Stephen will be leading small group escorted tours to South Africa, including :

 Victoria  Falls,Zambia,Mozambique and Botswana.

These tours will be led by Stephen and will include other specialized guides that will  be joining us for different portions of the trip.

The maximun size of these trips will be 12 maximum, plus Stephen.

 This number of partcipants will ensure a very personalized service orientated experience. As well, for some of the smaller rural areas and Safari camps, this number will be easier  to obtain space for, so we can all stay together.

I place a high emphasis on personal, casual, relaxed travel, haveing fun, creating connections , experiences that will last for a long time.....this is a not a impersonal mass tourism tour, with  30 odd other folks,  a glossy brochure tour, that some local Travel  agent is selling but has no education or interest  in the country.

I grew up in South Africa, travel back at least once a year, have been a South Africa Tourism Destination specialist for a long time, I love what I do, am very proud of what this country has accomplished and has to offer. Hence the emphasis on small group, personal, insightful, trips. 

The itienaries of these trips will be to give the partcipants a expanded and deeper experience of South Africa, and Southern Africa.

The general theme will be to keep a balance between the generally most requested popular areas :

 Cape Town, Cape Winelands, Safaris, during whale watching season , we will spend time in Hermanus, Johannesburg ie Soweto, Apartheid Musuem,

and

the more unexplored lesser known areas of this region. 

Such areas will be focussed on Culture, people, local traditions and  the scenery natural beauty of these areas.We will walk and visit local vilagers, rural schools, clinics.....meet local village folks, and experience the pace, and quality of life in rural village South Africa .

A nice balance between urban and rual, a complete insight into this unique and vibrant country.

This offers you the oportunity, not mandatory,  for charity kindness as some the places we will visit, would benefit from school supplies, uniforms, soccer balls, soccer unifroms, basic first aid kits, reading books for rural libaries etc.

Each tour will have a different theme,such themes  may be :

1) Safari Madness:

  Exploring Botswana and Zambia..a  focus on varied eco systems, explored by driving, walking, and by canoe. We will visit the Victoria  Falls , and more than likely start of in Cape Town.

2)  City, Culture,  and Safari:

Here we will experience Johannesburg and Cape Town , possibly drive up the Garden Route, explore the magical traditional areas of the  Eastern  Cape and Venda, with a focus on culture, people, history, nature, and end of with a Safari in either Kruger National Park, or Botswana.

3) Volunteer, Culture, and Safari:

On this  trip, we begin in Cape Town , then we will spend a week as a volunteer in a Village, north of Johannesburg  helping out. From here we will travel to Venda to explore this area, including the new United Nations Heritage site, and a local Hot Springs resort. Then we will explore the Kruger National Park, for 3N on Safari, staying at bush camps...their is also a option to stay at  a private Safari camp.

4) City, Culture, Swim with Dolphins, Safari

On this trip, we combine some of the Cities of South Africa, like Cape Town, possibly drive up the Garden Route, explore the Eastern Cape for its natural beauty, people, culture, from where we will travel to Southern Mozambique to swim with wild dolphins, in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and end with a Safari in the well known Phinda Game reserve of  Kwa Zulu

5) City, Culture, Coastal Walk, Safari

On this trip, we combine some of the Cities of South Africa, like Cape Town, possibly drive up the Garden Route, to  explore the Eastern Cape for its natural beauty, people, culture. Then we will do a 3N Wild Coast Coastal hike down the beautiful coast.

Thereafter, we will fly to the Kruger National Park to a Private Safari lodge for a 2N Safari.

6) Soccer/ Safari/ Culture

With the world Cup coming to South Africa in 2010  I have developed a unique tour for local soccer teams whether you are a club, kids,  college, adult, or  a group of soccer loveing recreational folks...this is combined with local rural games , interaction with locals,  sightseeing and a Safari.

 7) Charity Challenges

While this may not be a structured group, I am adding it as it may peak some interest from some one. The concept is to travel to South Africa to partcipate in any of the challenges available from this

 South Africa Charity Challengers link.

How it works is that you target a charity, and obtain pledges from people, orginizations, business, to raise funds for that charity. You travel to South Africa to partcipate in these events, as part of the fund raising expereince. The Charity challenges are a unique way of combing physical activities with charity fundraising

Lodging:

All lodging, even for the Cultural tour portion, will have their own en suite bathrooms, and  will be a combination of Moderate to First class hotels, locally owned Bed and Breakfasts, and small Safari camps...

Tour  Length  :

This will vary depending  on the theme, however they will be between 14N to 17N long

Trip Costs:

The actual trip costs will be know once I develop the packages, however  below is  a rough estimate of per person costs:

A) The Safari Madness between  $7500 to $9000.00

B) City, Culture,  and Safari:$4000 to $ 5500

C) Volunteer, Culture, and Safari: $5000 to $6500.00

D) City, Culture, Swim with Dolphins, Safari: $ $5000 to $6500.00

E)  Soccer/ Safari/ Culture    $ 3500 to $ 4500.00

In the main urban areas, your  day tours will be structured in such a way as to give you free time to explore.I will be on hand, if requested to  give you advise, suggestions, on where, what and how to explore these areas on your own.

As well, on these free days, I will offer some of my own time to lead informal groups on walks, etc, in this way you will experience a  deeper insight and get to know the areas we are visiting.

These itineraries as of July 07 are being completed .....

I am starting  a email group list of interested participants. If you are interested send me a  e mail to

    indicating:

Your prefferred month of travel

How many will be travelling

Whether you will be utilizing your free air miles to travel with, or would need a Discounted International Air quote.

The theme that you are intetrested in or areas that  you prefer.

I will add you to my list, and notify you when a tour that meets your needs is available.

I  look forward to experiencing this unique part of our world  with you.

Stephen Abelsohn