SOUTH AFRICA
EXPEDITION.
Encounter iconic animals in one of the world’s greatest wildernesses
“
I think this has been one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had in my life, I’ve learnt and developed so many new skills, met new people and done things that I would’ve never thought possible.
”
– South Africa Venturer, 2025
SOUTH AFRICA FACTFILE
This is wild South
Africa.
The Greater Kruger is one of Africa’s great wilderness areas, with the Drakensberg creating a rugged backdrop. It’s also home to the ‘Big Five’. South Africa gets under your skin in ways you won’t fully understand until you’re home.
Land of the ‘Big Five’
Greater Kruger is home to the iconic ‘Big Five’ and an extraordinary array of wildlife
Prepare for a subtropical climate
A subtropical area with hot, humid summers and dry winters perfect for game viewing
Explore savannah and scale mountains
Greater Kruger is in an ecological bowl called the Lowveld, bordered by the dramatic Drakensberg mountains
Embrace ‘Ubuntu’
Meaning “I am, because we are”. It’s a national cultural philosophy and you’ll really feel it when you’re there
ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Expedition highlights
in South Africa.
01
TREK TO THE DRAKENSBERG
You’ll trek approx. 200km through the Northern Mpumalanga Drakensberg.
02
ECO-VILLAGE
At Sigagule, you work alongside the community through our partner Nourish on practical projects.
03
CAPE VULTURE CONSERVANCY
Undertake physical conservation work across restored bush.
04
ICONIC WILDLIFE
Our guides are experts at helping you spot some iconic wildlife.
05
FIELDBASE HOEDSPRUIT
Your base. Your home from home. It’s rustic but charming with stunning views of the Drakensberg.
CHOOSE YOUR JOURNEY
Two ways to
experience South Africa.
The challenge
Phases.
The full 8-week Expedition has all four Challenge Phases. The 4-weeker has two.
01
COMMUNITY
ACTION
The living is basic. The culture is anything but. This is where remote gets rewarding.
60km from Hoedspruit, in the Greater Kruger area, sits Sigagule- a remote, off-grid, and beautiful community. Here you’ll live in a basic campsite. But step outside camp and you’re woven into a community as vibrant as the wilderness around it. You’ll learn a new way of life, getting involved and making African beads, joining locals for church on the weekend, eating meals from the local “lunch mamas”, picking up words of Xitsonga along the way.
Sigagule is partnered with local NGO Nourish, key partners of the community who fight poverty – leading grassroots development at the source, tackling unemployment, food insecurity, and low education levels head-on. You’ll build what the community has identified as needed most: learning spaces, educational playgrounds, eco-gardens, and eco-village infrastructure. It’s hard, physical, hands-on work in tough conditions.
02
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
Physical. Dirty. Unforgettable. Come here to prove you can do the hard work raw nature demands.
You’ll be thrown into 1,800 hectares of raw African bush, once cattle farmland, now under restoration in partnership with Cape Vulture Conservancy. With the cliffs of the Northern Drakensberg escarpment towering over the reserve, it’s home to 728 breeding pairs of endangered Cape vulture. Here you will be sharing this land with zebra, giraffe, and wildebeest in a place that is genuine African wilderness.
Far from a lodge stay, you will get your hands in the dirt doing tough conservation work. From clearing invasive species, controlling erosion, thinning bush encroachment, gathering real field data, this is proper environmental action alongside qualified rangers and active anti-poaching experts. Sleeping in tents, cold showers in the morning, and incredible African sun sets. This is real field conservation.
03
ENDURANCE
TREK
This is endurance, teamwork, and grit tested to the limit – one of the toughest, most defining stretches of your entire Expedition, and proof of exactly what you’re capable of.
Lace up your boots and venture up to 200 km on foot through the Northern Mpumalanga Drakensberg, on routes most tourists never get near. This is where Blyde River Canyon carves through cliffs that plunge hundreds of metres, and where each day throws new challenges at you. From thundering waterfalls, rock pools carved by the river, dense forests and exposed ridgelines, the Drakensberg will test your physical endurance and nerve in equal measure.
Camping throughout, with all your belongings on your back and armed with a map, you’ll learn how to navigate each peak and how to lead your team through the bush. By the end of each day you’ll feel tired, but proud of yourself, with nights by the campfire under clear star light as your reward. No matter your trekking experience, the team starts together and finishes together, come rain or shine.
This is endurance, teamwork, and grit tested to the limit – one of the toughest, most defining stretches of your entire Expedition, and proof of exactly what you’re capable of.
04
The FINAL
CHALLENGE
The Final Challenge represents the ultimate test of every skill developed throughout the Expedition. It will show you how far you’ve come since you arrived.
The challenge will be unique and designed specifically for you and your team. Whether it is project or endurance based, you will develop an effective plan, problem-solve and prove your leadership on the ultimate experience to earn your Raleigh stripes.
The Final Challenge is only featured on the 8 Week Full Expedition.
Hoedspruit
Fieldbase
Your base for the whole Expedition sits at the foot of the Drakensberg Escarpment, in Hoedspruit, the safari gateway to the Greater Kruger. An area known for citrus fruits, it’s not unusual to spot monkeys moving through camp. Mountains on one horizon, bushveld on the other. This is where your Expedition begins and ends.
INDUCTION
Your Expedition will start at Fieldbase where you will have your first briefing. This will include safety, procedures and projects. But most importantly here you will meet and get to know your teammates before you start this adventure together.
CHANGEOVER
Between each phase you’ll return to Fieldbase for Expedition Changeover. An opportunity for some respite, you’ll sort your kit, debrief from the phase before and prepare for the phase ahead.
ENDEX
You’ve made it – this is the final stage of your Expedition. This is when you’ll finally hang up your boots, reflect on what you’ve achieved and celebrate with your fellow Venturers. It’s the end of your Expedition, but the start of your life ahead.
South Africa EXPEDITION FAQS
Where in South Africa does Raleigh International operate?
Raleigh International operates near Hoedspruit in the Greater Kruger area of South Africa. Expeditions combine Community Action in remote communities, Environmental Protection at Cape Vulture Conservancy , and an Endurance Trek through lowveld and mountains. Fieldbase is located near Hoedspruit, with project sites varying each Expedition.
What projects will I work on?
There are two kinds of projects on a Raleigh Expedition: Community Action and Environmental Protection. The Community Action Phase places Venturers on grassroots development projects — improving schools, supporting local organisations, and working alongside rural communities. The Environmental Protection Phase focuses on conservation work in the Greater Kruger area, helping to protect wildlife and support biodiversity through practical conservation activities.
What wildlife might I see in South Africa?
South Africa is home to some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife. Depending on your project locations, you may see elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelope, hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of birds. You may also spot some of the famous Big Five, although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. Every Expedition takes place in environments rich in biodiversity.
What accommodation will I stay in?
You will stay at our Fieldbase on arrival and in between projects. Fieldbase has a main building. Venturers have access to this building for project briefings and meetings. Venturers are accommodated in a tented camp with a separate solid ablutions block and covered outdoor social areas. On community and environment projects, you will set up a camp with shared sleeping tents and a basic kitchen.
What is the weather like in South Africa?
Generally speaking the weather in South Africa is relatively warm all year round. However, there are big regional variations depending on the type of environment – from the coastal subtropics, deserts, to humid highlands. Our Fieldbase near Hoedspruit is in a hot, semi-arid area of the country. There is a ‘rainy season’ and a ‘dry season’ so the exact conditions will depend on the time of year the Expedition cycle falls in.
Do I need a visa for South Africa?
Whether you need a visa to travel to South Africa will depend on your nationality, purpose of visit, country of residence and length of your stay. Your Venturer Coordinator will provide you with all the relevant information. The cost of visas isn’t included in the price of your Expedition.
What language is spoken in South Africa?
South Africa has 11 official languages, with English widely spoken throughout the country and used during Raleigh Expeditions. You may also hear languages such as isiZulu, Sepedi and Xitsonga spoken by local communities. Learning a few local greetings is a great way to connect with the people you meet during your Expedition.
What sort of food will I be eating?
Raleigh will supply ingredients and menus with very basic meals consisting of pap, rice, pasta, potatoes, tinned foods, vegetables and the occasional meat. You will also get the opportunity to sample some more traditional South African style dishes, including braais (an African style BBQ), pap and local vegetables. All Venturers will get to cook for the group on a rotation. Most of the fresh produce we use is sourced locally, allowing us to provide locally grown food while also contributing to the income of local farmers.