The year was 2004 and a handful of well-travelled people sat around a table in the heart of the Zimbabwean wilderness. With backgrounds in tourism, development and conservation, they knew they wanted to do something great. They wanted to use their passion and skills to start a travel company that made a difference. They wanted to introduce people to the Africa they knew and loved. We believe in the spirit of Africa and that your experience is just as important as your impact. Volunteering is a two-way thing. It’s not just about the help and skills that you can bring; it’s also about what this amazing continent, its people, and its wildlife can give you in return. An experience filled with adventure, learning and breathtaking moments will make sure you go home, share the magic of Africa, and come back.
The People. The Wildlife. The Magic.
Where we started: a small organisation with big dreams
When we opened our doors to our first batch of international volunteers, we were a small, family-run organization with big dreams. It didn’t take long to see that there were a lot more people like us. People who wanted to travel while truly experiencing a country in a meaningful and authentic way. People who wanted to genuinely connect with the local people and to leave a place better than they found it. We grew and opened new volunteer projects in new countries across southern Africa.
”Africa changes you. With African Impact, whether you're 18 or 80, you come for adventure, conservation, and community, and you leave with a huge network of friends and bucket-list experiences under your belt. It's not about us changing Africa; it's about Africa changing you - and that change stays with you forever.
Ali ConnManaging Director
Growing Into an Authentic Volunteering Organisation
As the industry grew we recognized that doing the right thing, being responsible, creating positive change and still providing unique experiential travel experiences takes a lot of effort and care.
We’ve built our very own projects – hand-in-hand with local communities – since 2004! We’ve learned that if a community has total buy-in and ownership of a project – and a volunteer is truly informed about their own role and contribution to this – together it has the power to transform both.
Luckily, we have an amazing team behind African Impact, many of whom started as volunteers and have been on this journey from the beginning. Aside from being the trusted specialists on volunteering in Southern Africa, our staff know the best places to go, as well as the hidden treasures and secret spots that take you beyond a regular tourist trip.
Our goal at African Impact is to combine genuine impact with extraordinary experiences and through our team, bring that to life for you!
Our Mission and Values
Our mission is to deliver the best international volunteer experiences in Africa with long-lasting impact for both the communities we work in, as well as the volunteers travelling with us. The values that guide the way we operate as a company and interact with each other and our guests are explained as follows:
Courageously Lead the Way
We challenge ourselves to never stop learning and commit to stretching ourselves beyond the familiar to gain new insights. We consistently look at ways to improve and welcome change.
Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu
Translated simply, this means that “a person is a person because of other people”. I am because you are, and you are because we are. This is the essence of Ubuntu. This is the philosophy that drives us, as it creates values such as compassion, kindness, and fairness.
Transform Lives
We are passionate about shaping peoples’ lives for the better. It is the essence of our culture and the driving force behind everything we do.
Create Impact Through Connections
We invest in creating honest and fruitful connections and relationships with our volunteers, our employees, and with the communities we serve.
Embrace the Journey
We approach our mission positively, with resilience and make achieving our vision a fun experience.
Outstanding Contribution to the SDG's
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals that were adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The goals are designed to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
The Outstanding Contribution to the SDGs Award recognises organisations that have made a significant contribution to the achievement of the SDGs. The award is given to an organisation that has demonstrated innovation, creativity and impact in its work.
We’ve been recognised for our contribution through our Female Empowerment Projects in Livingstone, Zambia.
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