EMBRACE SOUTH AFRICA TOURS
ABOUT US Embrace South Africa Tours was started in 2001 with the purpose to give tourists to South Africa a real behind-thescenes experience. Our name comes from the word embrace (verb), which means to take or receive gladly or eagerly; to take in with the eye or the mind; to include or contain. Vested in our passion for the South African people and their upliftment, we connect tourists with South Africans from all cultures to facilitate opportunities to interact on a personal level. Embrace South Africa Tours offer a glimpse of South Africa which you will not find with a typical travel company.
Enriching lives through opportunities, to discover the beauty of South Africa and connect with the diversity of its people.
• To create behind the scenes experiences unique to the South African lifestyle.
• To provide authentic engagement with the South African nation’s ongoing journey towards freedom and unity. • To explore opportunities to embrace the South African people, through active encounters with communities in need. • To discover and share the jewels of the South African scenery and wildlife.
great travel has the power to enhance people’s lives and create memories to last a lifetime
WHY TRAVEL WITH US • We put a high emphasis on relationships and personal care. You and your tour experience is our no. 1 priority! • Our personal networks with tourist attractions, organizations, universities, businesses and significant individuals are sound and well-established.
• We aim to take care of your personal interests and needs. • Your safety and comfort is very important to us. • Our team members are experts in their fields. • Our passion for South Africa and it’s people is our driving force. • And there will be enough... fun, friends, food (and wine!) on your tour!
Deon Kitching, Founder and CEO of Embrace South Africa Tours with Adv. Thuli Madonsela at the School of Public Leadership of the University of Stellenbosch
Since we are sixteen years in business, you can count on our experience
Our field of expertise lies in the areas of Educational- and special focus Package Tours. It is with dedication and passion that we carefully design our tours to accommodate the needs, expectations, budget, outcomes and time frame of our customers. We pride ourselves to be experts in our field, with more than 16 years of experience in the business and with many satisfied returning clients. We believe that South Africa has a story of hope to tell the world and we want to echo this message to all our groups.
EDUCATIONAL TOURS
Education
Educators Connection Tours for educators who are passionate about learning, leadership, international contacts and the education profession in general.
Ministry
Pastors Connection Tours for pastors who feel a strong calling to supply leadership and vision to faith communities who live within the intersections of daily community life issues.
Public Health
Embrace our Society Tours for public health practitioners who are on the forefront of dealing with issues which destabilize communities and cause suffering for ordinary citizens.
For the past 16 years we consult with different institutions, universities and churches to develop a special cultural immersion program for their individual needs. We balance the dates, outcomes, funds available and passion of the group, to create a dream tour for everybody.
PACKAGED TOURS Our packaged tours give visitors the opportunity to experience the best South Africa has to offer, in one package, such as: ✓ mega-diverse landscape ✓ natural beauty ✓ cultural diversity ✓ rich history
All our package tours are luxurious 11 night, 12 day tours, celebrating the best of Cape Town (4 days), Route 62 (3 days), Addo Elephant Park (2 days) and the Garden Route (3 days). Our groups are between 12 and 24 people, which make interaction relaxed and spontaneous.
Best of the Southern Route = Cape Town, Route 62, Addo Elephant Park & Garden Route
WATCH OUR PROMO VIDEO
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“I've been working with Embrace South Africa Tours since 2006. I can't say enough about the quality of the activities, guides, dining, and cultural exposure Embrace South Africa provides - each tour is unique, fun, educational, and life-changing. “
LAUREN MURATORE, Tour Leader, Baltimore, USA
TRAVIS BIGLOW, Victorville, Los Angeles, California, USA
“Everything worked out very smooth with Embrace South Africa Tours. I really, really like the service. Our hotel was beautiful, the food was delicious and the service was really good. On a scale of 1-10 I will rate my experience a 10.”
“The care for each individual, the attention to detail, and the relationships that are built are outstanding! It is, indeed, a trip of a lifetime that is not to be missed!” Dr. LOREN KERNS, Director Portland Seminary, George Fox University, Portland OR
“We took a large group of nearly 60 Doctor of Ministry students with George Fox University for an educational program in Cape Town. Embrace South Africa tours provided a first-class food, transit, and lodging experience. Most of all, they hosted us with a genuine spirit of hospitality. We cannot recommend Embrace South Africa tours highly enough!”
SAMMIE BRAXTON, Tour Leader, High Point, North Carolina USA
EMBRACE SOUTH AFRICA TOURS IS PROUD TO BE ACCREDITED & AFFILIATED TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS
National Tour Association www.ntaonline.com
Drakenstein Tourism www.paarlonline.com
Cape Town Tourism www.capetown.travel
Faith Travel Association www.facebook.com/faithtravelassociation
Travel Massive Cape town Chapter: www.travelmassive.com/travellingdeon
CONTACT
MEDIA
www.embracesouthafricatours.com
E-mail: embracesatours@mweb.co.za facebook.com/EmbraceSATours
Tel:
+27 82 5524 082 instagram.com/embracesatours
Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (South African time)
(USA Eastern time -6 hours)
twitter.com/EmbraceSATours
(Greenwich +2 hours) http://bit.ly/embracesatours
REASONS WHY
IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TOURIST DESTINATIONS YOU CAN VISIT
RICH HISTORY You walk in wonder through the streets of Athens or Rome, looking at the statues that are older than most buildings anywhere else in the world. But, think back to the discoveries made in South Africa and that it is the true cradle of life for mankind. There have been settlers in parts of the country going back millions of years and it shines through in the rich history of the country. From rock drawings of the Bushmen in the Kalahari, to cave dwelling families millions of years ago, the country paints a glorious picture of the history of mankind. The country was discovered, forgotten and rediscovered; occupied by the European colonists, freed and occupied again. SA had the first mass concentration camps set up by the British and years of suffering under colonial rule. Tribes from all over Southern Africa have migrated to, fought and died for South Africa. Yet modern South Africa both sets the example of what can be achieved in Africa through diplomacy, and also how corrupt, inept government can bring it to its knees. It has a past so interesting that it is a historical destination all on its own.
THE PEOPLE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY SA has over 50 million people, 11 national languages with a rare mix of African tribes and European and Asian settlers. In a world filled with so much hatred of people outside of their own culture, South Africa has become a beacon of hope for many cultures. Nelson Mandela is widely renowned as the greatest global statesman of his generation. He has shown that more can be achieved through acts of forgiveness than many years of war. The society is by no means perfect and integration has been slow, but there has been positive progress and it’s worth visiting the country just to see what is possible with peaceful integration as focus.
South Africa has the highest repeat tourism rate in the world amongst long-haul destinations
SOUTH AFRICA’S MEGA-DIVERSE LANDSCAPE • South Africa is one of only 17 countries in the world that are classed as mega-diverse in terms of its fauna, flora and the amount of species unique to that country. • In the west the stunningly rugged coastline merges with the Namib Desert (one of the driest in the world) and the eastern coastline provides some of the most beautiful unspoilt beaches in the world. • The Cape floral kingdom represents less than 0.5% of the area of Africa, but is home to nearly 20% of the continent’s floral species. • The interior (heart) of the country provides some of the most remarkable wildlife sanctuaries in the world. National parks such as Kruger, Addo, Limpopo,Transfrontier and Kalahari have captured the imagination of wildlife enthusiast across the world. • The Namaqualand turns into the world’s largest wildflower garden once a year just after the first rains (go ahead, google Namaqualand flowers!). • SA has some of the most unique mountain ranges anywhere on the planet. The Drakensberg, Waterberg and of course Table Mountain offer breath-taking, world class views.
DIVERSE COASTLINES It is because of this immense diversity on land that many people forget that South Africa also has one of the most diverse coastlines in the world. Two very different oceanic currents flank the coastline – the west coast of Southern Africa is surrounded by the cold Benguela Current and on the east coast the warm Agulhas Currents moves south from the equator. The 2500km plus coastline plays host to 83% of all known marine fish families, with 13% endemic. Even more impressive is the 36% endemic invertebrates, where SA boasts several squid and jellyfish that are found nowhere else. The standout for tourists has to be the largest migration in the world (even larger than the wildebeest in the Serengeti!). The “Sardine run”, as it is called locally, produces one of the greatest animal spectacles on earth. The numbers and variety of sharks are astounding: Hammerheads, Zambezi’s, Bronze Whalers, Coppers and Great Whites can be seen by the hundreds, as well as common and bottlenose dolphins. If you are not in the water but want to enjoy the sand, you can choose from nearly 50 blue flag beaches, marinas or coastal sanctuaries. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the most bio-diverse oceanic sanctuaries in the world with nearly 330 000 hectares of pristine oceanfront preserved as a Natural World heritage site.
ADRENALINE AND SPORT South Africa is one of the best destinations for adventure tourism in the world. You can . . .: • . . . dive with great white sharks in Cape Town (or dolphins if you are so inclined), wreck-dive around Sodwana or catch marlin off the east coast. • . . . go on safari almost anywhere in the country or walk among lions and leopards in Johannesburg Lion Park. • . . . can drive actual 4×4 trails with an SUV, not just suburban jungles. South Africans love their sport and in particular the outdoor activities. SA has some of the best golf courses in the world.You can find places to play all over the country with coastal courses, in amongst the wildlife or more historic courses on offer that cater for every level. The world’s highest bungee jump (216m) is at the Bloukrans Bridge in the Western Cape. SA has 1000’s of miles of rivers, walking trails, dams and everything from cycling, running, dancing, shooting, falling and climbing to most other human activities that you can think of. If you are an adrenaline/sports junky you will not be disappointed with SA.
75% of tourists come to SA for holiday!!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BE YOUR HOST IN OUR AMAZING COUNTRY