Sustainable Highlights from South to North

A sustainable, slow-travel journey of South Africa, traversing from the beauty of the south to the vibrancy of the north.

This curated itinerary begins with 4 days in Cape Town, where you’ll explore the vibrant art scene, iconic landmarks like Table Mountain and Robben Island, and enjoy locals sharing their stories. Get ready to truly experience the heartbeat of Cape Town!

Then, embark on a 4-day self-drive along South Africa's West Coast region to enjoy nature, birds, Bushmen culture, and the Cape Winelands.

Finally, you'll take a short domestic flight north to Johannesburg, where you'll stay at a Safari lodge. On this Private Game Reserve, you’ll search for the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo) and immerse yourself in the rich Batswana culture. Visit Soweto to see the homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and join local festivities that will make your journey unforgettable.

This sustainable tour is crafted to offer a perfect blend of luxury, culture, history, and adventure—ensuring an extraordinary and wholesome experience. From UNESCO sites, to heritage tours, Indigenous art, and traditional cuisine, this slow-travel tour will authentically show you the multi-faceted wonders of South Africa.

• Visit iconic attractions like Table Mountain and Robben Island
• Join the Bo-Kaap walking tour and indulge in a Cape Malay food experience
• Walk with locals on a township tour & street art tour
• Visit markets & galleries that celebrate modern and Indigenous art in the Castle of Good Hope
• Wander in the Cape Winelands in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
• Pair local wines with traditional South African cuisine
• Visit historic places in Soweto in Johannesburg, including Nelson Mandela's and Desmond Tutu's former homes
• Safari in Dinokeng Game Reserve and experience the Batswana culture in the neighboring village.

South Africa is a year-round destination, with varying regional climates and wildlife opportunities. When you travel may depend on which activities are most important to you.

• December-March: This is the best time for all those seeking the sun and beach days.
• April-September: This is considered the best time to visit with cooler weather.
• Low Season - Winters are generally considered the low tourist season, between May to September, although it is the ideal weather for certain regions, and so remains an active season for tourists to visit.

Special times to visit:

• August-September: The West Coast blooms into a blanket of wildflowers and is one of the most beautiful sights to see!
• November-February: This is the best time to travel for birding (though it can be rainy during this period). Temperatures remain warm at 72°F to 91°F (22°C to 33°C).
• May-October: The dry season is ideal for wildlife viewing in the northern part of the country. Animals are more predictable and easier to spot because they gather around water sources and vegetation is lower. Game viewing is especially good in Kruger National Park, Madikwe, Pilanesberg, and KwaZulu-Natal.
• Off-peak travel: Off-peak travel is between May- September with less crowds.

Sustainability is at the very heart of what we do. Our focus is on local culture, the people, the environment, and making a positive impact. We believe a collective consciousness is necessary for the traveler, locals, and environment to grow.

Therefore, we intentionally collaborate with those who want to be part of rebuilding an inclusive, more sustainable model that benefits all stakeholders in the tourism industry. All our tours/trips combine celebrating all cultures, connecting travelers to local community experiences, and bringing awareness about conservation. Travelers will enjoy the heart of the country through colorful and collaborative journeys that positively impact and empower.

Conscious of our impact on people and the planet, we provide travelers with a Pre-Trip Guide to familiarize themselves with the culture, customs, traditions, and how to minimize their carbon footprint on the destination.

Environmental

South Africa has a conservation culture from the start, and we encourage our guests to join us in our efforts to ensure the preservation of water, save energy, and respect our natural environment. We share tips in our Pre-Trip Guide which we send guests before departure.

The country is currently battling an energy crisis called load shedding. Most of our partners have implemented energy-saving practices and follow protocols and guidelines to ensure safe environments for staff and guests. They have installed smart switches in various areas to switch off lights etc. when not needed. Switching off geysers in guest rooms when they are not in use. Most have replaced all light bulbs with LED energy-saving bulbs. We support them in their effort through our wildlife volunteering program. In terms of wildlife conservation in the Cape Winelands, our provider partners with Cape Nature for rehabilitated Tortoises to be released on the farm. We also support two female entrepreneurs who turn waste into wonderful gifts included in the Welcome Gift to our guests.

Our suppliers and partners are encouraged to improve environmental awareness. They have contributed to several environmental matters, which in turn helps us on our sustainability journey. Each entity has initiatives from small to medium suppliers to preserve nature conservation, waste management, and water saving. We encourage travelers to use public transport, especially in the busy city centers, instead of hiring cars.

We use locally owned and operated infrastructure.

Economic

We intentionally choose small operators within the community where travelers stay. From accommodation, transport, and fresh produce to co-creating travel experiences, to ensure the economic growth of that particular community as far as possible. Using local businesses and produce from the communities ensures a circular economy where money stays within the host community.

Choosing and supporting women-owned businesses from marginalized communities as our suppliers are essential issues we campaign for. We directly address social issues like this to reduce inequality within the country. Guests immerse themselves fully into the local culture by enjoying a home-cooked meal, learning to play the African drums, or partaking in a community walkabout. Introducing visitors to local experiences like this, protect and safeguard natural and cultural heritage. Local experiences like the Cape Malay, Black, and Indigenous tours make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

To help put profits into local hands so they can benefit directly, we:

• Intentionally use youth and women-owned businesses from overlooked and marginalized communities. Creating opportunities for women from disadvantaged communities means they can provide for their families and community. Accommodation, transport, and food suppliers live in and around the community our guests visit. This ensures the industry's economic impact is spread equally at all levels of society.
• Co-designed travel experiences with local communities to ensure an authentic experience for travelers. This fosters a collective responsibility and gives them ownership of their product.
• Provide employment and business opportunities for local people. All tour guides are locals. Trained and certified by the municipal and national tourism bodies, tour guides are well-prepared, friendly, and professional in sharing their local knowledge with international and domestic guests. They come with the recommendation of our travel and tourism partners. Most of our suppliers are entrepreneurs and owners of their social enterprises.
• Provide welcome gifts for guests that are made and provided by women-owned businesses.

Sociocultural

From the Bo Kaap tour to the Indigenous sharing their cultures, we highlight South Africa's diverse cultures, which also represent marginalized people. Through storytelling, local artists, small operators and suppliers from disadvantaged backgrounds offer and create authentic travel experiences. Guests will share home-cooked meals with local women.

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.