Rhino Africa: how luxury travel can leave a lasting impact on rural communities
On the road to empowering young people, Good Work Foundation (GWF) has stayed the course and made a tangible difference in thousands of lives – and couldn’t have done so without incredible partners like Rhino Africa.
This luxury safari company not only provides tailor-made African safaris and tours to Southern Africa, East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, but has also supported GWF’s work in rural communities for more than 15 years.
It all started when Rhino Africa founder David Ryan visited Londolozi Game Reserve and met GWF founder Kate Groch. There was an instant meeting of hearts and minds, and a shared passion for the communities on the borders of the wild spaces both love so much.
“Rhino Africa wasn’t just looking to create amazing safari experiences; they wanted to use tourism as a tool to uplift communities,” says Groch.
“They were looking to work with a partner who would collaborate with them in creating value for people, young and old, to get involved in promoting conservation and the protection of wildlife. And that’s exactly what Rhino Africa has been doing since that first meeting with us.”
Tourism has always been a huge part of South Africa's economy. And, thanks to vocation-specific programmes such as GWF’s Conservation Academy that give young people a headstart in their career journeys, the sector can be a powerful driver of job creation and rural empowerment.
“We know that for every seven international guests that visit South Africa, you can create one sustainable job,” emphasises Ryan. “The benefits of tourism are far-reaching. It is a powerful tool in addressing South Africa’s socio-economic challenges, particularly unemployment.”
As part of its ongoing support for GWF’s initiatives, Rhino Africa is also a key player in the GWF Sweepstakes campaign, whereby entrants can contribute to GWF’s fundraising efforts and be in line to win a luxurious city-and-safari getaway.
“We’re excited to be involved in the GWF Sweepstakes campaign, putting a once-in-a-lifetime safari itinerary together, for it seemed like the perfect way to lend our support,” Ryan shares.
September is Tourism Month, and Ryan says it presents the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the incredible benefits of tourism. "South Africa is a dream destination; it is truly a world in one country, with so much to see and do. Along with that is an incredible amount of untapped potential in our tourism industry, but also a need to take advantage of opportunities and expand beyond the usual traditional tourism hotspots.”
For Rhino Africa, the ongoing partnership with GWF is about making a daily impact that inspires others to do the same. In working together, our individual efforts can ultimately amount to a significant change for South Africa’s people, wildlife and communities.
“So, when you wake up in the morning, do something you are passionate about and use that to make a difference to our country and its people,” concludes Ryan.
Enter the GWF Sweepstakes here – and stand in line to win a luxury getaway!
