Born and raised in Chicago to parents who immigrated from India and Peru, Andrew Motiwalla had many immersive cultural travel experiences long before he became a Peace Corps volunteer. But it was his time serving in northeastern Honduras (1996 to 1998), in a small town of 500 people called Jano, that would ultimately inspire him to create Discover … Continued
Tanzania is one of those magical places I’d dreamed of visiting for so long, it almost didn’t feel real once I finally got there. From the bustling cities of Arusha and Moshi to remote villages of Chaga and Maasai people, the country is teeming with energy, with a constant stream of smiles and waves from people we … Continued
You don’t have to be a twenty or thirty-something to pack your bag and hit the road. Travel can make us feel young again at any age. In the classic Pixar movie Up, Carl Fredricksen is a 78-year-old widower who has always dreamed of traveling to Paradise Falls in South America. After Carl’s wife dies unexpectedly … Continued
When you travel to a foreign country to volunteer, your primary motivation should ideally be about having a positive impact on the place you’re visiting. The essence of volunteering is to embrace a cause outside of ourselves, and to focus on issues that our bigger than our own. But that doesn’t mean that that the benefits of … Continued
It’s not hyperbole to suggest that my first encounter with endangered elephants in the wild changed my life. It was about two hours into my first-ever safari drive on my first afternoon in Kruger National Park, South Africa. We spotted a majestic bull elephant feeding on leaves about 75 feet to our left. Our driver turned the vehicle … Continued
Does it ever feel like winter will never end? Don’t worry, summer will sneak up on us sooner than we expect, and with it comes summer vacation! For families, summer vacation can mean the rare opportunity to escape the demands of our work and school schedules to relax and have fun. Summer vacation planning, on … Continued
From colonial cities such as Cusco and Lima to the ancient ruins of the Sacred Valley, from the rainforest wilderness of the Amazon to the majestic Andean peaks along the Inca Trail, there are a million things to do in Peru. In addition to history (see: Machu Picchu) and nature (see: Manú National Park), Peru … Continued
There’s a battle going on in South Africa. And though it may not have the human body count of, say, Syria, this struggle is just as bloody. At the center of the fight is wildlife, as a rapid rise in Elephant and Rhino Poaching finds these animals being killed for their tusks and horns at increasingly alarming rates. According to … Continued
The Western Highlands of Guatemala offer a stunning backdrop to a fascinating, indigenous culture. The southern border is rimmed by a chain of volcanoes, and the Cuchumatanes mountain range sprawls across the northern border. A lush landscape of lakes, streams, and valleys fills the space between them. Unfortunately, the Maya communities that call this place home … Continued
