Looking to book your dream safari? Acacia Africa have lined up a list of travel hotspots, deals and exciting new tours for the year ahead.
SOUTH AFRICA
Over the next twelve months, South Africa’s Eastern Cape will be a safari hotspot, with travellers expected to make the pilgrimage to Mandela’s home province, to mark what would have been his 100th birthday. Events linked to ‘Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018: Be the Legacy’ will be held in South Africa and London, UK (a Nelson Mandela Exhibition running for a fortnight around his birthday in July), and a statue honouring the former president will be unveiled in Glasgow.
It’s bragging rights assured, after landing a much coveted spot on Lonely Planet’s top 10 Best Countries To Visit In 2018, there’s even more reason to visit South Africa, as the Otter Trail (the country’s oldest hiking trail) will also celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
Book the 19 day Kruger to Cape Town, the overland tour ending in South Africa’s, Mother City. Cape Town is the jumping off point for Robben Island (where Mandela served 18 years of his 27 year sentence) and the perfect place to feel the Madiba buzz post your Big 5 safari. The trip also skirts the Eastern Cape, with stops in the Mountain Zebra National Park, the Addo Elephant Park and Tsitsikamma where you can experience a taster of the country’s oldest hiking spot in a single afternoon - the complete Otter Trail a more serious five day trek. Book before 28 February and SAVE 20% (£219pp) from £876pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from £190pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Offer valid on 14 and 28 March departures. Starts Johannesburg - ends Cape Town. Full tour price before discount £1,095pp.
LESOTHO & SWAZILAND
This year we won’t just be looking to make more meaningful connections when we travel, we’ll be opting for mind-altering experiences which allow for a deeper sense of introspection. Transformational travel is expected to be one of the biggest trends of 2018, Lesotho and Swaziland excelling when it comes to fusing cultural heritage, remote backdrops and local community tourism to create life changing holidays. Relatively undiscovered, both kingdoms are ideal for adventurers concerned about over-tourism, Lesotho recently securing a place on CNN’s list of places that deserve more travellers. Slowly creeping up the popularity polls, Acacia Africa reported a ten fold increase in bookings for its camping overland tours going via Swaziland and Lesotho in 2017, since launching tours to the destinations mid 2016.
The 46 day Southern Africa Explorer overland itinerary includes a village visit to meet local shepherds near the Sani Pass (the gateway to Lesotho) and seasonal opportunities to participate in sheep shearing; an optional horse riding trek with the Basotho Herdsmen to the Botsoela Waterfall in Malealea (an impressive insta-worthy site), mountain bike safaris in Swaziland’s Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and an Umphakatsi Cultural Experience with a Swazi village chief near the royal enclosure. A great year to visit the Kingdom of Swaziland - King Mswati III will celebrate his 50th birthday and the country will mark its 50th year of independence in 2018.
Book before 28 February and SAVE 20% (£539pp): From only £2,156pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass £640pp. The price includes transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Offer valid on 14 and 28 March departures. Starts Johannesburg - ends Johannesburg. Full tour price before discount £2,695pp.
MOZAMBIQUE
This year, Mozambique’s Bazaruto National Park will be getting an eco-overhaul, the conservation NGO, African Parks (of which Prince Harry is now officially president, the NGO managing more than a dozen protected areas in eight other countries on the continent), signing an agreement to take over the management of the park for 25 years. Their emphasis will be on creating a conservation-led economy where eco-initiatives benefit local communities.
A celebrated dive location, flipper up responsibly on the 14 day Mozambique & Zimbabwe Explorer, the itinerary making stops at Tofo, Vilanculos (gateway to the Bazaruto archipelago) and Xai-Xai. From £1,635pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass £150pp. The price includes transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. March to December departures. Starts Johannesburg - ends Victoria Falls.
BOTSWANA
Botswana is in the running to be the choice honeymoon destination for this year’s most talked about royal couple. Prince Harry and Megan Markle visited twice in the past year and the centre stone on Markle’s engagement ring was sourced direct from the Gem of Africa. The couple are both firm fans of Africa’s last wetland wilderness, and a possible honeymoon in the Okavango could see the delta’s popularity sky rocket. More of a real steal than royal, Acacia Africa’s prices make Botswana a bargain.
Book the NEW nine day Okavango Wilderness Trail, the small group safari including two days in the delta with mokoro safaris by day and under the setting sun. Game drives in the Khama Rhino Sanctuary and Chobe National Park also feature along with a visit to the Victoria Falls and sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. From £875pp (no single supplement) + Safari Pass £730pp including transport, accommodation (seven nights twin share rooms with en-suite facilities, one night twin share pre-erected tent with en-suite facilities), most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Year round departures. Starts Victoria Falls - ends Johannesburg.
UGANDA
According to Acacia Africa, interest in gorilla viewing is at an all time high. Nat Geo’s three part documentary "Secrets In The Mist” which aired in December, was made in honour of the 50th anniversary of Dian Fossey’s work, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of Gorilla’s In The Mist, the 1988 biopic starring Sigourney Weaver. With permits in short supply, Acacia suggest booking early as places for this activity are limited for reasons of conservation, and even earlier if you’re considering travel to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - permits for Uganda currently half the price of those in neighbouring Rwanda.
Book the NEW nine day Troop To The Gorillas the overland itinerary including gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimp trekking in the Queen Elizabeth National Park and optional white water rafting and volunteering at Jinja. From £775pp no single supplement + gorilla & chimp permit from £555pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals, and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Year round departures. Starts Kampala - ends Kampala.
KENYA
The world still follows the former president on his travels and with the Obama’s rumoured to be heading to Nairobi, interest in Africa’s Wildlife Capital could well surge. Sources say the former president might be planning a June trip, his proposed itinerary including a visit to the African Heritage House, the Pan-African art museum home to American designer and architect, Alan Donovan. Once described as “the most photographed house in Africa," Donovan’s residence is only a 20 minute drive from the centre of Nairobi.
Book the NEW three day Nairobi Park Stay, the itinerary including a game drive in Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage visit, return airport transfers, all food and drink and twin share ensuite accommodation at a tented camp (inside Nairobi National Park). From £740pp (two sharing). Excludes return flight. Daily departures. A smart and sustainable move, Kenya recently brought in the world’s toughest ban on plastic bags. Ditch your duty free bags too, as they won’t make it past passport control, and add some canvas carriers to your backpack.
ZIMBABWE
Even before the recent political transformations, Zimbabwe was attracting a growing number of travellers, but in the post Mugabe era, its popularity is soaring to new heights. Offering spectacular safaris, the country’s Hwange National Park is home to an estimated 50,000 elephants, many of which are in breeding herds as large as 300. Add in 100 different kinds of mammals (including the endangered wild dog) and around 500 bird species, plus little competition for vantage points, and it’s a no brainer for anyone with an African safari on their bucket list.
Book the seven day Southern Africa Safari, the small group safari including game drives in Hwange National Park, a walking safari in Matobo National Park and a visit to the Victoria Falls. From £665pp (no single supplement) + Safari Pass £480pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Year round departures. Starts Victoria Falls - ends Victoria Falls.
-ends-
Unless otherwise stated all of the above tours operate year round. Acacia Africa’s Camping and Accommodated Overland tours are strictly targeted at travellers aged 18-39 years. The tour operator’s small group safaris are open to travellers from eight years, as are many of Acacia’s Short Safaris & Treks and City Breaks & Short Stays including the NEW three day Nairobi Park Stay. Acacia Africa (020 7706 4700). SATSA membership No. 1931, Atta membership no. 20151, ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED.
