Driving through the lush landscape of Phinda Private Game Reserve offers the unforgettable chance to look for a large population of cheetahs and endangered black rhinos, as well as all of the Big Five animals. And right outside the park is another amazing opportunity: to connect with the locals and learn about how they live, as well as the values they bring to caring for the land.
Doing both these things is just part of &Beyond’s unique, 11-day Travel with Purpose in South Africa tour, which brings the country to life not only with game drives but also with a philanthropic spirit. By pairing rich experiences with local initiatives and conservancy projects, travelers can truly immerse themselves in the magic of South Africa.
Photo Credit: &Beyond
DOOK
The Company
An award-winning, luxury experiential travel company, &Beyond is fiercely committed to philanthropy and conservancy of the land, its wildlife, and its people. Its core belief is to promote responsible tourism by not just leaving a small footprint, but by creating tours that help to leave a legacy.
The Travel with Purpose South Africa trip helps guests to understand a culture by getting to know a place intimately and contribute to its well-being; it’s perfectly suited for wildlife enthusiasts, philanthropists, and families, too. Every stop along the Travel with Purpose South Africa tour combines the elements of South Africa’s wilderness and with getting to know the local community, its history, why it’s special, and what its biggest challenges are; the philanthropic thread throughout is what makes this trip unique.
Photo Credit: &Beyond
Howard Cleland/Howard Cleland Pix
The Tour
Choose from a luxury or deluxe tour; either way, you’ll begin at Phinda Private Game Reserve, with seven distinct habitats and a rich tapestry of landscapes, from woodland to grassland and wetland to forest. Phinda is one of the crown jewels in &Beyond’s portfolio. Once an overgrazed agricultural land, it was purchased and rehabilitated before the large mammal species that originally inhabited the region were reintroduced. It is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious and successful blueprints for international ecotourism today.
While staying at Phinda, you’ll take an unforgettable game drive to spot the Big Five; you can also choose to participate in a rhino-notching expedition for an extra charge. Evenings will be spent back at your luxurious accommodations—either the Phinda Forest Lodge or the newly refurbished Phinda Vlei Lodge. Situated at the edge of a rare sand forest, spacious rooms at the latter are filled with antiques and collectibles, and each feature a private lap pool, which you may share with thirsty elephants who stop by for a drink.
Photo Credit: &Beyond
You’ll also go on an excursion to visit the nearby communities. Hosted by the African Foundation, &Beyond’s community development partner, you’ll tour two schools: one for children with disabilities, and another that a local woman began by teaching children under a tree and is now a primary school with 20 classrooms. You’ll then fly down to Cape Town. Besides scenic tours of the city’s iconic landmarks, the tour zeroes in on various community projects supported by &Beyond: day care and elderly learning centers, urban agricultural and environmental programs, animal care programs, and youth development programs. Visits include opportunities to interact with the locals at three of these projects.
In Cape Town, you’ll stay at the famous Cape Grace or the boutique Ellerman House, an historic Cape Edwardian-style mansion with just 13 rooms and suites in Bantry Bay, which overlooks the Atlantic. Here you’ll be able to sample some of the hotel’s 7,500-bottle collection of South African vintage wines and dine on modern local and seasonal cuisine.
The third and final portion of the trip is set on the Whale Coast, along the spectacular cliffs of Walker Bay, where you’ll unpack in your private cottage at the beautiful Grootbos Private Nature Reserve Forest Lodge. While based here, you’ll visit the nearby charming village of Hermanus, where you’ll taste wine at some of the area’s acclaimed wine estates. You’ll also take an eco-marine trip to view the area’s famous Southern right whales, while looking out for penguins and Cape fur seals. Then you’ll visit the nonprofit African Seabird and Penguin Sanctuary—the perfect ending to an adventure through this gorgeous country focused on ecotourism and philanthropy.
Explore all the other amazing South African tours you can take with &Beyond and book your adventure now!
