About Us

Our Story

There are places in the world that change you the moment you slip beneath the surface. The Eastern Cape is one of them. Wild coastlines, cold currents, untamed beauty and communities deeply connected to the ocean — this is where Awehness Travel was born. Not in a boardroom or from a business plan, but from a single mom’s belief that adventure could become a force for connection, healing and conservation.

Founded in the Eastern Cape, Awehness set out to showcase the hidden magic of the region — its remote beaches, vibrant communities, local artists, storytellers, chefs, brewers and conservationists. Every journey became an invitation to slow down, explore deeply and experience the coastline not as a tourist, but as part of something meaningful.

From this vision grew Aweh Let’s Swim — the swim branch of Awehness — a company creating adventure swims that range from accessible 400m ocean and river experiences to demanding 14km endurance challenges. But these swims were never only about distance. They were designed to reconnect people to the ocean and rivers and to inspire protection of the ecosystems and wildlife that make South Africa’s coastline extraordinary.

What began as a passion for open water swimming and authentic cultural experiences slowly evolved into something much bigger: a movement built around people, purpose and place.

At the heart of Aweh Let’s Swim is collaboration. The company works alongside organisations committed to safeguarding the natural world, including SANCCOB, whose work rescues and rehabilitates endangered seabirds like the African Penguin, WESSA, one of South Africa’s oldest environmental organisations focused on conservation and sustainable tourism, and the Wilderness Foundation Africa, which champions wilderness protection and transformational conservation experiences.

One of the most meaningful partnerships has been with MadSwimmer, who joined forces with Awehness for the 14km Kromme River Swim — a powerful challenge undertaken not only for endurance and exploration, but to raise awareness and support for children in need. Together, these collaborations have helped shape experiences where swimmers become part of something bigger: protecting wild spaces, uplifting communities and using the ocean as a force for good.

These partnerships are woven into the DNA of every swim and travel experience. Whether swimmers are navigating rivers, crossing historic bays, or gathering on remote stretches of coastline, they are also contributing to conservation awareness, sustainable tourism and community upliftment. Through initiatives like the WESSA partnership, every booked experience helps support environmental action in Algoa Bay and beyond.

What makes Awehness different is that it was built from the ground up with heart. A single mother with a dream chose courage over comfort and created a company rooted in authenticity — proving that adventure tourism can still be personal, meaningful and impactful. The vision was never to create races alone, but to build experiences that leave people transformed: stronger, more connected and more aware of the world around them.

Today, Awehness and Aweh Let’s Swim continue to grow a community of ocean lovers, explorers and conservation-minded adventurers. From first-time swimmers finding confidence in the sea to elite athletes tackling long-distance crossings, every participant becomes part of a bigger story — one where adventure and conservation swim side by side.

Because in the Eastern Cape, the ocean is more than water. It is culture. It is healing. It is belonging.

And Awehness exists to share that feeling with the world.