If you had told me a year ago that I would have the opportunity to visit some of the most breathtakingly beautiful cities, sleepy towns, and friendly villages, and get paid to do it all, I probably would have laughed at you.

Now, what is a dream to most is my reality. Working for All Out Africa for the few short months that I have re-affirms to me everyday why I pursued this position as Sales and Marketing Coordinator with such vigor. There are very few companies in the world where you get to feel like you are working with a genuine purpose as with All Out Africa which is a company so passionate about coming together to make a sustainable difference in developing communities.

Volunteer travel is, for me, the ultimate way to travel. You get to actually immerse yourself in a diversity of cultures, all the while giving back to the communities that so openly welcome you as a traveler to their lands. It is an eye opening experience and I can almost guarantee that if you allow yourself to truly feel your way through your experience, you will not walk out of it the same person as when you walked in.

Being able to experience the sights and sounds of the bush and feel the exhilaration of spotting one of the Big 5 (or all if you’re lucky), abseiling down Table Mountain, going over the world’s highest bunjee, snorkeling with whale sharks, and diving with mantas has got to be the dream tour. That, paired with aiding building projects in local developing communities, teaching vulnerable children valuable subjects and life skills, engaging local grass roots business and aiding in their development and getting out in the water or in the savannah to do much needed research and data recording to better understand and conserve our precious Eco-systems. Man…who would have thought people, projects and businesses like this even existed? The passion is tangible in the work that is done by All Out Africa, and I couldn’t be more thrilled and privileged to be a part of this warm, welcoming and ever-growing family.

by Melissa Mitchell – All Out Africa’s Sales and Marketing Coordinator