Why I Started Twende Travel — And Why Your Trip to Africa Should Be Your Own

By John Miller | Founder, Twende Travel

I believe travel is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Not just because of the places we get to see or the experiences we get to check off a bucket list, but because of the people we meet, the conversations we have, and the different ways of life we get to experience along the way. I genuinely believe that the more we see and understand of the world, the better off we all are.

That's a big part of why I started Twende Travel. I want more people to experience Africa, and I want them to experience it in a way that feels personal to them. Not necessarily the same itinerary thousands of other people have followed, or a trip built around whatever a travel company happens to be selling that season. I want people to discover what excites them about Africa and have the opportunity to experience it for themselves.

And for me, that all started with a volunteer trip in 2015.

Ten Years, Countless Experiences, and a Continent That Changed My Life

I first traveled to East Africa in 2015, and what started as a volunteer experience turned into something I never could have anticipated. Over the following decade, I've been fortunate enough to live, work, volunteer, and travel throughout East and Southern Africa. Zanzibar became a second home, where I've lived on and off for more than ten years, and the people I've met along the way have become some of my closest friends.

During that time, I've been on more than 150 safaris, spent countless hours exploring Tanzania's national parks, and traveled across Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. But when I think about my favorite memories, they're not always the experiences you would find at the top of a travel brochure.

I've volunteered teaching math and coaching Little League baseball in Uganda. One of my best friends from college is Maasai, and I've had the opportunity to visit his family's farm in Kenya and experience a part of the country that very few travelers ever get to see. I've spent long days traveling by bus from northern to southern Malawi, getting a glimpse of everyday life along the way. And I've spent years working alongside local communities in Zanzibar, building relationships that have become far more meaningful than anything I could have imagined when I first arrived.

I've also had my fair share of those incredible, once-in-a-lifetime travel moments. I've stood at Devil's Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls, climbed and summited Mount Kilimanjaro three times, traveled South Africa's Garden Route for three weeks after college, and later returned to Stellenbosch and the Cape Winelands with my family. I've watched wildlife across the Serengeti, explored incredible coastlines, and been lucky enough to see some of the most beautiful places in the world.

Some of those experiences were adventurous, some were luxurious, and others were incredibly simple. But all of them helped shape how I see travel and, eventually, how I wanted to build Twende.

It's the People Who Make a Place Special

After spending so much time in East Africa, one of the things that has stayed with me most is the people. The hospitality, generosity, humor, friendships, and sense of community I've experienced have had an enormous influence on my life. They're also some of the things I most want travelers to have the opportunity to discover.

Learning Swahili has been a huge part of that. There's something incredibly special about getting to know people in their own language. It's one thing to learn how to greet someone or order a meal, but it's another to sit around laughing, joking, and having real conversations in a language you once didn't understand. Those are the moments when a place starts to feel less foreign and more familiar.

I don't think every traveler needs to spend years living abroad or learn another language to have an amazing experience. Not at all. But I do think a little curiosity and openness can change the way we experience the world. Whether it's sharing a meal with a local family, spending an afternoon with a guide who has become a friend, or learning about a community from the people who call it home, these experiences can add something really special to a trip.

And that's something I hope to share through Twende.

Why I Started Twende Travel

Over the years, I've met a lot of people who have told me that visiting Africa is something they've always dreamed of doing. For some, it's been a lifelong goal to go on safari. Others want to see gorillas in Uganda, explore Cape Town, spend time on the beaches of Zanzibar, or experience a completely different part of the world.

But I've also met plenty of people who aren't sure where to begin. Africa can seem far away, unfamiliar, or intimidating, especially if you've never traveled there before. There are questions about safety, transportation, where to stay, what to see, and how to know whether you're getting a good experience for your money. And with so many different tour companies and itineraries available, it can be difficult to know what's actually right for you.

That's where I saw an opportunity to do something different.

I didn't want Twende to become another travel company offering a handful of standard itineraries and trying to fit everyone into them. I wanted to take everything I'd learned through my own experiences, along with the relationships I've built over the years, and use it to help people discover Africa in a way that feels right for them.

The idea is pretty simple: it's your trip to Africa. Let's make it yours.

Your Trip Doesn't Have to Look Like Everyone Else's

One of the first things I want to know when someone reaches out to Twende is what they're excited about. Not just where they want to go or how many days they have, but what they actually want to get out of their trip.

Maybe you've spent years dreaming about the Serengeti, and you want ten incredible days on safari, staying in some of the most beautiful lodges in Africa. You want outstanding guides, amazing wildlife encounters, great food, and every detail taken care of. That sounds like a fantastic trip, and I'd love to put it together.

Or maybe you want something completely different. You want to go on safari, but you also want to spend time in a local village, learn how to cook traditional Swahili food, visit a coffee farm, or explore some of the lesser-known corners of Tanzania. Maybe you want to spend a few days diving or snorkeling around Zanzibar, track chimpanzees through the forests of western Tanzania, or head south for beautiful vineyards and restaurants in Stellenbosch.

Perhaps you want to sit at the edge of Victoria Falls, take a helicopter flight over some incredible African landscapes, explore the coastline of South Africa, or combine a few different countries into one adventure.

Or maybe you have no idea what you want to do yet. That's completely fine too. In fact, that's one of my favorite parts of this process: sitting down with someone, hearing what interests them, sharing a few possibilities they might not have considered, and slowly putting together something really special.

There's also absolutely nothing wrong with the classic safari itinerary. Places like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Maasai Mara are famous for a reason. They're extraordinary, and there are experiences I would recommend to almost anyone visiting East Africa for the first time.

The difference is that I don't want to assume those experiences are all you're looking for.

I want to help you build the trip you actually want to take, rather than simply booking the trip someone else has designed for you.

What Makes Twende Different?

I think the biggest difference comes down to the relationships I've built and the time I've spent on the ground.

Over the past decade, I've gotten to know guides, safari operators, lodge owners, local businesses, and people working in communities throughout East Africa. Many of those relationships started long before Twende Travel existed. They're people I've worked alongside, traveled with, learned from, and, in many cases, come to consider good friends.

Those relationships matter when planning a trip. They help me understand which lodges are genuinely worth staying at, which guides are exceptional, what different areas are actually like, and how to put together an itinerary that makes sense geographically, financially, and logistically. They also make it possible to explore opportunities that don't always appear on a standard tour itinerary.

If you're interested in experiencing something a little different, we can have those conversations with people on the ground. We can look into local experiences, special activities, or different ways to explore a destination that might be a better fit for you.

Just as importantly, those relationships help me put together trips with the right balance of quality and value. Africa can be an expensive place to travel, especially when you're combining national park fees, safari vehicles, flights, and beautiful accommodations. My goal isn't necessarily to make every trip as inexpensive as possible. It's to help you spend your money well, understand what you're paying for, and create an experience that feels worth every dollar.

Whether you're looking for a comfortable boutique safari or an exceptional luxury journey, I want to make sure we're working with the right people and choosing the right experiences for your priorities.

And once the trip begins, I want you to feel confident that everything is taken care of. Behind the scenes, we're coordinating transportation, accommodations, activities, guides, and all the little details that make a journey run smoothly.

You should be able to show up, enjoy the experience, and know that someone is looking out for you along the way.

Let's Actually Get to Know Each Other

Another thing that's important to me is the personal side of planning. When you work with Twende, you're working directly with me. I'm not passing you off to a different sales representative every time you have a question or asking you to choose between three packages on a website.

I want to get to know you a little bit. We can hop on a phone call, set up a video chat, exchange ideas over email, or text back and forth as plans come together. If getting together in person makes sense, I'm happy to explore that too. The point is that we're having a real conversation about what you want to experience.

Once you're traveling, we can set up a group chat so you and your group have an easy way to stay in touch with me and the people helping operate your trip. If questions come up, plans need adjusting, or you just want a recommendation, you know who to reach out to.

For travelers who want an even more hands-on experience, we can also explore personally hosted trips where I join you for part or all of the journey. And when I'm not there, you'll be traveling with trusted local guides and partners who know these destinations incredibly well.

I want the experience to feel personal from the first conversation to the moment you get home.

Traveling With an Open Mind

There's one other reason I started Twende, and it's probably the one that matters most to me.

I want people to feel excited and comfortable about visiting Africa, even if it's somewhere they've never considered traveling before.

I understand that some people have concerns about visiting unfamiliar countries. Safety is important, and different destinations come with different considerations. That's true in Africa, just as it's true in the United States or anywhere else in the world. Part of my responsibility is helping people understand where they're going, what to expect, and how to travel thoughtfully.

But I also know from personal experience how much more there is to these countries than the limited picture people sometimes have of them.

I've experienced extraordinary kindness from people across the continent. I've laughed with strangers, learned from friends, been welcomed into homes, and built relationships that have changed the direction of my life. I've seen incredible natural beauty, remarkable communities, and places that deserve to be better understood and appreciated.

I don't expect every traveler to have the same experiences I've had. And I certainly don't think everyone needs to travel the way I have. But I do hope that people arrive with an open mind, a little curiosity, and a willingness to discover something new.

Because I genuinely believe that travel can make us better listeners, more understanding people, and more connected to the world around us. And if Twende can play even a small role in helping someone experience that, then we're doing something worthwhile.

So, Why Twende?

Twende means "Let's Go" in Swahili, and I can't think of a better name for what I wanted to create.

It's an invitation to get out into the world, experience somewhere new, meet people, and discover something you might never have imagined.

Maybe that means ten days on an unbelievable safari. Maybe it means sitting on a beach in Zanzibar, visiting a community you've never heard of, trekking through a rainforest, or enjoying a glass of wine overlooking the mountains of South Africa. Maybe it's a combination of all of those things.

Whatever it looks like, I want it to be yours.

I'm incredibly grateful for the experiences Africa has given me and for the people who have welcomed me into their lives over the years. Starting Twende Travel was my way of sharing a little bit of that with others, while creating something that reflects the places, people, and experiences I care so much about.

So if you've ever thought about traveling to Africa, whether you've got a detailed itinerary in mind or you're just beginning to dream about it, I'd love to hear from you.

It all starts with a conversation. Tell me what you're dreaming about, and let's see what we can create together.

John Miller
Founder, Twende Travel
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