A Dream Based on Love

Our team knows very well that the story of how Swain Destinations came to be starts with a love story. A true-blue Aussie met the fair haired American gal of his destiny in a crowded New York City nightclub and from then on, there was no adventure that we could not take on together.

After living our early years of marriage in Australia, we bundled up our two-month-old baby, Lianda, for the trip from Australia to Philadelphia. It was 1987 when we arrived Stateside on Continental Airlines and started a company called Swain Australia Tours, with a simple six-page brochure while living with our parents. 

The original dream was to send travelers to Australia and New Zealand with the highest level of personal service. And, like most companies who have breached the 35-year mark, we used telex, the first Macs produced, and other archaic forms of doing business by today’s standards. It was really easy!  (wink wink)

We fumbled in the beginning but eventually found our stride by putting our heart into the business; from the service we provide our travelers, to the partnerships we forge in our destinations, to the relationships we foster with our travel advisors. To us, business is personal, so there was never a Plan B. We did whatever was needed to weather the storms of airline strikes, market crashes, and of course, the recent devastating events to travel of 2020-2022. And we have emerged every time due to our culture of integrity, value, and personal service.

Luxury with Heart

Now, 35 years later in what seems like the blink of an eye, we personally have a 7^th grandchild that was born this December making 19 immediate family members,  and our Swain Destinations family has become a barometer of excellence, professionalism, and camaraderie for the entire travel industry.

We are thankful for our Swain Destinations team members and suppliers from around the world who joined us in our home to celebrate 35 years of building a life and wonderful work family together, and making sure other people experience joy like they may have never known through our work. We were reminded as to why we love the travel industry so much. The people of hospitality just make you feel great, and are truly the best! 

Together with the passionate people of our industry, we continue to traverse an ever changing world and do whatever is in our power to show travelers a world of wonder that is ready to be experienced once again. And it’s true, we are addicted to hearing, “Thank you so much! That was the best trip of my life!” 

So, reflecting on the first 35 years of Swain Destinations, that little dream that started way back in 1987 is realized daily as we stay the course of providing excellence, personal service, and bringing joy to those we work with. Looking forward, as always, we keep our heart and mind connected across all decisions both in business and personal dealings, confident that our culture of integrity, value, and our philosophy of “luxury with heart” will see us continue to thrive, no matter what the world has in store.

Happy New Year!

As 2023 is now underway, we thank you for your partnership and are honored to craft unforgettable trips to amazing destinations for you and your loved ones. We wish you feel joy and fulfillment from all the love and effort you put into making other people happy. And we wish you a very happy New Year.

Linda and Ian Swain

The post Celebrating 35 Years of Swain Destinations (…and counting) appeared first on Swain Destinations Blog.

Botswana offers a slower pace of adventure and endless opportunities to come face-to-face with legendary African wildlife. That is why Ian and I return again and again with and without children. 

Lodge hopping is the thing to do here, as they are all in unique settings. At Belmond Khwai River Lodge, not only did we experience the Big Five but a very special encounter with a hippo had our children mesmerized as it feasted out of the water outside their lodging on stilts.

If you love elephants like we do, you are sure to see them in diverse settings like below your balcony drinking from the river while you sip a cocktail from above, wading solo alongside brilliant birds in the wetlands as you glide by in a canoe, or stopping your 4×4 vehicle while their entire family, including big tuskers and baby calves, cross your path. We went to sleep one night at Belmond Savute Elephant Camp after watching six or so elephants drink from a depleted watering hole in a dry riverbed only to awaken the very next day to the river fully flowing again with the same elephants splashing around in it.

I found the people of Botswana are relaxed and loving, especially to children. They genuinely enjoy making you laugh and have a ball during your game drives. We also enjoyed their villages where they show you traditional tools and traditions of their daily life in Botswana. 

Some of our favorite memories are their traditional dinners in the Boma with singing and dancing followed by stories of the day around a roaring campfire. 

To learn more about Botswana visit our destination page or read through our e-brochure.

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Tahiti, however, holds its place at the top of my list for many categories and here’s why.

Tahiti for Couples

Ian and I have visited Tahiti many times and our first time assured us that paradise truly exists. Lush remnant volcanoes jutting out of the sea, tropical flowers as big as your head, and yummy fruit that looks like it’s from another planet energizes your senses. We had an instant awareness that Tahitian people are gentle, genuine, and have a great sense of humor. And no wonder, they live in picture perfect paradise. 

Papeete is the main island where an overnight stay taking in an authentic Tahitian show and an optional chance to “shake your booty” in a grass skirt is likely, even if you are venturing to another island. We  stayed a couple nights here to take in the Paul Gauguin Museum and experience a four wheel drive safari through the mainland and to the top of the island. From the top, we took in the amazing sea breeze and stunning  panoramic views. Our Tahitian guide was so much fun and he took us to his favorite place to eat fresh seafood and local dishes. We love to learn the history of a destination from the locals and listen to their own generational stories. 

Interested in Papeete? Get inspired with our Papeete Sampler itinerary. 

Tahiti for Celebrations

Linda and Ian celebrate a milestone anniversary while traveling the Tahitian Islands

Our second trip to French Polynesia, was to the island of Bora Bora to celebrate a special anniversary, complete with an overwater bungalow experience with the mystical Mt. Otemanu as our view. A glass bottom table in our bungalow, with the ocean as our aquarium, gave us a heads up of what friendly sea creatures were outside to greet us. In fact, each morning we donned our snorkel gear to share some leftover morsels from breakfast that was canoed to us daily by happy Tahitians. There’s nothing like the sound of a musical voice singing “good morning, breakfast is served” from canoes floating outside your door. 

Interested in Bora Bora? Get inspired with our Moorea and Bora Bora Sampler itinerary

Tahiti for Families

As much as Tahiti is a destination for couples, it is also the perfect family trip and one we will always remember with great joy as a family. When our youngest turned 12 and was old enough to dive, we took dive instruction at home so we could be certified divers together. It was then, with the warm memories of the Tahitian people and our newly acquired diving skills, that we took four of our children on a catamaran adventure through the Islands of Tahiti to do our open water dives.

Our week’s adventure began in Papeete for a night, then we flew the next day to Huahine where we met our crew and boarded our catamaran to sail to Raiatea.

We then journeyed on to Taha’a and finally to Bora Bora for our dives. The week was filled with plantation excursions, resort stops, kayaking, delicious meals, spectacular sunsets and incredible wildlife interactions in and under the sea. None of us will ever forget kneeling at the bottom of the ocean below giant manta rays as they glided overhead enjoying a teeth cleaning by the local fish. We also had a chance to feed friendly stingrays in waist deep water where they climbed all over us looking for the little fishes we held in our hand. 

A week with our kids in Tahiti provided the perfect backdrop to release the technology and embrace family experience that we will discuss over dinners for years to come. 

Tahiti is a destination where each visit feels rich and magical for all the right reasons and for all the right favorites. 

Interested in discovering the Islands of Tahiti? Get inspired with our Society Islands Explorer itinerary.

Read more of our Team’s blogs about Tahiti here or get inspired for your own Tahitian holiday by browsing our sample itineraries.

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Gorilla Trekking Lodges

Our gorilla trekking adventure took place in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. A country teeming with biodiversity, Rwanda is absolutely gorgeous and tourism plays a vital role in keeping it so. We stayed for three nights at the newly-built, conservation-focused Singita Kwitonda Lodge. Locally-sourced bricks and volcanic rock comprise the lodge’s walls and a mechanical ventilation system replaces carbon-heavy air conditioning. Yet, these are but a few of the elements that make Kwitonda special. Stunning views of volcanoes greeted us through ceiling high windows and an outdoor fireplace made for a cozy spot. We spent our last two nights at the brand new One&Only Gorillas Nest. That accommodation, featuring an indoor fireplace and bathtub on the deck, was superb as well.

The Gorilla Trek

I will say there is nothing quite like being touched by a mountain gorilla. Of course, mine was a baby gorilla who wanted to show me how he had mastered vine twirling. Whereas Ian received a much firmer pat from Agasha, the King Silverback of this jungle. It served as a reminder that that it was he, and not Ian, who was the alpha in this family. Regardless, we were not afraid during our interactions due to our knowledgeable guides. They ensured that we kept a safe, regulated distance from the gorillas. Fortunately, mountain gorillas are gentle, playful and familial creatures. I felt, overwhelmingly, that they were our kindred spirits. Overall, gorilla trekking was fun, adventurous and something we will never forget.

Keeping Them Safe

Over the past few years, the mountain gorilla population has grown by the hundreds while poaching has dropped to zero in Rwanda. Tourism fuels these efforts by helping support the habitats of gorillas and the communities around them. This is imperative because mountain gorillas cannot survive out of this altitude and habitat. Fortunately, the communities keep them involved in conserving the population, even participating in naming the gorilla babies. Their involvement is key to the stability of the gorilla’s existence. Rwanda has got it right when it comes to gorillas, tourism and the environment. Gorilla trekking not only provides you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it also helps this incredible species survive.

There is never a better time to venture to Rwanda and experience the beautiful people, some of the world’s best new lodges and of course, the amazing mountain gorillas. We absolutely love them all!

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