Exploring the world

TOUR GUIDES: BUSINESS PARTNERS MIX TALENT, ADVENTURE

- Hein Kaiser

Two decades ago, two young South Africans were in London looking for something to do and figuring out how to make some bucks. Carl Cronje and Zakes Maritz did not exactly know the travel industry at the time, but they had an idea. And decided to start a business anyway.

So, with a second-hand laptop and a handful of flyers, Expat Travel was born.

"It's a fascinating story, one I like telling," said cofounder Jakes Maritz.

"Carl and I were two young South Africans in the UK, like many of our peers back then, just looking for some adventure. He had a real talent for showing people around and said he wanted to do this for a living. I told him I knew everything about business. I didn't, but it didn't stop us."

The pair didn't know it at the time, because the business was kind of started on a lark, but the company grew and now the business is a global travel provider and, at least, they can afford several laptops now.