Jo Meintjes, of Jo Meintjes Travel, sent Travel News an email explaining why February 16 is a special day in her calendar.
“Today, February 16, marks exactly 50 years since I landed in Cape Town (on February 16, 1972) as an immigrant from the UK on the SA Oranje.
It also marks exactly 35 years since I started in travel with my own company (on February 16, 1987) – this later became Jo Meintjes Travel.
In those days I had to send telexes to the US to book the majority of my expedition cruises. I had to drive about 20 minutes up to Sandton, sometimes twice a day, to send or receive the answer. It was considered a luxury when the fax machine arrived and I had one in my office!
It led to a good life (until COVID arrived), organising tours and expedition cruises worldwide with the majority to Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galapagos Islands, amongst others.
I visited all these, and many more, several times. According to the USA International Traveler’s Club, I have been to nearly 160 countries.
I read Travel News every day – and I am glad to see your publication is still going strong!”
Jo Meintjes
Ed’s note: When Jo arrived in South Africa Travel News (then a weekly, printed TNW) wasn’t even two years old. This must make her one of our most longstanding readers.
