From Snap Gaps To Bite Size Small Group Tours: See More On Your Safari With Acacia Africa

[Bea Villiers]

Giraffe drinking at Namibia's Etosha National Park (c) Bruce Sai Louie

Acacia Africa operates a variety of tours across Southern and East Africa including multi-country camping and accommodated overland tours, small group safaris, city and beach stays and short safaris and treks.

A leading adventure travel specialist with over 100 tours on its website, Acacia is the go-to operator If you’re planning to book a bite-size seven-day journey to see the Big Five or if you’re looking to take a longer one to two-month trip.

Mokoro safari, Okavango Delta (c) Acacia Africa

Botswana ranks second in Acacia Africa’s latest poll of the top 10 most popular safari destinations, the travel company recently completing a rigorous and detailed examination of enquiries submitted over the past three months. 

While its one of Africa’s more expensive safari destinations, the specialist’s small group safaris cover all the prime locations and for less.  Book a seat on the seven day Okavango Wilderness Trail and enjoy mokoro safaris in the Okavango Delta, Fish Eagle river cruises on the Chobe River, 4×4 safaris in the Khama Rhino Sanctuary and more.

SAVE £83pp (10%): From £752pp (two sharing) + Safari Pass from £630pp including transport, accommodation (five 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 guide/driver. Offer valid on 22 September, 20 October and 03 & 10 November and 01 & 15 December departures. Starts Victoria Falls - ends Johannesburg. Price before discount £835pp. 

Annual migration, Masai Mara Game Reserve (c) Acacia Africa

Most hotels in the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve are already fully booked for the next two months, but Acacia’s camping overland tours could still get you to the main event, and with cash to spare. 

Book your front row seat to view the annual wildebeest migration as it’s all go on the plains, the wildebeests crossing the Sand River Gate point earlier this month. SAVE £129pp (10%): 13-day Kenya & Tanzania Adventure overland tour from £1,166pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from £1,170pp including transport, game drives, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour guide/driver. Offer valid on 16 & 30 September, and 28 October departures. Starts Nairobi - ends Dar es Salaam. Price before discount £1,295pp. 

Leopard spotting, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (c) Acacia Africa

Zambia has just been ranked as one of top 10 safest countries in the world* to visit during 2018 and with the country about to restock the wildlife in five of its national parks, there’s even more reason to add the country to your overland tour.

The 23-day Kruger Victoria Falls & Zanzibar includes two full days in Livingstone, rhino walking safaris one of the many optional activities, and game drives in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.  Wildlife viewing in the Kruger and Matobo national parks and optional underwater safaris at Kande Beach also feature on the itinerary, the trip making additional stops in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

SAVE £293pp (15%): From £1,662pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from £180pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour guide/driver. Offer valid on 20 September, 04 & 18 October and 01 & 29 November departures. Starts Johannesburg - ends Dar es Salaam. Price before discount £1,955pp.  

Overland truck in the Namibian desert (c) Acacia Africa

Morph your gap year into a shorter snap gap or fit Africa into your 12 month RTW trip and book the 56-day Grand African Adventure. Starting in Cape Town and ending in Nairobi, the itinerary zig-zags its way across Southern & East Africa and takes in the delights of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

Arno Delport, Sales & Marketing Manager at Acacia Africa comments, "A participatory experience, there are few tours which can match the CV boosting prowess of an overland expedition.  Right from the get-go, it’s a team effort, from shopping for local delicacies and helping to cook for the group to pitching tents and cleaning the truck – a maximum of 24 travelling on any one tour."

Gorilla trekking, one of the many 'instagrammable' safari experiences available (c) Acacia Africa

The trip includes options to volunteer with SoftPower, and there’s no end of challenges to be had – recounting tales from your Nile whitewater rafting adventure in Uganda or your 16-kilometre trek to Livingstonia in Malawi, all helping to steer your post gap interview into winning shape.

Major wildlife haunts include Kenya’s Lake Nakuru, Tanzania’s Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Botswana’s Okavango Delta and the Etosha national park in Namibia – its floodlit waterholes allowing for 24/7 game viewing. Billed as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is just one of many ‘Instgrammable’ safari experiences available.

SAVE £612pp (15%): From £3,473pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from £1,310pp + £555pp Gorilla & Chimp Trek Permit including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour guide/driver. Offer valid on 08 September, 06 October, 03 November and 01 & 29 December departures. Starts Johannesburg - ends Dar es Salaam. Price before discount £4,085pp. 

All prices exclude return flight. All offers are subject to availability and should be booked by 31 August. Acacia Africa (020 7706 4700; acacia-africa.com). SATSA membership No. 1931, Atta membership no. 20151, ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED. * Above research by Sky Scanner