Explorer and conservationist Carla Geyser is deeply passionate about showing people both the magnificent beauty and the often harsh reality of Africa. Through her non-profit, Blue Sky Society Trust, Carla takes like-minded travellers on expeditions, or ‘Journeys With Purpose’, to raise funds for critical conservation projects, allowing them to see and do more and changing them forever.
“Wake up, wake up. Open your eyes wide. Are you awake? Have you woken up well. Are your eyes wide open?” These words, used by the Nharo Bushmen, were spoken to Carla and her fellow travellers while they sat on a rock, watching the sunrise in Botswana recently. For Carla, hearing them spoken aloud was a gentle reaffirmation of her ultimate goal. “These words have woven themselves into the fabric of my thoughts. They are a constant reminder to all of us to quieten the daily noise and become aware of the world around us. To look up and really see what is going on.”
Carla started Blue Sky Society Trust (BSST) more than a decade ago with a dream of opening up the beauty of Africa, through her Journeys with Purpose, to those who might otherwise never have the chance to explore it. At the same time, these expeditions have allowed her to answer an innate desire to make a difference and bring about positive change in the world. What Carla didn’t know when she started out, though, was that the changes she would bring about through fundraising for conservation, were just the beginning. The true changes would happen inside each individual who embarked on one of these journeys.
“For some, the awakening is instant, and Africa ignites something deep inside their soul straight away. For others, it only hits a few weeks later, or even months after they have returned home. You can be staring out the window, watching the sunset back in the city and all of a sudden, the reality of what you did really sinks in.” Carla’s very first trip – the Elephant Ignite Expedition – took place in 2016 and was, according to her, an ‘audacious trek’ that spanned over 16 000km across 10 different African countries over three months. Together with 12 other courageous women, Carla set out to raise funds and awareness for elephant conservation, while navigating the Africa’s varied, rugged landscapes. “The expedition was more than just a physical journey from south to north – it was a reminder of the power of combining travel with purpose, and of the strength that emerges when women support and lift each other up.It was the start to a like-changing path for me and many of the ladies on that trip”
Since then, Carla has led numerous Journeys with Purpose, each one connecting like-minded people from around the world with the shared goal of supporting wildlife and conservation efforts in Africa.
Her most recent expedition, earlier this year, we raised more than R250 000 for wildlife and humanitarian projects. The 6000km trip was divided into three separate legs, each with a unique crew focussing on different projects. She named the 2024 journeys Earth, Wind and Fire. “These journeys weren’t about traversing great distances; they were a reminder of our interconnectedness with nature and the urgent need to protect it. Each crew was made up of people from around the globe, with varying ages, culture and backgrounds, all connected through a shared passion for conservation and desire to make a difference.”
Over the years, Carla has led groups made up of individuals from all over the world, including the Netherlands, Canada, Malaysia, Germany, the USA, the UK, and South Africa. One of her guests on the Earth leg of her most recent trip was Ilse van der Velden from the Netherlands. After raising more than R110,000 for conservation projects, Ilse and a group of fellow travellers from the Netherlands joined Carla on the 13-night Earth Expedition, starting in the Kruger National Park. Ilse fell in love with Africa instantly. “It was like I saw her breathe for the first time in ages…” said Carla.
“It is a surreal and magical experience to be woken up in the wee hours by roaring lions and the whooping of hyenas. In this wilderness, the hustle and stress of everyday life fall away immediately,” Ilse wrote in a letter to Carla after returning home.
These BSST journeys are about much more than just exploring Africa’s magnificent landscapes. They are about creating awareness and invoking an understanding of the role humans play in preserving her delicate ecological balance.
Ilse wrote, “I have seen the suffering with my own eyes and heard the terrible stories from members of the various organizations. Elephants and rhinos are killed for their ivory, causing young calves to die of starvation if they are not found in time. Vultures are poisoned through abandoned carcasses so that they can no longer betray poaching activities. These stories break your heart and make you deeply sad.” It is this awareness and awakening that drives Carla to do the work she does. “I can’t explain how special these trips are and how incredible it is seeing individuals grow and then watching them head back over the oceans different people.” Apart from the profoundly deep friendships forged by the coming together of these diverse travellers, all with their own unique perspectives and backgrounds, the firsthand experiences they engage in while working with the conservation teams on the ground is where the truly lasting magic happens.
“From the sun-drenched savannas of the Kruger National Park to the majestic baobabs of Mapungubwe, the rugged terrain of the Marakele National Park and the serene expanses of the Kalahari Desert … our journeys leave an indelible mark on all who embark on them. “We witness the intricate beauty of our natural world, alongside its dark challenges – poaching, human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. These are not distant threats, but urgent realities that demand our attention and daily action. These experiences remind us of the importance of preserving our planet’s biodiversity for future generations to come.”
The Earth, Wind and Fire Journeys with Purpose saw Carla and her crews collaborating with local conservationists to collar elephants for research, join forces with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to support vulture conservation efforts, contribute towards the building of a wildlife education facility and participating in pangolin and grass biomass studies and programmes. They visited a UNESCO World Heritage site steeped in history and biodiversity, tracked wildlife on foot, experiencing intimate moments of animal behaviour rarely seen by humans and spent nights under the stars, sharing stories and forging lifelong bonds.
Each journey with BSST reaffirms the profound impact of purpose-driven travel for Carla, who is constantly planning her next adventure, plotting routes and researching projects to support. Over the past decade, she and the BSST crews have raised over R5 million (in funding and items donated), and she is determined to continue. “This work gives me purpose and fills my cup. Throughout every journey though, one question echoes in our minds – are your eyes wide open? It’s a question that goes beyond mere observation – it’s a call to action.”
In the final paragraphs of her letter to Carla, Ilse writes; “I feel blessed to have made this special journey. Not only as a travel experience, but as a journey for myself. You discover yourself and what you want in your life and what you find important. Africa cannot be explained, it is a feeling. Thank you for allowing me to be a guest and take a look into your world. That I could enjoy your presence, observe you in your natural doings and see with my own eyes why it is so important to continue to protect you and your habitat.”
If you would like to read more about Blue Sky Society Trust go to www.blueskysociety.org
Written By Leah Shone and Carla Geyser
