49ers’ Ward thankful for eye-opening offseason trip to Africa

SANTA CLARA — The summer break for a 49ers player still might be a few days away, but cornerback Charvarius Ward already did some meaningful traveling before OTAs got started. The All-Pro cornerback traveled to Zimbabwe and South Africa and visited the cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town. "I went to Africa and I feel like it's one of the best [places]," Ward said. "Just to see all our people over there. I saw a lot of Black people over there and it just felt good to be around them, to see how they live." It was a cultural exploration for Ward as well as an emotional one. The shutdown corner has a new perspective on his life and lifestyle since returning from experiencing a much simpler way of life. "They don't have a lot like we do in America," Ward said. "They don't stress about the things we stress about, like the fancy cars and clothes and everything. They are just happy to get by every day. "A lot of them are super poor, in poverty, but their spirit was way up here. That's what I love about Africa. Definitely see myself going back over there to help out once I retire, and towards the latter end of my career. I want to help my people out for sure." Ward had his own...