A typical Go Africa Adventure experience.

Tailor-made safaris

Oregon,
© 2012 Group Tour Media
January 30, 2012

Not every group tour involves 50 people on a motorcoach. With a smaller group and a sense of adventure, a group can experience places that the highway could never take them.

Jill Watkins, the travel coordinator for Go Africa Adventures, knows the benefits of small groups. Customized service is one, but there’s also a logistical advantage to traveling with groups under a dozen people.

She shares her experience and advice with Group Tour Media and its readers.

Group Tour Media: Tell us about the background of Go Africa Adventures.

Jill Watkins: Go Africa Adventures, located in Portland, Ore., provides custom trip planning services to travelers engaging in photo safari, leisure touring and adventure travel to more than 40 safari-style lodges, choice hotels and tented camp options in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania and Kenya.

The owner of Go Africa, Neil Gagiano, is a native of Namibia and South Africa.  His passion in starting the company is in sharing the amazing attractions and experiences of Africa with visitors. Go Africa specializes in the personal touch — every itinerary is custom designed.

Group Tour Media: What do you need to know when bringing a group overseas?

Jill Watkins: Make sure every member of the group has done their homework in regards to entry requirements and expectations from the experience. Always remember that Africa is another world and do not expect it to “be like home.” The unexpected can and will happen at any time!

Research your whole itinerary, ask questions of your travel planner, and most of all, be enthusiastic about this amazing adventure!

Group Tour Media: Why do small groups work best for Africa tours?

Jill Watkins: Safari vehicles are optimized for a small group experience, seating 4–10 people. By traveling with a small group, you can share the costs of the driver, fuel and park fees. But because it’s still a small group, you have the flexibility to tailor the safari experience to the desires of the group.

Group Tour Media: What places would you recommend that groups visit — Africa is a big place!

Jill Watkins: East Africa is a favorite destination to see the vastness of the landscape and herds of animals. There is an easy circuit that can be done through several well-known parks in Kenya and Tanzania (like Serengeti and Masai Mara) in 10–14 days.

South Africa is very user friendly and offers a chance to combine cosmopolitan Cape Town (and nearby world-class Wine Lands) with a safari and wildlife viewing experience in Kruger National Park. South Africa can be done in 10 days, and an easy extension can include Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe Park. 

Group Tour Media: Tell us more about wine tours in Africa. 

Jill Watkins: South Africa’s award-winning Wine Lands are only an hour's drive out of Cape Town and include three distinct regions to explore (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl). 

We recommend an overnight in the region rather than a day trip, so that you can leisurely enjoy the quaint towns and partake of cellar tours. Most wineries have a variety of tasting experiences, and the area is picturesque and bucolic so you don’t want to rush yourself! 

Because the Wine Lands can easily be added onto any tour that includes Cape Town, we don’t have a “set package.”  We specialize in personal, customized experiences and can include the Wine Lands in any itinerary for you.

Group Tour Media: Anything else you’d like to add?

Jill Watkins: Everyone should consider travel to Africa! It would be fun as a group because you would have someone to share the amazing adventure with. There are so many options — active, wildlife voluntourism — and you can tailor the experience to your own desires.

It’s the “trip of a lifetime,” though usually you will want to go back again and again. Allow as much time as you can, because you won’t want to leave.

Jill Watkins
Travel Coordinator
Go Africa Adventures
(888) 3GO-AFRICA
(503) 344-6311
www.GoAfricaAdventures.com

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