Zigotours South Africa Autumn Camp: Kruger Safari and Blyde River Canyon

The operator describes this as an atypical, formative journey, and the stages are chosen for variety rather than distance. It begins in Johannesburg with Soweto, the township that produced the father of the rainbow nation, and the Apartheid Museum that pays tribute to him. The Blyde River Canyon follows - the third largest canyon in the world - with a hike and stops at a series of viewpoints, and a visit to a local school gives the group a genuine immersion. The heart of the stay is the Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa and comparable in size to Wales, where a two-day safari goes out in search of the Big Five: lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard. The last stage is Emgwenya, formerly Waterval Boven, halfway between Johannesburg and the Kruger, where orange sandstone bars and a waterfall make the setting for an aquatic hike.

The price published by the operator covers accommodation, meals, the activities and excursions of the published programme, and insurance. Zigo Tours takes out cover for every participant - assistance and repatriation, individual accident, third-party liability, legal costs and baggage - and advances medical expenses during the stay. Travel is by scheduled flight with a stopover, out of Paris to Johannesburg and back. Pre-travel from regional cities can be arranged by the operator's transport department; it is quoted case by case and is not part of the published price.

The group sleeps in backpackers - youth hostels - and on equipped campsites. Zigo Tours supplies the collective camping equipment. The operator does not publish the room configuration of the hostels.

The stay is co-managed: participants take turns at the collective tasks with the adults helping, and the group cooks for itself. Some meals are eaten in local restaurants.

A two-day safari in the Kruger National Park looking for the Big Five; a hike and viewpoints along the Blyde River Canyon; an aquatic hike among the sandstone walls and waterfall at Emgwenya; the visit to Soweto and the Apartheid Museum; and an immersion visit to a local school.

Accommodation is split between backpacker hostels and equipped campsites, with the collective camping equipment supplied by the operator. Travel on the ground is by local and private transport meeting the safety standards of the country.

A small group - at least twelve participants and at most sixteen - with a qualified director and activity leaders, one adult for every eight young people. The stay is co-managed, so the group runs its own camp between the stages of the route.