About Us

African at heart and living in Crusaders country, Doug and Bridget Mackenzie recently established a tour company based in Christchurch designed to offer a unique touring experience for travellers to South Africa. The tours are not about a check list and “if it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium” style trip. Small groups of eight are wined and dined in marvellous comfort for three weeks, experiencing all the variety that the Rainbow Nation of South Africa has to offer.

Game parks are a must and the big five (almost) guaranteed. Doug and Bridget, with their life long passion for the bush and wildlife, are a veritable treasure trove of information about the hundreds of birds and animals encountered at every turn. Doug’s repertoire of bird calls and animal imitations have been known to fool the real thing. The Kruger Park, with the Transfrontier development into Mozambique, covers the same land area as the South Island. Imagine travelling the whole of the South Island in the company of the biggest mammals and antelope on earth and then watching the sun set over a bushveld river, a cold drink in hand.

Imagine travelling the whole of the South Island in the company of the biggest mammals and antelope on earth … and then watching the sun set over a bushveld river, a cold drink in hand.

African Crusaders will take you from the lowlands and bush to tropical coast and forest and then inland to the highveld and the highest pub in Africa at 9400 feet. Black and white cows grazing in green fields will make you blink, and think that you are back in New Zealand. The frenetic activity of the cities contrasts with the laid back atmosphere of the beach and the congenial company of the country folk in the rural areas.

Visit a wildlife rehabilitation centre and see how the animals are cared for and returned to their natural habitats. Learn about the saving of the rhino, listen to the sounds of the bush and enjoy exotic plant life as you have never seen before. From the largest elephant, to the smallest grasshopper hidden in the grass – we will show it to you. Our tours are designed to give you so much more than the normal tourist routes. This is the real South African experience.

You will not only enjoy very comfortable accommodation but also experience South Africa’s legendary hospitality, in generous measure. All establishments have been hand picked and tried – most are owner run and they all take great pride in providing world class service.

No holiday is complete without the food! Hostesses are all fantastic cooks and love to show it. On a tour where all meals are catered for, there is no holding back. A traditional bush braai (BBQ SA style), complete with waiters and gin and tonic, is something not easily forgotten.

Taking the work out of your holiday is the name of the game. All meals, ground arrangements,(including laundry), entry to parks, airfares and most activities, are included in the tour price. There are no hidden extras. Your tour guides take care of everything. You are required to enjoy yourself.

We are also able to tailor make tours for groups of six or eight. Special interest groups are welcome.

The small groups allow for maximum participation in decision making and choice of activity. Pre and post tour get togethers help cement the group and add an extra dimension to the trip. Everyone gets a complimentary video and CD rom compiled from pictures taken by the guides and shared by the group, for lasting memories. The company laptop comes along for easy downloading and storage of photos and CDs burnt for you along the way.

There are no age limits and all accommodation is twin share unless otherwise requested. We can assist with extending your holiday if you wish.

All tours are for 21 days. Tours include all meals, snacks, accommodation, transport in South Africa, entry to parks, activities as detailed ( this covers most days), in fact everything except: alcohol, personal insurance (mandatory), items of a personal nature, telephone calls.

If you would like a detailed brochure and prices, please telephone us on 03 354 6455 or contact us.