Who We Are

June-July 2008

We recently returned from our May 08 trip into the Venda and Shangaan artist region of the magical Limpopo province. It was an incredible adventure for all of us.  One couple, from Jamica Queens, NY, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while on the trip.

Of course, we pulled out all the stops for them to make it special. Here is what Stella wrote from Lesheba:

"How grateful and fortunate we are to spend our 50th wedding anniversary at Lesheba - a place of wonder on the continent of our ancestors. This has been a completely unique experience that we will never forget  -- thanks to Pat Walker of The Cultural Explorer."                                                          Stella and Harold, Animals & Art trip, May 2008

When I read that, I knew we had achieved our goal: 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!

One Sunday afternoon we were in a small, rural Shangaan village and the young men of the village were asked to show us their cultural dances.  As first they were like teenagers anywhere, they were laughing and showing off. But as the dancing and drumming progressed they really got into it.  And so did we:  several of the children of the village asked us all to dance and soon our group was dancing with abandon in the dirt road.  Soon other people from the village joined us and everyone danced -- older people, children, teenagers, moms with babies. Even the local middle school principal was dancing. It was a very special Sunday for all of us. Later when I asked the group what had been their favorite part of the trip - they all said: dancing in the road!

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

So many people are drawn to Southern Africa. Oprah, by opening her Leadership Academy for Girls outside of Johannesburg, leads (maybe blazes is a better word) 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.

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. This is truly enrichment travel!

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! 

Our customers give us rave reviews --

This is travel that makes a difference!

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

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