Much has been written about millennials and their leaning towards the experiential – their desire to learn languages or culinary and other skills, to volunteer in conservation, cultural and social situations, to be involved rather than simply to observe. Tourism Update presents some options on offer in Africa.

Tourism stakeholders the continent over are answering the ever-growing demand for experiential travel, resulting in some extraordinary experiences for the tourist wanting educational encounters, insightful interactions and adventurous escapades that leave life-long impressions.

The polar opposite of ‘round the world in 80 days’ type travel, experiential travel calls for immersion in cultures, learning new expertise, gleaning new understandings and touching authenticity – a debatable concept – at its most authentic.

Africa presents countless opportunities for exploration with depth. At the same time, resources of all kinds are sensitive and restraint is required. Below, Tourism Update has compiled a list of inspiring learning experiences. Many of them are community encounters, where care must be taken not to intrude.

1.Experiential encounters

Welcome Tourism Services has a long list of experiential encounters that can be built into tour programmes.

On summer nights, guests visiting the Maputaland Sea Turtle Project in KwaZulu Natal have the opportunity to patrol the beach, monitoring turtles in hatching season. They can sample rhino trekking at other locations in the province.

In the Cape, they can take a Cape Malay cooking safari at the home of a local resident, or try their hand at Xhosa cuisine in Kayamandi township. There are secret tunnels dating back to the mid-1600s to be explored under Cape Town and, above ground, a rich tradition of jazz to discover.

Up in Gauteng, the headquarters of some infamous township gangs and Mandela’s one-time haunts are visited in Alexandra, while Johannesburg’s graffiti can be viewed on a walking tour.

There is cheetah conservation to see at Hoedspruit and literacy projects to learn about at Tswalu in the Northern Cape. On a Bushman safari, travellers can try their hand at tracking and centuries-old survival skills practised by the San hunter-gatherers. 

2.Rhino tracking

Conservation activities bound to attract the experiential traveller include rhino tracking on foot in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, an activity offered to guests staying at Wilderness Safaris’ Toka Leya Camp in Zambia. Here guests can also avail themselves of a back-of-house tour, viewing the successful waste water management plant and greenhouse.

Rhino tracking is possible too at Wilderness Safaris’ Desert Rhino Camp in Namibia, where guests can also learn about the conservation work done in conjunction with Save the Rhino Trust Namibia.

3.Cultural immersion

In an effort to showcase the rich culture of Tanzania, Serena’s lodges are offering guests a range of activities that include cooking, Swahili and traditional music lessons.

The cooking lessons are interactive and conducted by a chef who demonstrates local dishes. The language lessons cover basic Swahili words that are useful during the guests’ safari.

Jogging and stretch exercise sessions are also conducted, giving guests the chance to enjoy fresh air in the natural environment. Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge has a 350m jogging track suitable for all ages. Mineral water is supplied and a certified first-aid guide is on hand.

The new activities are also available at Zanzibar Serena Hotel and Lake Duluti Hotel.

4.Conservation courses

Based in Nelspruit, EcoTraining specialises in training about nature. Courses are run in simple unfenced bush camps in the middle of wilderness areas in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The company’s mission is to educate people on the importance of wilderness and the processes that drive the world’s natural ecosystems.

“We offer sleep-outs that involve driving from camp to a spot far off in the bush,” says Katherine Greathead, Marketing Manager. It’s sleeping rough, without the benefit of tents and ablutions. Participant take turns on night vigil, keeping a watch for nocturnal animals. They also learn about eco-friendly fire-making, camping and cooking with the bare minimum.

The company’s one-week EcoQuest course will involve participants in activities such as a breeding project for rare and endangered Sable antelope, or witnessing a collaring, or the notching and capture of a large game species, such as lion, elephant or rhino.

“We give experiential instruction on the basics of bush survival skills – finding and extracting water from natural sources; finding edible fruits and other food sources; orientation and navigation skills and more,” says Greathead. “Learning animal tracks and trailing an animal through the bush; lying on one’s back in the dry riverbed looking up at the galaxy and learning so much about it; sitting on the tracker seat on game drives – these are the activities that change a safari experience to something ecologically tuned in.”

5.Learn about desert-adapted lions

Guests who spend three nights at Wilderness Safaris’ Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in Namibia can take advantage of an informative day’s excursion to the Skeleton Coast. Dr Philip Stander, a desert lion researcher, is also based here and, when possible, guests can listen to his research presentations.

6. Walk the Northern Kruger

ReturnAfrica’s Pafuri Walking Trails run from April to October in the northern Kruger National Park under the supervision of experienced field guides. There is a four-day walking trail, a seven-night full-moon walking trail, and a luxury walking trail, where guests stay overnight at the luxury Pafuri Camp.

Guests are also offered the opportunity to participate in village tours to Makuleke village, to interact with the locals, enjoy traditional dance and music, listen to traditional storytelling, buy arts and crafts and visit a sangoma.

Recently introduced are special birding and elephant experiences. Both take place over seven days and include lectures, discussions, walks and drives in Pafuri. They are led by Johna Turner, a conservationist and expert on the region.

CEO of ReturnAfrica, Peter John Massyn, says: “Our clients are looking for deeper ways to understand this region, which is so rich in biodiversity, and the privilege of learning under the guidance of wildlife experts like Johna Turner is going to be an unforgettable experience for anyone who takes part.”

Enhanced Birding Experiences are on offer on November 16-22 and February 1-7. The Elephant Experience will take place from September 27-October 3.