the Limpopo Province. Our local guide, Abel, had arranged for some young men in the village to perform some of the tribal dances. He had put together this group to try to raise money for the local high school. It was late afternoon.

The young men started to drum and dance (after warming their drums over an open fire in the road) and at first they were like teenage boys anywhere -- goofing off, rolling their eyes, acting embarrassed. But then they got into it. It was as if the spirits of the ancestors took over. Pretty soon they pulled us into the dancing, trying to show us the steps. We all danced out into the road -- soon other people in the village showed up and we all began to dance together. We danced with the children, moms with their babies, the elders, young men and women. We held hands, we danced in circles. Pretty soon it felt as if the whole village was dancing with abandon in the road.

It was one of those rare moments in time you wish would last forever.

On one of our trips you might have dinner with an entrepreneur struggling with a new business. You might meet with a group of kids who need your input in how they can develop a small business or develop needed social skills. You might spend time in an orphanage and hear the kid's amazing stories. You might spend time with kids in a township and take them on  a  field trip. You might spend time with Zulu families out in the countryside unaccustomed to visitors. You might spend time with artists, writers, or reporters working hard to make changes in their government and political systems.

And you will be inspired by traditional healers and "ordinary" yet innovative people making a difference in their own communities. These personal interactions make our tours remarkable and memorable — creating moments you will talk about for years to come. You even might end up dancing with abandon in the road!

For many years I was involved in the aviation and aerospace industries and my business took me often into South Africa. Often after my business was completed, I would take some personal time and just explore out-of-the-way places. I met so many people that

amazed me with their hope and desire to create a better life for their children.

I saw so many areas and opportunities where we, as philanthropic travelers, could  actually help the local communities and make a difference. I met people that just needed some encouragement or a few ideas. I saw people building orphanages for abandoned kids that were beautiful and gave the children hope.  I also saw health organizations who needed financial or volunteer help.

So — I have designed exclusive excursions for my travelers so they will see parts of this country that are often missed by "tourists" and have the opportunity to have real impact on the locals in a way that matters. 

It is important to note that at The Cultural Explorer we hire only the best local guides and drivers, and we stay in locally owned hotels and B&Bs. Our tours give travelers a blend of cultural experiences while helping the economy of the countries and the peoples that we visit. The majority of your travel dollar will go directly to benefit the people and their communities.

I invite you to come have a unique travel experience with us! 

Pat Walker, Founder
San Francisco
pat@TheCuluralExplorer.com
415-387-1335s

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