Trips around the world feed our curiosity for different cultures, nourish our understanding of the world around us, and satisfy our hunger for change. But today, Egyptians are developing appetites for more adventurous, challenging, and self-explorative tourism plans. Wild Guanabana attempts to serve such adventure-seeking individuals, in a sustainable, customized, and eye-opening manner.
Egypt is certainly a country of extremes. While severe unemployment, poverty and frustration plague people’s lives, there is no dearth of glamorous living and lavish routine. While the majority struggle for a break, a mere minority splurge to make the most of their time off. And extreme tourism is on the rise among Egyptians who can afford to pay for a wild adventure.
A current and continuing increase in disposable income among Egypt’s elite opens up many opportunities for outbound tourism. In addition, the number of Egyptians traveling for tourism has been steadily increasing in recent years.
But Wild Guanabana, a travel company inaugurated by Omar Samra, the first Egyptian to summit Mount Everest, and his partner, the adventure-loving, prolific traveler Adel Abdel Ghafar, goes well beyond inspiring massive investments in travel. Wild Guanabana inspires adventurous self discovery through “Life Changing Journeys”.
On an insufferably hot summer’s day, the Wild Guanabana office is refreshingly lively, with photographs of wondrous scenery from around the world plastered on its plain white walls. Maps of destinations are all around, looking slightly worn from the travels they’ve made to faraway lands.
“We help people explore the world, and move out of their comfort zones,” says Abdel Ghafar. A buoyant face reveals Wild Guanabana’s one-year history, its present, and hopes for the future.
From extremely ordinary desk-jobs in investment banking, Samra and Abdel Ghafar took an extraordinary leap of faith, deciding to disseminate their travel-addiction and their passion for adventure to the rest of Egyptian society. Hence, Wild Guanabana was born, aiming to actualize people’s wildest dreams through taking them on journeys to places Samra and Abdel Ghafar had explored before.
Through personalized and usually exploratory trips to countries such as China, India, Nepal, Oman, Thailand, Tibet, Morocco, Tanzania, Scotland, Russia, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, and Australia, Wild Guanabana entices those with a knack for the remarkable.
“We target anyone who does not want to go shopping in London or spend his summer reclining on beaches in the south of France,” says Abdel Ghafar. “We design unique journeys for those who want to break free of the traditional.” Tourists aged anywhere between 14 and 50 years old seek to change their lives through a Guanabana journey.
The range of potential Guanabana tourists includes anyone seeking the non-traditional. “Ex-pats living in Egypt, well-traveled Egyptians, and students are most interested in our trips.” In its first year, the company has helped 80 individuals to travel outside the comfort of the conventional, but Wild Guanbana is still aiming to reach people from the whole region.
Heart pounding, blood racing, and body trembling, the excitement suffuses travelers who pack their bags in pursuit of the absolute thrill of stepping well-outside of their comfort zone.
But Wild Guanabana journeys incorporate much more than the discovery of an unexplored world. Sustainability and constructive learning are special features of this Egyptian company. Unlike mass tourism, commercialized and sometimes unsustainable, Wild Guanabana designs trips with the environment and the community in mind.
“We are pioneering the concept of sustainable travel in Egypt,” says Abdel Ghafar. “We make it a point to avoid big chain hotels, and we pay local spots at market rate or even higher.” A recycling bin visible over his shoulder, Abdel Ghafar believes that “going green” holds great value for any company.
Wild Guanabana does not only offer adventure for those looking to break boundaries and explore the wilderness. In collaboration with ADAA’, an “experiential learning company that transforms the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors (KABs) of people and organizations,” students get to learn to experience adventure while learning from the adventurous experience.
The seemingly odd duet, a travel agency and a learning organization, compose a unique and innovative melody: adventure-based learning.
ADAA’ managing partner Seif Abou Zaid unravels details of this collaboration. “Our trademark Momentum Camp is an adventure-based learning camp, where people go through adventures, reflect on them, and learn from their own reflections, to ultimately end up with heightened self-esteem, a stronger sense of responsibility, leadership and discipline.”
Learning through doing is ADAA’s philosophy. “In Momentum Camp, adventure is the medium for learning.” And in search for the perfect ally, ADAA’ decided on an agency specialized in adventure. “Wild Guanabana facilitates the ultimate opportunity for truly wild learning.”
Wild Guanabana and ADAA’ join forces when it comes to marketing, sales, and execution. “We work as one company, but ADAA’ is responsible for the learning components, while Wild Guanabana takes care of all the travel components.”
Heidi El Guindy was an ordinary AUC student, a serene smile always on her face, her life flowing steadily. “Suddenly, I was screaming my head off.” With Wild Guanabana and ADAA’, El Guindy’s life took a wild, unanticipated twist which she said changed her life once and for all.
“It all started when I walked by a booth on campus, publicizing a life-changing trip to Thailand.” El Guindy jumped at the opportunity to break free of her mental as well as physical limits, and quickly jumped on a plane.
“First, I filled out an application, and then someone from ADAA’ called to interview me.” El Guindy was required to answer questions concerning her reliability, her leadership skills, and how out-going she believed she was. Words were just words then for El Guindy; the experience which was about to unfold maximized her self-expectations tenfold.
ADAA’s designated program was made especially affordable to students. “The whole package cost somewhere around 10,000 LE.” El Guindy explained that this included air fare, lodge and hotel accomodation, transportation, and meals. “This was much less expensive than the other programs, which were actually quite pricy.” Wild Guanabana trips often cost around US$3000.
“The experience was completely and utterly life changing,” El Guindy remembers, with a sudden rush of emotion and some full-hearted laughs. “I discovered a whole new side of myself that I never knew existed.”
“I learned that there’s a whole world outside of textbooks and classrooms.” El Guindy was living life, experiencing utmost adventure, and most of all, getting to know herself.
“It was at this moment, when I was abseiling down a 30 Meter high waterfall, that it hit me: I can do this, and so much more.” This wild experience gave El Guindy a push–and its force will be felt for the rest of her life.
El Guindy remembers the Thai locals complementing the Egyptian tourist group on being fearless. “They kept telling us that out of all the people who come here, we were the bravest, jumping into all the activities willingly, despite my deafening screams,” El Guindy adds delightedly.
A certain personal touch differentiates Wild Guanabana from travel agencies around Egypt. A larger segment of Egyptians are seeking adventure tourism through travel agencies such as Al Gezirah, Travco, among others. But Wild Guanabana offers unrivaled customization.
“We provide fitness assessments, request help from nutritionists, and train potential travelers to change their eating habits,” says Abdel Ghafar. Spread across a wall is a range of climbing and camping equipment, dangling from some shelves and stacked on others. “We also rent out equipment to travelers,” he continues.
Aside from exploring the world, Wild Guanabana entrepreneurs are also keen on contributing to the local community. They have collaborated with The Right To Live Association (RTLA), a non-profit organization fighting for the rights of Egyptians suffering from mental disability, and the Special Olympics to create The Right To Climb. In September of 2010, Omar Samra will lead a team of climbers to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
A community conscious travel agency is transforming the experience of travel for Egyptians, allowing them to cross boundaries and unravel their inner-self in the process. And with the small number of Wild Guanabana tourists, a perfectly tailored trip is ensured. It’s experimental, it’s new and it’s slowly gaining the attention of adventure-seekers around the country.
