How much good can a holiday really do? The answer is: more than you think.
Across South Africa, new travel experiences are turning ordinary getaways into powerful catalysts for positive change – where your stay supports an orphanage or your safari spend enables long-term conservation work… and where every rand makes a difference.
“South Africans want their journeys to matter both for the communities and destinations they visit,” says Antoinette Turner, General Manager at Flight Centre South Africa. “The best trips now create real transformation.”
According to Flight Centre’s Global PR Survey, a notable travel driver for South Africans (approximately 30% of us) is to connect meaningfully with new people.
In short, more than three decades after Madiba walked free, his legacy still defines who we are: a nation that believes in building bridges, uplifting one another, and turning everyday journeys into acts of kindness. And while Mandela Month (July) is a fantastic excuse to lend a helping hand, there isn’t any reason why the good deeds should end there! Here’s how to stretch the kindness further, all year round.
‘Voluntourism lite’: Effortless impact; real responsibility
For many, Mandela Month conjures images of big gestures – a month devoted to giving back. Yet the most notable change often comes from everyday choices made thoughtfully. Enter ‘voluntourism lite’: travel that lets you contribute simply by making mindful decisions about where you stay and what you do.
When you choose accommodation or activities with built-in give-back initiatives, your holiday rands work harder: funding youth education programmes, supporting wildlife rescue missions, or empowering township entrepreneurs.
“Today’s traveller wants their journey to matter, but not everyone can take weeks off work for hands-on volunteering,” explains Turner. “That’s why we develop partnerships with organisations whose measurable impact we’ve seen first-hand. We make it simple: you enjoy an amazing holiday while knowing your booking helps build a stronger South Africa.”
Stays that give back: Where your booking changes lives
Little Switzerland Resort, Drakensberg
Flight Centre special: Midweek Stay under the Drakensberg Sky
Stay at Little Switzerland and your getaway helps sustain the Langkloof Orphanage, a sanctuary for vulnerable children in the Northern Drakensberg. Through Dream Hotels & Resorts’ Touching Dreams initiative, every guest night contributes to daily meals, education, and safe shelter. The resort’s helpful staff can guide guests toward local cultural activities that deepen this connection.
Sun City Cabanas Hotel
Flight Centre special: Family Fun at The Cabanas
A stay at Sun City Cabanas supports Sun International’s community initiatives: recycling programmes, career awareness campaigns for township youth, and upcycling projects turning hotel linens into traditional garments. Guests indirectly support job creation in surrounding communities simply by enjoying all that Sun City offers.
Morukuru Family (Madikwe & De Hoop)
Whale Season special at Morukuru Family De Hoop:
From 1 July to 11 September 2025 only – save 39% on stays at Morukuru Beach Lodge or exclusive-use Morukuru Ocean House in De Hoop Nature Reserve during whale season.
Morukuru Family pairs luxury with commitment to conservation and community upliftment via the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation – funding anti-poaching patrols, wildlife research, education projects, and sustainability practices like off-grid power systems. Guests can join “Safaris with a Purpose” and “Coastal Conservation with a Purpose” for hands-on experiences that bring about lasting transformation for animals, people and planet alike.
Meaningful travel is just as much about the stories you seek out along the way as it is about where you stay. For those inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy, every journey becomes an opportunity to reflect, learn, and connect with South Africa’s layered history on a deeper level. Mapping your holiday around places that shaped Mandela’s life transforms your getaway into something greater: an act of remembrance and renewal.
Walk in Madiba’s footsteps: Mandela-inspired heritage routes
Johannesburg & Soweto Focus
Visit the Mandela House Museum in Soweto and the Apartheid Museum for an unfiltered look at South Africa’s past. For added depth, include Liliesleaf Farm, an unassuming site pivotal to the liberation struggle, where Mandela lived undercover and the Rivonia trial was set in motion.
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Route
Stand at the exact spot of history at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site near Howick – a powerful sculpture marking his 1962 arrest. Pair this visit with a reflective stop at Howick Falls, where local guides share stories that connect nature with struggle-era history.
Eastern Cape Heritage Tour
Delve into Madiba’s roots by visiting his childhood home in Qunu and exploring the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha. These less-touristed places offer insight into his early life.
Gauteng Historical Walks
Go beyond Joburg’s city centre: explore Chancellor House (the first black law firm founded by Mandela & Tambo), Constitution Hill (from notorious prison to beacon of democracy) and Alexandra Heritage Centre (a township hub preserving stories overlooked by mainstream tours).
Cape Town and Robben Island
For many visitors to Cape Town, a trip to Robben Island – a UNESCO World Heritage Centre – is an absolute must-do excursion. Learn about the island’s complex history and stand in the 2×2 metre cell where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration.
Flight Centre can help book expert-led experiences along these routes, including local hosts whose personal stories bring each site alive. “Hearing firsthand accounts from local guides brings history to life in a way no book or documentary ever could,” comments Turner. “It’s those personal stories – shared right where they happened – that turn a visit into something truly meaningful.”
Speak to a Flight Centre Travel Expert about holiday packages that give back, so every moment of your getaway helps to build a stronger South Africa, one experience at a time.
