Drifters Adventure Tours

After 16 years of active adventure tour operating, DRIFTERS ADVENTOURS has not only built up a reputation as the most diverse tour operator in Southern Africa, but also the most affordable. Concentrating on camping and active participation tours, DRIFTERS tours are run with an air of flexibility and casualness, sot that at no time does one feel like you're in a processing plant.

Our groups are small, very cosmopolitan, comprised of active people usually between 18 and 55 years of age, who don't mind roughing it, and who enjoy contributing to the smooth running of the tour. Our market niche is those folk who are not interested in the really rough, overland, cheap and nasty tour, nor the fancy, very costly 5 star, luxury lodge concept but, the average middle of the road person desiring a professionally run tour with a degree of privacy and individual attention, and a good deal of fun and adventure at a value for money price.

DRIFTERS tours cover the entire sub-continent, with guaranteed, scheduled departures of between 5 and 30 days duration. Areas covered include - South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zululand as well as multi-country tours from Johannesburg to Nairobi, and Cape Town to Victoria Falls to Johannesburg, We also have the infrastructure to run tailor tours on request. Besides all of this, DRIFTERS own or control eight Inns, catering for the self drive market, as well as being used on our tours. We also own a private Game Lodge which borders Kruger National Park, and caters for the more discerning nature lover.

DRIFTERS operate with a variety of specially designed vehicles, depending on the terrain, transporting from 8 to 18 clients. Our guiding staff compliment of 45 permanent, well trained young people, specifically chosen for their fauna and flora knowledge, and pleasant dispositions are all registered with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa and SATOUR.

Over the years we have been able to perfect our operation in terms of itineraries, vehicles and equipment, and pride ourselves on excellent food, served in the middle of nowhere against all odds. Our vehicles are widely recognized as being the best on the road, an important factor on overland travel.

DRIFTER's prices are fully inclusive, with no nasty surprises. We don't include alcohol or soft drinks, and where a meal is not included is stipulated. Most excursions are included, but where it is something specialized like white water rafting it is not included.

DRIFTERS operate as a totally legitimate company and are registered and licensed in all the countries we operate in, this offers clients and agents credibility and financial security when making a booking with Drifters.

Founded in 1983 by Andy Dott, DRIFTERS has gone from strength to strength, to become one of the most formidable forces in tourism in Southern Africa. Our philosophy is based on one of SUSTAINABILITY - the long term assurance that whatever activity we conduct in any specific natural area, must contribute to conservation and the well being of the inhabitants of that area, thus ensuring that future generations will be able to visit those same areas and enjoy the same experience, as did their parents before them.

DRIFTERS management is made up of a hard core of versatile dedicated hands-on people, who, because they own a share in the business, are personally involved and concerned with every aspect of the running thereof. All of us, without exception, have been on each and every tour we conduct, and are therefore well aware of exactly what we offer, and what our clients expectations are.

Our expansion has been gradual and calculated. We now have a registered company in every country in which we operate and we employ large numbers of local people in all of those countries. Clients can therefore feel assured that a percentage of their tour fee is in fact going directly to those areas of the community and environment that need it the most.

Our guides adhere to a strict code of ethics. All of the guides are registered with the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa, the recognized professional association setting the highest of standards in field guiding in the region.

Our camping and adventure equipment retail outlet in Sandton City in Johannesburg is widely acclaimed as the best store of its kind in the country, with specialized staff on hand to advise on all aspects of the industry. This of course, has also enabled us to design and manufacture the highest quality equipment for us on our Safaris. Similarly, our choice of vehicles has evolved over many years, and we design and use the best available to us.

We now also control or own 8 DRIFTERS INNS and a GAME LODGE situated throughout South Africa, namely in Johannesburg, the Northern Province Bushveld, Hazyview, Zululand, the Drakensberg, Knysna, Victoria Falls and Cape Town, as well as a GAME LODGE bordering Kruger National Park that caters for the slightly more discerning clients. All offer excellent value for money and are situated in beautiful settings, all ideal for adventure activities and exploring the surrounding areas.

Well, having said all this, all that remains is you the client. We aim at adventurous minded people of 18 to 55 years of age, who through their own active participation in the tours, get far more out of them than by sitting back looking for faults. Our trips are inexpensive as we do not inflate our prices with fancy trimmings, however, when it comes to fundamentals, nothing is omitted. Our clients are normally down to earth people from all walks of life, who by choice have selected a camping Safari in order to get the maximum experience at half the price of doing it any other way.

However, don't join us only for our price, join us because a camping Safari is really how you wish to spend your time, and because you relish the thought of an environmentally educative and adventurous experience. Our approach is casual but professional, and groups are relatively small. So, if you can "ROUGH IT" then DRIFTERS is your only choice!