An Exciting School Tour of Spectacular South Africa

Imagine offering your students the opportunity to go to spectacular South Africa on a school tour? This would be a chance of a lifetime for many young people and a memory that will stay with them always. This fascinating country, full of adventure, wildlife, and an incredible history is just waiting to be discovered – it is sure to inspire and enthuse students on a school tour.

Top Five Tours in South Africa

The Kruger National Park offers the ultimate in wildlife safaris and is home to the famous Big Five; this unspoiled and untamed environment is bound to make an impression on your students. They can experience Africa in its wildest form with games drives accompanied by expert guides, and sleeping under the stars in tented camps. Students will learn about the wildlife, both big and small, the ecosystems and the issues the country has with regards to wildlife preservation. There is something quite magical about this park, regarded as the world’s biggest wildlife sanctuary, and students will love talking about their daily adventures around the campfire and falling asleep to the sound of the nocturnal animals in the distance.

Following a few days in the Kruger, take your students to the former De Wildt Cheetah Centre; it has recently changed its name to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, after the woman who has devoted her life to the survival of the cheetah. Initially established in 1971 as a breeding project, the centre has successfully bred over 800 cubs. It has also led the way for other conservation projects, such as the African Wild Dog breeding program. A visit here includes a comprehensive tour led by a local naturalis, and offers a fascinating insight into the world of the Cheetah.

God’s Window has to be one of the most spectacular sites in South Africa. Situated on the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga, God’s Window boasts magnificent views, incredible canyons and breath taking rock formations. Aptly named, this area of outstanding natural beauty is the perfect place for students to marvel at the geography and landscape formations that have played a huge part in making this region what it is today.

Historically speaking, South Africa has an interesting story to tell. The Apartheid Museum is definitely worth a visit for any students on a school tour of the country. Exhibits here have been assembled by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers, and include film footage, photographs, artefacts and text panels that tell many a tale of the epic saga of apartheid. This is a wonderful museum for anyone wanting to understand the effects of apartheid and its place in South African history.

Finally, a trip to a local township is a fascinating experience for students on a school tour. Created as living areas for non-whites under apartheid, the townships are still home to a large percentage of Cape Town’s population. Walking "township tours" can include visits to schools, orphanages and community centres. These excursions give students the chance to appreciate how different life is for these people who were so oppressed under a regimen that still resonates today.

South Africa is a wonderful country and one that has much for students to explore. Young learners are bound to return home excited, enthused and full of stories of their trip of a lifetime.

Angela Bowden works for EST (Equity School Travel), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school tour itineraries for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. Tours with EST can encompass a wide range of learning opportunities in worldwide destinations.

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