African Vacation Experiences

Family trips in Southern Africa are all about making memories to last a lifetime. From thrilling up-close wildlife encounters to authentic interactions with local communities, a family vacation with Explorer will enrich your children’s lives in unexpected ways. Africa encourages new perspectives; whether you’re viewing Cape Town from the summit of Table Mountain, marveling at the Victoria Falls through a haze of misty spray, standing atop the Sossusvlei Dunes at sunrise, or floating over the Masai Mara in a hot air balloon. 

For families travelling to Africa for the first time, you can take your pick of bucket list experiences. See the Big 5 (or even the Big 7 if you choose to go on safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape of South Africa). Watch whales from the shores of Hermanus, or see sharks up close at the Two Oceans Aquarium, before taking a ride in the big wheel at the world-famous V&A Waterfront. This is the perfect opportunity to reconnect as a family. Put modern distractions aside and indulge in the splendors of Southern Africa.

Travelling with tots, or travelling with teens? We will tailor your trip to suit your family. From the floodplains of the Okavango Delta to the elephants of Chobe, experience Southern Africa with Explorer.

Walk in the footsteps of giants. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a rare opportunity to see wild gorillas in their natural habitat, experience eco-tourism in action, and return home with memories to last a lifetime. This bucket list activity will see you hiking deep into the misty rainforests of Volcanoes National Park to spend time among a family of mountain gorillas (called a troop). These critically endangered gentle giants are fascinating to watch – not only do they look like humans, but their interactions with each other are also similar to our behavior in social settings! Certainly, the world’s largest primate is among the most intriguing animals to watch in the wild.  

Volancoes is also where Dian Fossey, the American primatologist and conservationist famously studied the Gorillas in the Mist (the title of the book and film adaption). 

Gorilla trekking is unlike any other safari experience. There are stringent conservation regulations: you must have a permit (purchased in advance) and you must be accompanied by a guide.  Because only 80 gorilla permits are issued daily, with a maximum of 8 visitors per group, and a time limit of only one hour to spend with the troop (to safeguard them from human diseases), this really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! 

Adventure is out there! Add some adrenaline to your vacation with the best adventure vacations in Africa with Explorer.

Southern Africa is fast becoming one of the world’s adventure vacation hotspots, and with good reason. If you’re someone whose vacation is not complete without a steady dose of adrenaline, you can take your pick from countless adventure vacations in Southern Africa. White water rafting, bungee jumping or ziplining – what’s your scene?

Chase your thrills down the Storms River in the Garden Route or paraglide over the forests surrounding Wilderness. Experience the Knysna forest from above on a canopy tour or take a heart-stopping swing over the Batoka Gorge. If you’re keen on pushing your boundaries, we’ll make it happen.

Fueled by adrenaline but driven by quality, we’re the A-Team when it comes to adventure holidays in Southern Africa.

If you’re big on the Big 5, we invite you to discover the best of the bush on luxury safaris with Explorer. From Chobe and the Serengeti to open vehicle game drives in a private reserve or a horseback safari in the Masai Mara, Southern Africa is the wildlife safari capital of the world, filled with bucket-list safari experiences.

There’s so much on offer: witness the Great Migration from a hot-air balloon, watch calving whales from the shores of Hermanus, or track cheetah on foot at Samara. A Kruger Park wildlife safari is ideal for first-timers who want to experience game viewing in style and luxury – and who want almost guaranteed sightings of the Big 5. You can also expect rewarding wildlife encounters on a walking safari in Zambia’s South Luangwa or among the wetlands of Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

Take a journey on the wild side with Explorer.

Romance is in the air on a honeymoon in Africa! From Cape Town to Kenya, there really is no better destination to make your first memories together as a married couple.

Indulge, on your African honeymoon, in candlelit dinners for two on a private beach or sleep beneath the stars on a luxury safari. Southern Africa promises spellbinding experiences and unforgettable destinations in which to celebrate your love.

Take your pick of Southern Africa honeymoons: a Cape Town honeymoon blends the cosmopolitan energy of the Mother City with the charm of the Winelands, while a luxury safari in an untouched wilderness is equally unforgettable. View the Big 5 on a private game drive. Marvel at the majesty of the Victoria Falls or soak up the serenity of the Okavango Delta. Expect to dine on world-class cuisine, discover cultural experiences and find adrenaline-fueled adventures.

The honeymoon is aptly named; it surely is a sweet time to make your first memories together as a married couple.

Discover the transformative power of travel when you embark on a journey of inner growth and overall well-being with Explorer.

We believe that wellness and mindfulness are unique to each person. Whether to rejuvenate body and soul or unwind from the daily grind, we provide you with opportunities to reach a sense of calmness in nature and reconnect with your spirit. Our professional practitioners gently facilitate mindful and enriching experiences for you, be these sacred drumming circles, Tai Chi on the beach, or meandering through sacrosanct caves on an archaeological journey of discovery.  

Authenticity is at the heart of what we do, and sustainability is more than just a buzzword for us. As supporters of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, sustainability is woven into the fabric of everything we do, which is why we encourage purposeful, mindful travel which respects the environment and supports local communities. To continue making travel matter we’ll give you opportunities to meaningfully interact with the people and places of Southern Africa – from the Maasai in Kenya to local Cape Town designers at the V&A Waterfront.

Travel with a purpose and discover wellness and mindfulness in the wilderness with Explorer.

What does luxury mean to you? If you define it as ultra-luxe accommodation in unforgettable settings combined with world-class wine and cuisine, outstanding service and excellent attention to detail, you’ve come to the right place.

We take luxury travel in Africa seriously. With our holistic approach to spa journeys, food and wine experiences, private guided excursions and more you simply can’t ask for a more luxurious African travel experience. Whether you’re at the beach or on safari; perusing a menu or roaming a gallery, we’ve curated a collection of unforgettable experiences which exemplify luxury travel in Africa.

As your travel experts in Africa let us create a tailor-made safari experience for you. We will help you choose the perfect mix of location and luxury accommodation. Our team of travel experts are ready to help you plan the trip of a lifetime, whether is be for your honeymoon, a family vacation or just that luxury safari that you’ve been wanting to treat yourself to.

Take the simple joy of eating to gastronomic new levels on food and wine vacations with Explorer. Whether you’re keen on fine dining or food foraging, we have got a taste for the good life. We can’t wait to share the flavors of Southern Africa with you.

With some of South Africa’s top restaurants dotted through the Cape Winelands, this is the perfect place to kick off your culinary journey. Cycle through a vineyard before tucking into a farm-to-table feast; take a cellar tour to learn about wine pairing, or head to Franschhoek, the country’s foodie capital for a signature meal at The Tasting Room, at Le Quartier Francais.

Closer to Cape Town, La Colombe in the Constantia valley is famous for its fine cuisine and centuries-old grand estates, while the Mother City itself boasts a staggering choice of excellent restaurants and quirky eateries. Take a tasting tour of Cape Town; coffee, chocolate and gin tastings are sure to delight your taste buds.

Good food and wine are not confined to the Western Cape. Take your appetite on a wild ride and combine a culinary holiday with a with Big 5 luxury safari in the Kruger Park, where the reserve’s top-end game lodges are famous for their innovative cuisine.

This is just a small taste of what you can experience on food and wine tours with Explorer. Southern Africa has never been more delicious.

No safari in Africa is complete without seeing the Big 5 in the wild. Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino are the stars of the show, and most visitors to Africa consider a Big 5 safari the ultimate experience. Indeed, coming face to face with one of these magnificent animals is an experience that is hard to beat. Imagine the thrill of watching an elephant amble passed your open game vehicle, so close, you could touch it. Or delighting in watching lion cubs at play, their lioness mother never too far away. The thrill of seeing a rhino cross your path, an animal fighting hard to avoid extinction. 

Where are the best places to see the Big 5? Africa is the only continent in the world where you can see large populations of big game in the wild, especially in protected reserves such as the Kruger National Park. Private concessions within national parks, like Sabi Sands, are your best bet if you hope to see all five members of the illustrious crew in one trip. This is because private game reserves – while sharing unfenced borders with the main park – offer unique benefits and fewer restrictions, like private guided game drives, night drives and guided nature walks in the company of experienced rangers.