Southern Africa vacation
Highlights
Johannesburg | Kruger National Park | Mokopane | Moremi Gorge | Makgadikgadi Salt Pans | Victoria Falls | Chobe National Park | Maun | Okavango Delta | Khama Rhino Sanctuary | Soweto
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.com
Check dates, prices & availability
Small group adventure
What is a small group adventure?It's a great way to travel! Whether you are traveling on your own, with a partner or with friends, a small group trip is a fantastic way to see the world. You'll travel on a fixed itinerary that has been designed to help you discover the best of region. From the known highlights, the hidden gems that you won't find in the guidebooks.
Itineraries run on set departure dates, accompanied every step of the way by an English speaking local group leader. You chose the itinerary and the date that suits you best and you book on.
Why travel on a small group adventure?
Small groups allow us to explore where larger tour groups can't. Our maximum group size of 16 travelers allows us to use local transport to get from A to B, to visit rural villages, spend time with the locals and even stay at a local home overnight, and it allows us to give our travelers genuine, real life experiences of the countries we are visiting; what you'll be doing and how you'll travel depends entirely on your chosen itinerary.
Is an adventure right for me?
The word adventure means something different to everyone, and our range of trips reflects that. Whether you want to explore local markets, visit out of the way temples and meet local people or go on an early morning safari drive searching for the 'big five', we'll have a trip for you. If you are looking for a physical challenge such trekking the Kokoda Track or summiting Kilimanjaro, we can help with that too.
So what can I expect on this trip?
This is a classic style of small group adventure. You'll find your trip combines a good mix of included activities and free time, with some meals included as per your itinerary. We don't want you to feel chaperoned, it's your vacation not ours. Your group leader will be on hand to assist with organising anything you might wish to do in your free time, but how you spend it is up to you. Anything listed as included in your itinerary will be included in trip price; whereas anything listed as optional will be at an additional cost should you wish to take part.
These trips are great value, including things that you would struggle to organise independently, such as a night at a homestay in a remote village, or local guides around a remote place of interest. Transport will be a combination of private vehicle and public transport, whichever is the most appropriate for the route we are traveling; this might include train, plane, camel, tuk tuk, bicycle, boat…
On a majority of these trips you'll stay in 2-3 star accommodation, locally owned and reflective of the region you are traveling through. All solo travelers will be automatically roomed on a twin share basis with another group member of the same sex, unless you opt to pay for your own room at time of booking. There are no compulsory single supplements for solo travelers willing to share. Single rooms aren't available on camping trips, and you will be expected to help out with camp tasks such as setting up and breaking down your camp.
Can I book my flights with you?
Yes! We are a fully ATOL bonded tour operator meaning that we can book flights from the UK as part of your vacation package. Just ask us for a quote including flights when you make your inquiry.
Responsible tourism
Southern Africa vacation
Carbon reduction
Your vacation will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this vacation and how to reduce them.
Environment
We have always felt that Africans are better placed to show you Africa than we are! It is our policy to employ local guides for the duration of your trip. We always aim to spend money as locally as possible, and to work with local people in preference to ex patriates. We purchase food local so that money is well distributed within the regions we visit during the trip.
When not being used by us, we often send our safari trucks out on safari with local school kids to give them a taste of their own country in the national parks that are often too expensive for locals to visit.
As a company we aim to contribute to the environmental preservation of the destinations we visit and to reduce any negative impacts our operations may have. This translates to actions such as using local transport where safe to do so in order to reduce emissions, observing all national and marine park visitor rules and operating a ‘take in, take back out’ waste management system, to name but a few examples. Through our inhouse foundation we also invest money into environmental initiatives that benefit the planet, including restoring kelp forests to help reverse the effects of global warming and protecting endangered species such as sea turtles and elephants.
As a company we aim to contribute to the environmental preservation of the destinations we visit and to reduce any negative impacts our operations may have. This translates to actions such as using local transport where safe to do so in order to reduce emissions, observing all national and marine park visitor rules and operating a ‘take in, take back out’ waste management system, to name but a few examples. Through our inhouse foundation we also invest money into environmental initiatives that benefit the planet, including restoring kelp forests to help reverse the effects of global warming and protecting endangered species such as sea turtles and elephants.
3 Reviews of Southern Africa vacation
Reviewed on 16 Apr 2010 by Honey Bernstein
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
A boat ride through the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lakes Albert and George on the Uganda, Rwanda, Congolese borders, stands out for the serenity of the trip and the wildlife we saw, practically within touching distance: hippos, crocodiles, water buffalos, hyenas, and various birds were among the stand-outs. Victoria Falls took our breathe away as we stood on a ridge on the opposite side of the gorge, in the downpour created by the falls, deafened by its thundered. Although we were getting drenched we couldn't tear ourselves from the beauty and the power before us.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Pack light - and bring comfortable shoes. And don't worry about bringing massive amounts of toothpaste or back-up shampoo. Every few days the group stops at fairly well-stocked groceries at which just about anything can be purchased and re-stocking is a breeze.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We took a side trip to a Pygmy Village and discovered that the only thing separating the 30 Village children and school was a $5 uniform! We immediately chipped in and bought everyone the clothes they needed to attend school. There was much shouting and cheering from both the kids and their parents. What a joy it was to be able to help them - and with such little effort! We interacted frequently with natives. We danced with them, fished with them, hiked with them and drank banana beer with them. It was an "event" for all of us to remember.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I can't wait to return to Africa with these operators. It is a unique and special way to see a country and feel the local vibe. Extensive overland travel gives more than a taste of the local culture and enables one to experience a very different way of life than we are used to in the western world. If only for a few weeks, I was able to almost feel "African," (albeit with a lot more amenities than many of the locals experience). I shopped where the locals shop, ate where they ate, and slept under the same stars.
Reviewed on 04 Aug 2008 by Rachel Balen
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
It was all pretty memorable - for positive reasons! Well organised, EXCELLENT guide - and the group of us (5) gelled well.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It does involve a lot of mileage (traveling) and there is no time for many of the `optional extra` activities listed.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I think it only really benefited local people in terms of the shopping we did and the tips we gave - and the amount of driving obviously has a cost in terms of pollution etc.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I thought it was excellent - in terms of organisation, company and value.
Reviewed on 28 Jul 2008 by Anna Downie
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Camping in the Okavango Delta under the stars - and then trying to find my way past the elephant footprints to the bush toilet! Botswana is a fantastic country and we had a brilliant guide who was happy to share his knowledge about the different countries, animals and places we travelled through.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Check what time of year you are going- it was very cold camping and I hadn't packed enough warm clothes. Don't expect to see every big cat, but you'll see some amazing animals.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, to an extent. We travelled with local guides where possible, we encouraged to pay reasonable prices for souvenirs and to consider where they came from and who made them, and there was a strong emphasis on minimising our impact on the Okavango Delta. I think there could have been more encouragement for people not to keep buying endless plastic bottles of mineral water and perhaps we could have questioned the environmental impact of doing a small plane ride in Botswana (but then we should all take responsibility for doing that).
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent.
Popular similar vacations
Botswana fly-in safari vacation
Experience Botswana on a 6 night fly-in Safari adventure
From £2850 7 days excluding flights
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
From US $2815 - US $2950 21 days excluding flights
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
From US $2035 - US $2250 14 days excluding flights
Botswana safari and Chobe river cruise
An exclusive combination of land & water based adventures
From US $6125 10 days including domestic flights only
protection
