Why Think Africa Travel?
For many years, Think Africa Travel has passionately played an active role in how travellers experience Botswana. We are an evolving company that strives to adapt to and understand changes in the global travel industry. The desire to provide the best service, advice and assistance to a growing network of customers who want to ensure that their travellers' travel experiences are unique, flexible and personal is central to our philosophy.
We are an established inbound tour operator company within Botswana, situated in Maun , the gateway to the Okavango Delta, where it all happens. Our team has some of the top experts within the destination. They have grown their destination expertise through years of guiding, operating camps and lodges , managing safari businesses and have years of marketing the destination and region to the international travel market. This experience, combined with the relationships and contacts gained with the top regional safari and travel products, ultimately sets up apart. Think Africa Travel is here to help you with whatever information and assistance you require. From lodges, hotels or safari camps to tailor-made packages focusing on family safari, mobile safari, honeymoon safari or birding safaris , let your safari experts create the perfect itinerary for the Southern African region.
About Us
Think Africa Travel is situated in Maun , Botswana – the gateway to the Delta . A subsidiary of Chobe Holdings Limited, a Botswana Stock Exchange listed company. Think Africa Travel is a well-established independent tour operator licensed by Department of Tourism, in Botswana's Ministry of Environment, Wildlife & Tourism. We have provided a personal and unbiased service to local and international visitors since 1992.
Being on the door step of one of Africa’s prime tourist destinations allows us to provide up-to-the-minute knowledge of the area. We meet all our clients at Maun International Airport upon arrival and departure and are immediately available to assist them if necessary during their Botswana safari. In addition, we have established strong relationships with leading tourism-related products and service providers in the region, allowing us to combine travel options travel options in South Africa , Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Think Africa Travel is a long standing member of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB), the umbrella association for the Botswana tourist industry.
Meet the Management Team
Walter Smith, is the Managing Director of Think Africa Travel. Born and raised in South Africa and Namibia, Walter joined the Botswana Tourism industry in 1990. For the past 33 years, Walter has gained in depth knowledge and experience in the Southern African Safari and tourism industry, guiding multiple safaris in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. He has managed safari Companies in Namibia and Botswana and has been involved in marketing the region to the worldwide travel industry for numerous years.
Walter has intimate knowledge of the African tourism infrastructure and is well versed in the needs and demands on the global tourism industry supporting the region. For the past 15 years he has fulfilled the roles as the Marketing Director as well as Operations Director to our sister company, Desert & Delta Safaris. Since his arrival, he has been involved in the country's tourism industry in various capacities. Walter's natural passion for African tourism and wide-ranging experience and management skills within the industry will ensure that Think Africa Travel provides our valued industry partners and their guests with the ultimate African experience!
Ernest Khanye Tafhi is a born and bred Motswana, hailing from the southeastern town of Kanye. He joined Think Africa Travel in 1995 as an office assistant in the Safari Air office from where he was later transferred to the Tours Division as a trainee consultant. During his training, Ernest completed his Travel & Tourism Management Diploma. A couple of years later, Ernest took over the position of Sales & Reservations Manager, which he held until June 2006, when he was promoted to Personal Assistant to the Managing Director of Think Africa Travel and Safari Air. In 2009, Ernest had an opportunity to work in the Chobe Holdings Limited Group marketing department as a Marketing Support Manager. In December 2010, he returned to Think Africa Travel Tours Division as General Manager.
Why a career in tourism? Well it all started as a mistake as I needed something to do after the then Tirelo Sechaba (National Service) and my mother, who was already in the tourism industry got me my first Job, coincidentally with Think Africa Travel. I fell in love with the industry so much that I decided to change my plans to pursue a medical career and rather continue with tourism. The passion for working with people and being able to help them realise their safari experiences is one thing that makes me who I am now.
Masego Maruping, is from Thamaga, near Gaborone, in southern Botswana. She graduated 4 years ago with a bachelor's degree in International Tourism Management, specialising in Tourism and Travel Services Management from University of Derby. She is an experienced young starter with a history of working in the leisure, travel and tourism industries. In 2018, she received an amazing opportunity to intern at Think Africa Travel, a subsidiary of Chobe Holdings Limited. After completing her studies in 2019, she remained with Think Africa Travel working as a travel consultant. Highly skilled in tour operating, destination and tourism product marketing, she is well positioned to pursue this exciting career journey in the tourism industry.
Tapiwa Buzwani was born and raised in Francistown, Botswana's second-largest city. She joined the tourism industry in 2004 before pursuing studies in Human Resources Management and then in Service and Hospitality. She has also qualified in EQ Customer Care & Communication. For the past 18 years, she has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in different aspects of tourism in Botswana with a selection of companies. In 2014, Tapiwa had the opportunity to visit the United States of America when she participated in the International Visitors Leadership Programme, coordinated by the United States Embassy in Botswana. Upon her return to Botswana, she focused on the reservations side of tourism with Wilderness Safaris before joining Desert & Delta Safaris in 2018 as a reservations consultant. She is now part of the Think Africa Travel team as a senior safari planner , where her role is to liaise directly with key travel partners. Having worked with different people in different places and environments, Tapiwa will be of great value to ensure that Think Africa Travel serves and assists efficiently with your customers' needs.