We are a small company offering small group scheduled departures and tailor made itineraries in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia – with options for trip extensions in must-see location such as Cape Town and Victoria Falls; beach extensions, or some unusual options such as Wilderness escapes in Namibia or houseboat trips on the Lower Zambezi.

If you are keen to learn about the customs and culture of local people, interested in knowing about the habits and behaviour of wildlife (as opposed to simply having it pointed out), and wanting to know that your visit has left a positive impact on local communities, then these trips will be for you. Adventure and fun feature prominently in all our trips too – with lots of options for activities unique to your surroundings ...and at the end of the day, you’ll more likely than not be sat round the evening fire with an aperitif under the stars and listening to the nocturnal sounds deep in the African bush ... a sure sign that you are a long way from home!

The air holidays and flights advertised are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9709.

We pride ourselves on our customer service, our knowledge of the destinations we operate in, and the accommodation suppliers and guides we use. We have carefully researched these and are proud to be able to publish our Clients' comments.

Privately Guided Family Safari to Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa:

"Back today from SA. Had a wonderful time, Charl, our guide, was absolutely fantastic with us and especially brilliant with the kids. He is a fantastic guide and thoroughly recommend him to anyone. The places we saw were brilliant but having someone like Charl to take us around really made it for us". Mrs Waller, Surrey (Guided Safari, July '08)

Small Group Trip to Namibia:

"We had a wonderful time in Namibia. Everything went well. It is a beautiful country. Can't believe we saw so much in such a short time.

Our guide, Paulo de Oliviera, was excellent. We were quite apprehensive being the only two on this safari, but he put us at our ease immediately and made the holiday very special. Nothing was too much trouble, and he has a wealth of knowledge about his country which he obviously loves.

Looking forward to our next trip with Native Escapes".
Mrs Muddiman, Cheshire. September 2008

Self Drive Tailor Made Trip to Namibia:

Just a quickie to say we are back and had a fantastic time.
We love Namibia and the trip you set up was fantastic. My husband loved it and was frequently spoilt with gifts for his birthday - so thanks for putting that in the booking!

I will tell all our friends how fantastic you are. Thanks again for the trip of a life time - you could not have been more helpful or efficient. I wish your business every success - it deserves it .

Mrs Purbrook, Brighton. October 2008

All our trips have been developed in line with our following principles:

Typcially qualified in botany or natural history, our guides have been carefully selected to ensure an educational but fun experience. Their wildlife-spotting experience ensures that you get the most from your safari, and their ability to speak the local language gives first hand knowledge on where the action in the game reserves is at! Their knowledgeable about local cultures ensures a priviledged insight to how local communities protect their traditions – and the impact of globalisation on their lifestyles.

You may stay in a luxury permanent tent in the African bush, complete with en suite, hot showers, private balcony overlooking a waterhole, or at a unique lodge set in the middle of the desert. In some locations, you may wake up to find a pod of hippos sleeping outside your tent, or hear the calls of baboons as the bush comes to life in the morning. The priorities are on comfort, excellent hospitality and food and unusual settings.

Watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon over the Namibian Desert; take a scenic flight over the Victoria Falls, glide through the Okavango Delta in a dugout canoe, or go whale watching off the Elephant coast in South Africa. Unique experiences befitting the destination they are set in.

Travel with a Conscience is about shunning traditional mass market tourism practices which are more likely to benefit multi-national companies and erode traditional customs. Instead, travelling with a conscience advocates:

• Ensuring visitors have some interaction with their host community – even if only by way of a local guide, whose ability to speak local languages can bridge a gap between visitors and locals and encourage two-way communication.
• Using local guides; locally owned and managed accommodation and buying souvenirs made by local communities – so that the revenue earned benefits the local communities.
• Staying in accommodation that is actively involved in a local project – just ask, there are lots of them.
• Travelling in small groups, which is less overwhelming, and which is more likely to give a sense of respect for local customs and cultures, and ensure their preservation.
• Being aware of the realities of local life, and having an opportunity to give something back.
• Donating unwanted items such as toys, books, clothes or deflated footballs which would be gratefully received by local orphanages or schools,
• Having a real opportunity to experience something unique, but leaving behind only footprints.

If you want to support the notion of ethical tourism, we invite you to join the group 'Travel with a Conscience' on Facebook. To do this, sign up at Facebook.com and type ‘Travel with a Conscience’ into the search box.

The air holidays and flights advertised are ATOL Protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9709. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.

In compliance with the UK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Company plc to protect customers’ prepayments paid in respect of the ground handling aspects of packages where the customer is responsible for arranging travel to the destination, offered on this website (subject to the terms of the insurance policy), for:
• a refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled, or
• making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled in the unlikely event of our financial failure.