Make a Difference

Rachel Cleary Travel is proud to support:

It happened to me the first time I set foot in Africa. I don’t know whether it was a coming of age, an awakening of primal roots, an opening of my eyes, but something spiritual happened to me.

I’ve always been fascinated by wildlife, an avid David Attenborough devotee, a wildlife documentary obsessive.  So I knew visiting Africa was going to be very special but I didn’t know, wasn’t prepared for, the way she entered my soul, showed me things about life I could never have imagined.  

Africa is more than a destination, it is a life changing experience, not just for me, every client I have taken to Africa feels it too.  

Perhaps it was my calling, to connect with a continent so diverse, offering so many different experiences and life lessons at every turn.  From the Masai and Samburu guides sharing their knowledge of the land and animals, fire-side chats about their lives and that of their ancestors, to the incredible Rwandan guide who accompanied our group and shared the beauty of his country while also sharing stories of the atrocities of many years ago from personal experience and the way this resilient country has risen to new levels of inclusion and forgiveness.  

Connecting with Gorillas in the Volcanos National Park under the watchful eyes of our guide, who was trained by none other than Diane Fossey. Looking into the eyes of a mother gorilla as she fed her new-born baby, I felt there was an understanding, a connection between us; Yes, I will do all I can to protect you.

Being mesmerised by a large herd of elephants as they ambled  past our safari truck and noticing how they all acknowledged the enormous bull elephant as they passed, a touch of trunks, if felt like each one was saying “Thank you for protecting us” to him. He looked at me, again, a meeting of eyes, where I felt compelled to promise to do all I can to be his partner in protection.

All these incredible people were contributing to the welfare of their communities, wildlife conservation and keeping their peoples traditions alive in the face of adversity.

What could I do to help young women attend school with the necessities of life?

How could I contribute to protecting wildlife from human conflict and poaching?

Is there a way that I can in some way contribute to saving the Gorillas from extinction? 

I grappled with this feeling of helplessness, this desire to help, to not let that Mamma Gorilla down. Africa answered my quest in the guise of Andrew Obaga. 

Please take the time to watch these short videos and see how you can contribute to these very worthy causes and Make a Difference too.

For every booking made with Luxe Adventures a donation is made in your name to one of our charities.