Doreen Rheinstein
“Experiences are needed rather than rooms!”
This is what John Addison of Wild Frontiers said when discussing Africa travel trends for 2024. He said that while you can enjoy the comforts of a good meal and a good night's sleep anywhere, Africa is one of the few places on earth that can promise an irreplaceable experience. Hearing the Milky Way and the roar of lions up close.
Addison’s words summarize the African travel trends predicted by experts for 2024: a surge in demand for truly immersive travel centered around innovative experiences.
This trend translates into a new perspective on destinations. Wendy Walker of Quintess Vacations, a luxury Virtuoso subsidiary, said: “As more travelers seek out wild, remote areas to experience truly immersive adventures, destinations such as Mana Pools (in Zimbabwe) and Hwange National Park will shine. .” he said.
• Related: 5 Wellness Trends for Africa in 2024
Walker added that travelers are happy to give up some of their luxuries for more remote locations and immersive safari experiences. “They are flying to off-the-beaten-track areas such as the Okavango Delta in Botswana or the floodplains of Kafue National Park in Zambia, where the safari experience is wild with little human intervention. .” she said.
The goal is to achieve complete immersion through first-hand exposure to nature, wildlife and culture. There is a conscious effort to travel intentionally with a focus on meaningful engagement that benefits both the community and conservation.
desire to make a difference
According to Beks Ndlovu, purchasing behavior is clearly shifting from consumption to value addition.
“There is a growing interest in how we add value in a meaningful way through engagement and travel rather than consumption. Guests are consciously thinking about how their purchasing behavior, travel and accommodation contribute to the local community while on an African safari. , environment and conservation,” he said.
Adrian Kaplan, head of marketing at Singita, agrees, saying: “Travelers now have a better understanding of how travel not only opens them up to new perspectives and cultures, but also restores their whole body, mind and spirit.” “Modern travelers want to use their travel dollars to create positive change.”
“I think many travelers are aware of the impact they can have on Africa, good or bad. They come home and talk about the wildlife and, of course, the communities they learn about while staying in protected areas or places where local staff work. We talk.” said Theresa Jackson, Travel Experts affiliate in Allendale, New Jersey.
For Ryan Powell, COO of AndBeyond, Africa is the kind of destination that gets into the hearts of travelers and gives them the urge to explore further and deeper and return with a desire to travel to less crowded and remote wildlife areas on the continent.
Sarah Jackson, Jacada's product manager for Africa, says this new push for authenticity means previously popular “staged” cultural and wildlife interactions are becoming a thing of the past as travelers are now looking for more authentic experiences.
Photographers now focus on tourism.
Embodying this evolution of travel are indigenous guides like Musa Habimana and Gary Nkusi, founders of Rwanda's Green Safari tour company. Their unique backstories illuminate the country’s culture and history for guests seeking meaningful connections.
Moussa and Gerry, orphaned after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, have a unique story. They were both just nine years old when they received their first cameras to document life in the Rwandan orphanage where they grew up. The Imbabazi Orphanage in northwestern Rwanda is built on a flower farm that was once Diane Fossey's home. The orphanage was founded by Fossey's friend Rosamond Carr.
Beginning in the late 1990s, Carr invited American photographer David Crandall to teach photography skills to children at the orphanage. Musa and Gary were among 18 orphans selected to participate. Their images offered a unique perspective on life after genocide, and the exhibition attracted international attention.
Through photography and interacting with the orphanage's international tourists and volunteers, Musa and Gary developed strong English and guiding skills from an early age. They even helped lead tours of the orphanage for visitors. This was to instill in them a passion for tourism and to share Rwanda's surprising but serious history with outsiders.
Now tour guides, Musa and Gary share their unique perspectives with Green Safari travelers on their nine-day “Gorilla Experience” itinerary. Their travels include sites associated with mentor figures such as Fossey and Carr who influenced their early years, illustrating their intertwined influences. Their mission is to provide travelers with authentic, in-depth experiences that tell the holistic, interconnected story of gorilla conservation, genocide recovery, and local ingenuity in Rwanda.
