Themba Travel, founded by entrepreneur Chantal Potgieter, designs and offers transformational tours to give guests an authentic South African experience. The company offers tours in Cultural, Conservation, and Volunteering within South Africa, and is intentional in what it wants visitors to see and experience as it takes time in crafting our tours. The company is launching The Beautiful Mix tour, a combination of three main experiences (Cultural, Community, and Conservation) This 12 day, 11-night tour is designed to give guests a taste of the diverse culture, connect them with local community projects, and experience a Safari within a wildlife conservation area. It is also a great opportunity to explore the best of cosmopolitan Cape Town in the south and the best of the north in Johannesburg.
Visitors will not only see the most iconic attractions like Table Mountain, Robben Island, or Kirstenbosch gardens but will also be exposed to smaller businesses and entrepreneurs. While guests visit South Africa and its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and colorful people, Themba Travel wants them to know that they are making an impact on the local community. South Africa stays a popular destination because of its rich history, diverse people, wildlife, and colorful cultures. Imagine if you could see these iconic attractions like Table Mountain, or enjoy the beautiful beaches and at the same time transform someone’s life?
Themba Travel founder, Chantal Potgieter says, “We want to use the travel platform to bring about transformation by supporting local initiatives. Motivated and inspired by the UN Sustainability Goals, we are committed to supporting local projects that are creating quality education, work towards zero hunger and help preserve life on land. The travel industry has long been dominated by big companies who have capitalized on South African culture without the cultures benefiting from it. Tourism brings in millions and it goes to the owners of these companies who still today do not empower their workers. I want to be the owner of a company that serves the client, impacts the community, and collaborates with a new generation of entrepreneurs who shares the same vision.”
The first 7 days of The Beautiful Mix tour are spent in Cape Town visiting some of the most monumental landmarks like Table Mountain, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, District Six Museum, Cape Point, driving Chapman's Peak, while enjoying sandy beaches, dining, and entertainment. Cape Town is one of South Africa's most visited cities and is literally one of the most breathtaking and beautiful cities. Visitors get the opportunity to engage with the locals from Langa where the local guide tells the history of Cape Town's first and oldest townships and serves coffee from the first coffee shop in a township. It also takes visitors to the Winelands for wine tasting and later for a visit to a youth community project.
A domestic flight takes visitors to Johannesburg (Jozi) for the next couple of days. Here visits to sites like the Cradle of Human Mankind and the Apartheid Museum, the Union Buildings, and the FNB Stadium are on the programme. The aim is then to meet up with a local project and walk Vilikaze Street in Soweto, also visiting places like the Hector Pieterson Museum and checking out the local markets filled with African art and souvenirs. Next the plan is to head out to Dinokeng Game Reserve for a 2 day Safari. This unique and memorable tour comes to an end as guests are taken to OR Tambo Airport for their departure flight.
The tour is designed for small groups (4-10 people) and is family-friendly with lots of activities for all age groups and can be done as a Women only, Over 60's or Mixed group. It starts on a Tuesday at Cape Town International Airport and ends 12 days later at Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. Accommodation is in 3-4 star hotels and has a travel manager available 24/7. Terms and Conditions apply.
What makes this product offering different is that this tour gives a holistic view of South Africa. It encompasses the scenic beauty South Africa is known for, but also highlights the people who make it great, especially those who have been previously disadvantaged. The tour is both educational and unique and wants to give guests a better understanding and appreciation of the culture.
Chantal adds, “We want guests to have an amazing experience knowing that their trip has been meaningful and has made a significant change to someone's life. While we run as a business, it is the social impact that is the highest priority. Almost 50% of the South African population still lives in poverty. Over 50% of young people are unemployed, yet only 17% of the population owns 70% of the wealth of the country. After 25 of democracy, we are still struggling? Private business in every industry needs to bring about change. We want to be part of the solution and not linger on the past but look ahead to a future filled with hope.”
The first year of the business was overwhelmed by the Corona Virus and it had to pivot and do online Facebook Live events. This is the platform at the moment to do events. The aim is to do an online event to launch the Beautiful Mix. A 3-day FB Live event is planned where Chantal’s South African partners and friends can give potential clients an existing picture of what they can expect and why their next travel destination should be South Africa, and why it should be with Themba Travel. Preparations are underway for this event, and to be bold the plan is for 24-26 March 2021.
Chantal says she would love guests to see 'more' places that are not always shown or advertised by major travel companies. She wants to bring awareness to smaller, local entrepreneurs and those who do not have the budget for big marketing campaigns. There are so many community heroes that work hard to make an impact and she wants the world to know about them. Like the woman in the Winelands who planted and grew her own grapes and who is one of the first women of colour to have a wine farm.
This tour will give guests a sweet summary of South Africa and how their visit helps to make a difference. How? A percentage of the tour fees goes to the projects visited. Visitors will experience a memorable holiday and know they played a part in bringing about change, whether it is providing a child with quality education, providing skills development to a young person that has been ousted out of mainstream education, or helping an elderly person have their blood pressure checked for free by a community initiative in partnership with the Health Department.
For those wanting to know more about Themba Travel and The Beautiful Mix tour, contact Chantal via email: chantal@thembatravel.com or visit the website: https://thembatravel.com/packages/beautiful-mix-tours/ or follow the company on social media:
