Active Escapes

No. But we do run the occasional ‘event’ (such as the Wellness Weekend Retreats). All our tours are offered to private groups if you are 2 or more. The Amphitheatre Slackpacker is one trail that you can even do on your own. We do try to facilitate individuals joining smaller groups if both parties are happy about the arrangement.

Whilst our distinction is an ‘active’ edge to your holiday, our aim is to get you to challenge your comfort zone. For many people, the idea of an ‘active holiday’ sounds more like a penance, and that is fine – you are not our market  . But we are also NOT a boot camp. We fully appreciate that the age, fitness and ability of our guests comes in a wide spectrum; so we have endeavored to put together a diverse offering to ensure there is a trip within everyone’s reach. Having young families ourselves, we also have a good understanding for children’s abilities, endurance and strengths, and we are trying to establish more family-friendly adventures for both the youngest and oldest members of the family.

Due to the personal documentation and legalities, we leave these bookings up to you. However, we provide all the advice you need on public and private transport options, best airports to fly into etc. On certain tours we can also book transfers with reliable providers with whom we work with, if they are not already included in your tour package. Just about all of our tours include a return transfer to your start or finish point where you have left your vehicle or will connect on with other transport options such as flights or coach.

Why not. We have slackpacking tours in the provinces of KZN, Eastern Cape (highlands and Wild Coast), Free State and the Western Cape. Many international travelers book two (& sometimes even more) of our trails and we are also happy to make the accommodation bookings between, but we are not an accommodation-only booking platform.

Most of our hikes and cycle trips can be customized a fair amount – such as more or fewer days, lay-days and alternative lodgings. We pride ourselves on trying to make a trip happen within your time and other constraints, but obviously within reason and within the restraints of the tour itself – for example: sometimes there is no other option but to self-cater; or no more ‘comfortable’ accommodation upgrade in the area.

On your written go-ahead for a trip, we will invoice you. If it is under 12 months for the trip we will request a 50% consolidated securing ‘confirmation’ deposit and the 50% balance to be settled 6 weeks prior to the trip. Please note that we request a single consolidated group deposit / balance payment, so someone needs to act as the group leader or treasurer, collect payment from their friends and then make the consolidated payment to us. I’m afraid we do have to insist on this, to effectively keep-up and on-track with our accounts. Our Covid-adjusted Cancellation & Postponement terms are here

Cancellation of any booking must be received in writing and fully acknowledged by Active Escapes CC in writing.

If a booking is cancelled with the consent of Active Escapes (AE), AE reserves the right to retain 20% or R500/per cancelled person (whatever is the greater) of the total tour amount as a Booking & Administration Fee.

Should a person cancel a tour and cannot find an immediate replacement, with

A) 4 weeks or more notice – 25% of the total tour amount is forfeited.

B) If ACTIVE ESCAPES has less than 4 weeks’ notice, the cancellation fee, payable by the client will be as follows:

• 27-21 days prior to the trip: 50% of the total tour amount
• 20 – 14 days prior to trip: 60% of the total tour amount'
• 13 – 0 days prior to trip: 100% of the total tour amount

C) Under special circumstances, the 50% deposit may be transferred to another tour or event, to take place within 12 months of the cancelled tour/event. However, a 20% or R500 (whichever is the greater) Booking/Admin fee will still apply.

Yes. In the light of the Covid 19-pandemic, in which despite our best efforts, none of us can determine our national and international travel policies, Active Escapes' approach to all trips that have been or are being booked are:

1. Flexible booking & postponement terms up to one week before travel if a member of your party has contracted Covid, been in direct contact with a person that has, or there are new travel restrictions imposed: you can postpone without penalty for up to 6 months.

On previous bookings taken, our policy has been:

A. Please Postpone rather than cancel. We will enable NO penalty postponements for up to 6 months (from the original date booked). We can also postpone up to 12 months, but if falling into the next year, the new annual rate will apply. Your deposit paid will be kept as a ‘voucher’ in essence, and you can even chose another trip with Active Escapes, though preferably we’d hope you keep to the same trip to support the same persons who are losing this booking now.

B. Cancellation: if you chose to cancel, we will facilitate this with as minimal penalty as possible - hence we are offering all our tour groups that are chosing to cancel a full refund less 20%, on which we honour to pay the suppliers their portion of this small cancellation fee. Refunds will be paid back in ZAR (Rands) as received

If you think your product could be of benefit to us, or our clients, and fits with our company ethos - please get in touch with us.

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