New Frontiers

Story

Discover Southern Africa with New Frontiers, a boutique destination management company founded in 2004 by Craig Smith and now part of Bidtravel following its acquisition by Bidvest in 2020. Benefit from a full-service inbound tour operator and ground handler that specializes in tailor-made holidays and group travel across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and St. Helena Island. Experience thoughtfully designed itineraries that combine memorable properties, extraordinary destinations, and reliable on-the-ground support.

Travel with a team of passionate and highly knowledgeable experts who share a genuine curiosity for exploration and a deep appreciation for Africa, its people, and its diverse landscapes. Draw on years of regional expertise and intimate local knowledge to enjoy personalized travel experiences that reflect careful planning and attention to detail. From remote wilderness areas and vibrant cities to pristine beaches, rugged mountain peaks, traditional markets, and iconic deserts, New Frontiers helps you experience the incredible diversity of Southern Africa.

Enjoy intelligent, unbiased travel advice from dedicated consultants who focus on designing unforgettable African escapes. Benefit from a management team with more than 70 years of combined travel expertise, supported by experienced consultants, guides, and operational staff committed to delivering exceptional service. New Frontiers continues to invest in innovation, including industry-first interactive tools such as video itinerary builders, while maintaining the personal relationships, creativity, and one-on-one service that define the company. Every journey is carefully crafted to deliver seamless travel experiences and showcase the very best of Southern Africa.

As part of the Bidvest Group, New Frontiers Tours (Pty) Ltd follows the principles and requirements of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. You travel with a company that monitors and measures its environmental footprint, supports the sustainability and transformation of its supply chain, and promotes the health, happiness, and inclusivity of its culturally diverse team.

New Frontiers organizes its strategies, supported organizations, and charitable contributions into the following focus areas:

A: Community-Based & Social Welfare
B: Cultural Heritage
C: Animal Welfare & Conservation
D: Eco-Friendly Practices
E: Small Business Development
F: Risk, Governance & Ethical Business

A. Community-Based & Social Welfare

New Frontiers supports community development through training, mentorship, financial contributions, donations of goods and services, and hands-on assistance. The company actively participates in several KwaZulu-Natal charities, including Amandlenkosi Community Support, Westville Baby House, Holah, Malvern Children's Home, Edith Benson Children's Home, and Funda Nenja.

Each Nelson Mandela Day, New Frontiers staff volunteer with a selected charity by completing essential projects and community tasks. Westville Baby House remains one of the preferred beneficiaries of this annual initiative.

Twice each year, New Frontiers partners with the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) by hosting blood donation drives at the office. Staff members actively participate, helping save lives through regular blood donations.

Many Day Touring Experiences introduce you to local communities, daily challenges, and inspiring upliftment initiatives led by dedicated individuals. Heritage and local guides share authentic stories through their own cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, creating meaningful encounters while supporting the communities featured.

New Frontiers has partnered with uThando since its inception through monthly contributions and support of its touring products. Rather than presenting communities as tourist attractions, uThando tours educate, inform, and inspire while demonstrating innovative community-driven solutions to social challenges.

New Frontiers Escapes collaborates with the Rock Girls initiative by providing ongoing training and international visitor exposure through its touring programs. This partnership helps create future adventure-guiding opportunities for young women.

In the Garden Route, you meet talented women whose intricate beadwork supports their families and livelihoods. Purchasing their handcrafted products directly contributes to their continued success.

Local chef and food critic Rupesh introduces you to an authentic side of Cape Town through memorable food experiences. These tours showcase talented small businesses, entrepreneurs, artisans, and craftspeople while celebrating the city's diverse culinary culture.

Through these touring experiences, New Frontiers helps increase the visibility, visitor numbers, and income of the organizations and communities involved.

B. Cultural Heritage

New Frontiers actively supports cultural heritage by collaborating with individuals and organizations that preserve local customs and traditions. Local resident guides share first-hand knowledge, authentic experiences, and deep cultural understanding throughout every journey.

Authentic local experiences create memorable itineraries by incorporating homegrown elements, local hop-on guides, and short immersive experiences that highlight regional traditions and lifestyles.

Many Day Tour Experiences focus on diverse cultures, communities, organizations, and inspiring local individuals. Heritage guides provide meaningful insight into everyday life, traditions, and community stories.

The Knysna Township Tour, operated with local company Lithemba, introduces you to modern Xhosa culture while providing opportunities to meet local business owners, interact with residents, and enjoy an engaging cultural exchange.

The West Coast experience celebrates the spirit of the San people through an immersive introduction to their remarkable history, culture, present, and future.

Near Hoedspruit, a community interaction explores the connection between modern life and traditional tribal beliefs, including a visit to a local traditional healer. The experience also highlights a community project that promotes financial independence, education, and conservation awareness.

C. Animal Welfare & Conservation

A passion for wildlife inspires New Frontiers' ongoing conservation and animal welfare initiatives. These efforts continue to grow through the dedication and commitment of team members.

The company regularly collects food donations and financial contributions for the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Office waste is sorted into recycling bins and collected weekly by a local recycling company.

New Frontiers carefully selects suppliers based on ethical practices and strong conservation policies while building long-term relationships with responsible partners.

The company does not work with organizations involved in unethical treatment of people or animals.

Staff travel expenses include conservation contributions that support wildlife protection. Many accommodation partners also collect conservation levies that directly fund habitat protection, endangered species rehabilitation, wildlife research, and breeding programs, including respected organizations such as Shamwari, Samara, and andBeyond.

Several Day Tours and Experiences introduce you to endangered wildlife and conservation initiatives. These carefully designed tours provide opportunities to observe remarkable species, understand their habitats, and learn about the ongoing efforts to protect them.

Marine wildlife, including whales, seals, sharks, penguins, dolphins, and numerous bird species, can be encountered on boat excursions from Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay.

Along the Port Elizabeth coastline, SAMREC provides rehabilitation for injured marine birds and penguins before releasing them back into the wild.

One Garden Route highlight introduces you to habituated wild meerkats in their natural environment. This family-friendly experience encourages respect for wildlife while promoting the importance of protecting every species and habitat.

D. Eco-Friendly Practices

New Frontiers implements environmentally responsible initiatives that minimize its carbon footprint while reducing the environmental impact of tourism.

Since 2014, the company has operated a completely electronic, voucher-free system. Digital itineraries and vouchers replace printed documents, significantly reducing paper consumption.

The Agent Zone, launched in 2012, serves as an online communication platform for travel partners, eliminating the need for printed materials during trade shows and sales visits.

Cloud-based technology now supports a fully paperless workplace, while recyclable office waste is collected weekly by an independent recycling provider.

The company regularly replaces vehicles with new models to maximize fuel efficiency, and onboard refreshments are sourced locally whenever possible.

A staff gardening initiative promotes the propagation of Spekboom plants, recognized for restoring drought-affected landscapes while naturally absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

E. Small Business Development

Supporting grassroots enterprises and SMMEs remains a core strategy of New Frontiers.

The company works closely with SATSA and the SIGMA International incubator program to empower emerging tourism entrepreneurs by providing access to resources, networking opportunities, mentorship, and industry experience.

The first beneficiary, Andile Franco Kleinbooi of Sussuros de Africa, continues to receive business exposure and development support. Solomon Gumede of Solo Travel Tours and Car Hire joined the program in late 2023, receiving assistance with marketing, equipment, financial management, business growth, and long-term sustainability.

In 2023, New Frontiers provided a local barista with the opportunity to establish and operate an independent coffee shop on company premises, creating employment opportunities for local youth.

The company also supports the independently operated business ZAF Travel and Tourism, which manages local and airport transfers for staff and clients.

F. Risk, Governance & Ethical Business

New Frontiers carefully selects suppliers that meet high operational, ethical, and environmental standards. Business relationships balance commercial success with responsibility toward people, communities, and the environment.

New Frontiers Tours ensures that every third-party supplier maintains the required operating permits, safety certifications, and compliance with all relevant regulations. The company also follows a Code of Ethical Purchasing that promotes fair working conditions, ethical business practices, and responsible environmental and social management throughout the entire supply chain.