South Africa: A World in One Country with go-today

South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world and the perfect destination for your next group trip. Exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture offer travelers a unique and inspiring experience.

Whether you have a group interested in volunteer work, students studying history and culture, a family who wants an authentic African vacation full of safari’s and wildlife, or foodies interested in the eclectic food and wine scene, we’ve got you covered. With go-today your group trip to South Africa can be a combination of any or all of these experiences.

Voluntourism

Doing volunteer work abroad is increasingly popular in group travel and we make it easy to incorporate these unforgettable experiences into your vacation.

Although South Africa offers bustling cities to explore and stunning scenic drives along the coast, there also is a tremendous need for volunteers to help out with different projects throughout the country. Go-today can help you organize, coordinate and plan a volunteer program for your group that will leave everyone with new friends, a chance to truly connect with another culture and a sense of accomplishment. Depending on your group’s passion and causes, the travel experts at go-today can help you plan any number of volunteer components. One of our most popular volunteer activities is a half day Cape Town program.

Cape Town: Half-Day Social Responsibility Program

African Lion

Experience South Africa like never before with an interactive tour visiting local residents and having the opportunity to glimpse into their amazing stories. The tour will commence with an insight into the political and cultural heritage of the townships around Cape Town, visiting the sites of the brave struggle against the Apartheid regime. You will then continue on to visit some of the Uthando (Love) projects which supports the community in areas such as education, disabilities, animal welfare, human development through the arts, agriculture, housing, nutrition and much more! If your group has a special interest there are many possibilities and we can customize your tour! Your tour also includes a donation to the projects, tea, coffee and snacks (excludes other meals).

Often volunteer trips can be difficult to coordinate and organize, especially from 5,000 miles away, which is why the travel experts at go-today can help. If you are planning a vacation with ten or more people, why not sit back and let the Group Department at go-today customize a vacation for you? We will design a customized itinerary to specifically fit the interests of your group and budget. Everything from airfare, hotel accommodation and sightseeing are arranged by one of our group experts.

Safaris, Cities and Sights

Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve by Neil Austen

Abundant wildlife, folk crafts, the historic struggles of a nation and one of the Seven Wonders of the World await you on your journey into southern Africa. Experience the bustling cities of Johannesburg and Soweto which stand in contrast to the gardens and animal habitats of the private game and nature preserves you will visit as part of your explorations of this desirable travel destination.

Go-today offers great experiences for groups of all sizes and interests such as:

Visit the former homes of Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu and the Apartheid Museum

Cable car ride to Table Mountain
Walking tour of the history of Johannesburg
Visit to Robben Island Prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned
Guided tour of the one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls
Visit to Mukuni Craft Village
Observe wildlife at the Edeni Private Game Reserve

Since a main draw for travelers to South Africa is the immense wildlife and safaris, the Edeni Private Game Reserve is a very popular group tour component. The Edeni Private Game Reserve, in the subtropical Lowveld region of Mpumalanga, is an untamed garden of Eden where your group can explore the timeless beauty of the bush. This is an oasis of rustic elegance that provides the greatest vantage point to the Big Five and its vast, untouched wilderness. This 21,000 acre wildlife paradise is straddled between four rivers and is located near world famous Kruger National Park. Edeni Reserve teems with an abundance of wild game, birds and diverse vegetation, which provides the perfect habitat for those most secretive of Africa’s large cats, the leopard.

Most of Edeni’s trackers and game rangers are Shangaan, indigenous to the region. What could be a better experience of the wild then to be guided through the bush by people native to the land who are eager to share the richness of their cultural heritage and nature’s wonders? With their well-honed tracking abilities they will guide you to breathtakingly close encounters with the wild. On foot or onboard the specially outfitted (open) safari jeeps, the safety of the guests and care for wildlife is strictly observed. A highlight of Edeni Lodge is its thatched-roof lookout deck where guests can enjoy 360 degree views over the mountain, bush and river, sip Sundowners while game-spotting on the savannah or even spend a balmy summer afternoon in the pool.

Go-today also offers unforgettable tour extras such as an optional tour to the Kampama Cheetah Breeding Project. For something a little different, visit the nearby facility for an up-close view of these endangered wild cats. Grab lunch while being entertained by a young litter romping with their trainer.

Whether your group is interested in dusk and dawn safaris, game walks, relaxing by the swimming pool or on your observation deck, go-today can organize the ideal South Africa adventure.

Gastronomy and Wine

Durbanville Vineyard

South Africa’s coastline blesses the country with superb seafood. A good climate and fertile soil provides a variety of vegetables and agricultural products, though the country’s gastronomy is heavily starch and meat based. In fact, braai, or barbecue, goes beyond cuisine and is more about social tradition than food.

Because of its history, South African cuisine is truly multicultural. Foreign influences by the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Malaysians, Indians and French mixed with native culinary traditions. Boerewors, hand-made grilled sausages made with beef, pork, coriander and vinegar, is one example of Dutch influence. Bobotie, a curried meat casserole, has Malaysian origins. Indian samosas are a popular snack food. Some dishes have true African roots; pap is a dish made with maize, similar to polenta. Biltong is a type of dried, salted meat and Chakalaka, a spicy dish consisting of tomatoes, beans and onions was born in the townships. Adventurous eaters might even want to try restaurants that offer game such as crocodile, impala and warthog.

Although South Africa has been producing wine for some time, only recently has it received true recognition for its wines. It was the Dutch, followed by the French, who started cultivating vineyards in the southern part of the country where the climate and topography are the best match to those of traditional wine producing countries. Chenin blanc is the most widely planted varietal.

Food (and wine!) is one of the greatest ways to learn about any culture and a brilliant thing to experience as a group. Whether your group is interested local specialties, international cuisine, or wine tasting – South Africa has something for everyone.

Sound like a good time? Check out this and other South African sample itineraries here (HYPERLINK to http://www.go-today.com/south-africa-group-vacation.aspx?utm_source=lgt&utm_medium=e03212012). Then dream up your ideal African adventure and request a quote from the go-today Groups Department! Whether you have a group of fellow foodies looking an adventure, friends or colleagues interested in volunteerism and culture, a family reunion or a faculty led history class, go-today can customize a trip to South Africa that suits your group’s style, budget and interests.

Custom, Worldwide Group Travel

At go-today, we have been experts in global group travel since 1990. From 2-3* hotels to luxury villas, our breadth of product gives us the ability to meet your budget. We specialize in tailor-made multi-city and multi-country itineraries around the world. Whether your group wants to eat their way through Italy, discover their genealogy in Ireland, explore thousands of years of history in China or explore the gems of South America which include Machu Picchu, Iguassu Falls and Easter Island, go-today can customize a trip to fit your needs.

Every group that works with go-today has a dedicated operations and service team to help them through the entire process of planning and booking a detailed trip for 10 or more people in order to make the process fun and hassle free. Go-today also offers in-market customer service while traveling so we are with you the whole journey to make sure things go according to plan.

From historical sites and museum passes to city tours and motor coach transfers, go-today has many options to help make the most of your group’s trip no matter where in the world you want to go.

Tailor-made Itineraries
Friends & Family Vacations
Pre & Post Cruise
Culinary Travel
Affinity Groups
Incentive Travel
Faculty led groups

No matter what type of group, what destination and whatever the interests of your group, the travel experts at go-today will customize a trip to fit your needs.

Why book with go-today?

From a small family reunion to a large pre and post cruise excursion, we excel at arranging complex, custom itineraries for groups of 10 — 600 people.

We Make It Easy – We provide a quick turnaround on custom quotes. Multi-city and multi-country itineraries are our specialty. In addition, we help you organize signup deadlines, travel documents and payments.

Experience – go-today has managed over 6,000 custom group trips. We provide expert guides and high quality travel products.

Flexibility – We are able to tailor trips to fit any itinerary and budget. Our collection of sample itineraries shows you the wide variety of group trips we can plan for you.

Peace of Mind – Dedicated two person planning team for every group plus an in-market contact during travel.