Shaking free any lingering perceptions of predictable routes and tourist traps, a new generation of African travel operators are blazing an experiential trail. Despite the diversity of their destinations, these three new We Are Africa exhibitors share one common mission: to provide travellers with highly curated, perception-shattering experiences on the continent. It’s time to welcome a new tribe.

NAME: TransAfrica

LOCATION: West Africa

WHAT’S THEIR STORY? Founded by two Italian-born, Togo-residing ethnology specialists, TransAfrica have been curating tours in West Africa for over 30 years. From Ghana to Senegal, Benin to Burkina Faso, authenticity permeates every facet of the TransAfrica experience. What sets them apart from competitors is tours that celebrate – and offer participation in – the region’s myriad festivals and ritual ceremonies in a way that feels immersive and respectful, not intrusive. Depending on the tour they select, travellers could find themselves immersed in a festa popular – a traditional Guinea-Bissauan carnival – or donning sacred masks on a remote savannah in Burkina Faso.

Ensuring travellers are fully immersed in the cultural and environmental milieu of West Africa, each tour, from whirlwind eight-day trips to month-long expeditions, is designed to reflect the agency’s “nomadic spirit”. Whichever tour they choose, travellers can be assured of a unique experience: each year, Founder Alberto Nicheli devises brand-new itineraries based on his own recent discoveries in the region.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

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The griot is one of the most important figure in the oral African tradition, especially in Mali. The griot has a deep knowledge of the history of his or her community. He or she is also a party entertainer and gets the public involved with his/her talent for singing and playing a music instrument. Bazoumana Sissoko is one of Mali’s most famous griots, he is also known as Djeli Baba (griot father): his songs are still broadcasted by African radios. Want to know more about griots? Join us and let's discover #WestAfrica together! Il griot è una delle figure più importanti della trazione orale africana, soprattutto in Mali. Ha una profonda conoscenza della storia della comunità in cui vive ed è anche animatore di feste, in cui coinvolge il pubblico con il suo talento di cantante e musicista. Tra i griot più famosi del Mali possiamo citare Bazoumana Sissoko, conosciuto anche come Djeli Baba (griot padre): le sue canzoni sono ancora oggi trasmesse dalle radio africane. Vorresti saperne di più? Unisciti a noi e scopriamo insieme l'#africaoccidentale

A post shared by Transafrica (@transafricatogo) on Jul 10, 2016 at 11:58pm PDT

NAME: Explore Sideways

LOCATION: Cape Town

WHAT’S THEIR STORY? Explore Sideways more than live up to the adventurous spirit (and love of a crisp red!) showcased in the 2004 film – their namesake – about a wine-fuelled California roadtrip. Purely dedicated to immersive tours of Cape Town and its surrounding winelands, travellers can expect handcrafted experiences tailored to the whims of their interests and tastebuds. Whether travellers are seeking romance, a culture hit, or an adrenaline rush, creatively titled tours are the order of the day, with “Great Whites and Great Wines”, “Surf and Sip Around the Cape”, and the “Organic and Biodynamic Wine Experience” among their unique offerings. Each excursion expertly blends wellness, adventure, food and (usually) wine, with the aim of challenging and satisfying travellers’ minds and stomachs. Make ours a tall Pinotage.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb1njGOjsaF/?taken-by=exploresideways

NAME: Encounter Madagascar

LOCATION: Madagascar

WHAT’S THEIR STORY? Encounter Madagascar have one simple mission: to showcase the beauty and biodiversity of their island, where vanilla, papaya, coffee and cloves grow in abundance alongside some of the world’s finest beaches. With more than 20 years’ experience and offerings of more than 25 unique tours (as well as luxury hotels, spas and lodges), they boast unmatched expertise and a decidedly luxurious approach, with privately chartered flights and authentically prepared meals a complimentary part of many packages. Endemic to the island, explorers can also discover more than 20 species of lemur on the “Lemuria Land” tour, or watch a crimson sun setting among the island’s iconic baobab trees as part of their “Ultimate Luxury Wildlife Experience.” At nightfall, guests can retreat to lakeside cabanas or eco-lodges on private archipelagos.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQC7UdPBVMp/?taken-by=encountermadagascar

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Lucy Shave
This is Beyond Ltd's Content Executive, Lucy is a cat lady partial to peanut butter, American roadtrips and true crime podcasts – preferably all at the same time.