Ubuntu Travel Group is a luxury, family‑run safari agency headquartered in Newport Beach, California, with a strategic on‑the‑ground presence in South Africa. Founded in 2018 by Kyle and Leah Green, the company has quickly garnered international acclaim, including being named one of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ Top 100 Travel Agencies & Tour Operators of the World, 2025. Specializing in fully bespoke safari journeys across East and Southern Africa, and now Antarctica, Ubuntu Travel weaves together personalized storytelling, high‑end hospitality, conservation impact, and cultural consciousness.

Kyle Green, co‑founder and lead travel designer, brings a deeply personal and purposeful approach to luxury travel. From the very first client conversation, Kyle works hands‑on to design itineraries that reflect each traveler’s aspirations and values. With operational support rooted both in the U.S. and Africa, Ubuntu Travel provides 24/7 peace‑of‑mind alongside immersive experiences such as rhino tagging with a professional wildlife team, gorilla trekking, Big Five safaris, and even private jet voyages to Antarctica. Kyle’s leadership has shaped a brand that is as committed to conservation and community uplift as it is to luxury and storytelling.

Alexander Chetchikov, President of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, leads our exclusive interview with Kyle. Drawing on more than 17 years of experience recognizing the globe’s most distinguished luxury brands through the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, he offers rich expertise and discerning insight into the dynamic landscape of luxury.

Questions:

Alexander Chetchikov: Congratulations on being selected as one of our TOP 100 Travel Agencies & Tour Operators for 2025! What inspired you and Leah to start Ubuntu Travel in 2018, and how did your personal travel experiences shape the company’s ethos?

Kyle Green: Ubuntu Travel’s story is deeply tied to my own. I was born in South Africa, and from an early age developed a love for wildlife and the beauty of the African landscape through countless safaris. My career actually began far from travel – as an NFL agent – but in 2014, I planned and led a trip to South Africa for NFL clients. Living vicariously through the group as they experienced the magic of Africa for the first time made me realize just how powerful travel could be. That trip planted the seed for what would become Ubuntu Travel.

With my client relations background and a deep personal passion – and respect – for what a journey through Africa can do for an individual, it felt natural to take the leap. Especially with Leah by my side, who shares the same love for travel and the continent. From the start, we wanted Ubuntu Travel to be about more than just itineraries; we wanted it to be about connection.

The name Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – captures that perfectly. It reflects how every journey we design is a collaboration between us, our travelers, and the people and places they visit. Our own adventures – whether sleeping under Botswana’s stars or meeting conservationists in Rwanda – have taught us that the most meaningful safaris balance luxury with authenticity, and joy with purpose. That’s the ethos that guides us every day. 

AC: Ubuntu Travel is known for its hands-on, founder-led client relationships. How does saying “no outsourcing” affect your client service model and team structure?

KG: We’re a small, family-run team, and we take every conversation and itinerary personally. A tailor-made safari – when done right – can be transformative. We know this because we’ve experienced it ourselves and hear it often during our standard post-trip debrief calls with clients.

By not outsourcing inquiries to third parties, we make a conscious choice to design each journey with care and intention. It’s not about delivering a trip anyone could take – it’s about creating your journey, one that reflects your passions, pace, and priorities, and leaves you deeply connected to the people and places you visit.

Yes, this approach limits our capacity – but it also ensures the value we deliver. If you’re after a “click-and-play” itinerary, we’re not the right fit. But if you want something personal, thoughtful, and truly yours, then we are.

AC: You’ve expanded into Antarctica luxury safaris from Cape Town, among other African destinations. What drew you toward this polar frontier, and how does it align with Ubuntu Travel’s mission?

KG: Honestly, we were drawn to Antarctica because it’s such an extraordinary journey – one we’d love to experience ourselves, so why not bring it to our clients? We believe that to truly care about conserving a place, you need the opportunity to experience it.

Antarctica is arguably the last untouched wilderness on Earth, with minimal human interference. Visiting in a way that is powerful, impactful, and eco-conscious felt like a natural extension of what we do. That’s why we’ve partnered with an operator who has run net-zero-emission expeditions since 2007 – ensuring this once-in-a-lifetime adventure aligns perfectly with our values.

For us, it’s about giving travelers the rare chance to connect with a place very few will ever see – while helping ensure it’s protected for generations to come. That’s the kind of luxury we strive to bring.

AC: Sustainability is clearly core to your brand, from Ocean Co. cleanup collaborations to conservation experiences. What are some memorable Client impact moments that illustrate this ethos in action?

KG: For me, one of the most memorable “impact moments” actually happens regularly – it’s in the conversations we have with clients when they return home. We make a point of debriefing each journey, and hearing how their trip changed the way they see the world – and how they want to bring those lessons into their homes and communities – is both grounding and inspiring. Sometimes, the most powerful impact isn’t a single project, but the ripple effect of one person’s transformative experience.

That said, some experiences stand out for their direct and tangible results. Our Rhino Conservation Safaris have given travelers the chance to participate in hands-on wildlife protection – an encounter that stays with them forever. Gorilla trekking has also been a powerful bridge between travel and conservation, with our trips helping contribute to the expansion of Volcanoes National Park in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation.

And then there are the moments in remote communities, where our travelers meet the people who live alongside these wild areas. Those interactions often spark unexpected generosity – whether it’s supporting a school, funding clean water projects, or simply staying connected. These are the stories that remind me our work is about more than itineraries – it’s about connection and shared responsibility.

AC: Ubuntu Travel has partnerships with leading lodges like Singita, Wilderness, and African Bush Camps, and supports projects via Love One International and others. How do you select partners to ensure quality, authenticity, and impact?

KG: We’re a small business, but our impact potential is immense thanks to the people who choose to travel with us. That gives Ubuntu Travel both an incredible opportunity and a responsibility to get things right.

When Leah and I choose partners – whether they’re safari lodges or philanthropic organizations – we look for authenticity, measurable impact, and a vision that complements our own. We also rely heavily on personal relationships: we know the owners, managers, and guides, not just the marketing teams. That trust ensures our travelers are looked after in a way that truly reflects Ubuntu Travel’s values.

For us, luxury goes far beyond a lodge’s design or amenities – it’s about the story behind the property, the people running it, and the positive impact it has on the surrounding community and environment.

We look for three things:

• Quality & Consistency – Every lodge must deliver exceptional experiences, from guiding to hospitality, that we would personally recommend to friends and family. If we wouldn’t stay there ourselves, we won’t send our clients.
• Authenticity of Experience – We want our travelers to feel a genuine connection to the place they’re in. That means lodges that celebrate local culture, hire locally, and create space for meaningful interactions—not just offer a beautiful view.
• Commitment to Impact – Whether it’s conservation work like rhino protection, community programs, or clean water initiatives, our partners must be actively giving back.

This philosophy applies just as much to our impact partnerships as it does to our safari lodges. It’s why we support organizations like Love One International, With My Own Two Hands, and Ocean Co. – because their projects are tangible, effective, and sustainable. Together, they give our travelers the opportunity to know their journey contributes to something far greater than one single safari. 

AC: As a board member of With My Own Two Hands, how does your role influence Ubuntu Travel’s philanthropic and community-focused travel offerings, and how do you see these elements evolving in future itineraries? 

KG: Being on the board of With My Own Two Hands gives me an incredible opportunity to help deliver impactful – and importantly, sustainable – development projects. It’s given me a deeper understanding of the realities on the ground, as well as the complexities and challenges organizations face when creating programs that are truly empowering and self-sustaining, rather than fostering reliance.

At Ubuntu Travel, that insight directly influences how we approach our philanthropic and community-focused travel offerings. We already provide avenues for our travelers to support these projects – like our Ubuntu Travel Referral Program, where every referral helps fund clean water and education initiatives.

Looking ahead, I’d love to take this further by curating opportunities for high-impact individuals to visit these projects firsthand, to see and feel the difference their generosity makes – while pairing that with a little luxury on either side of the journey. For us, the goal is always the same: to connect people in a way that leaves a lasting impact, both on the communities they visit and in their own lives. 

AC: Awards like Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists (five years running) and Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2025 reflect industry recognition. How do you strike a balance between accolades and staying grounded in client-centered experience? 

KG: Awards like Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists (five years running) and the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2025 are an honor, and they certainly help raise awareness for Ubuntu Travel. But the recognition we value most comes from our clients.

We make it a point to connect with every traveler when they return home. These conversations are where we hear the highs – the moments that moved them – and the areas where things could be improved. Not everything goes perfectly; some shortfalls we can control, others we can’t. But because we have exceptional relationships with our partners, we can address feedback directly and keep raising the bar.

We also place huge importance on our client reviews. Each one is marked, celebrated, and shared within our small team. Jenna, our Director of Operations, ensures we act on every review – whether it’s praise or constructive feedback – so nothing is overlooked.

In the end, it’s these one-on-one conversations and open feedback loops that keep us grounded. We don’t just design trips – we consciously review each one with our travelers afterward, face-to-face whenever possible. That feedback is invaluable, helping us celebrate what worked and refine what can be improved. For us, that personal connection and commitment to growth is the true measure of success. 

AC: Looking ahead, what innovations or new experiences should travelers expect from Ubuntu Travel, whether in Africa or beyond? 

KG:  Looking ahead, our priority remains clear: to keep finding the best luxury lodges and expanding into more remote wilderness regions that speak to the Ubuntu Travel ethos. This is not a one-time task – it’s something we continuously review. We can never rest when it comes to improving and expanding the safari experience.

We’ve also seen a growing interest from our travelers in destination weddings and curated golf tours. These experiences already exist, but our aim is to deliver them the Ubuntu way – with the same personal touch, attention to detail, and meaningful connections that define our safaris. Stay tuned.

Beyond Africa and Antarctica, we’re exploring other wilderness destinations that deliver the same depth, authenticity, and sense of purpose that we’ve built Ubuntu Travel around. Patagonia, the Galápagos, and – further afield – Iceland, are all on our radar. In fact, Leah and I recently visited Iceland, and its dramatic landscapes rival some of the most unforgettable places we’ve ever seen.

Thank you, Kyle, for generously sharing your vision and passion. Your dedication to creating transformative, impactful journeys truly inspires, and we look forward to following Ubuntu Travel’s journey. 

Visit http://ubuntutravelgroup.com/