eXplore Plus Travel and Tours
eXplore Plus Travel & Tours started in 2004 when Mariska Griffin and Rika Groenewald were sitting on a beach on Zanzibar, after climbing Kilimanjaro and decided, as they love travelling so much, why not start their own company. They began by selling Zanzibar and very soon they became one of the top 5 sellers to Zanzibar.
As they both grew up on farms in South Africa, they have always had a deep love for the bush. This naturally led them to focus more and more on African safaris and destinations. They soon realised there was a need for high quality itineraries based on in-depth knowledge, complemented by strong attention to detail.
Over the years, eXplore Plus Travel & Tours has evolved into a vibrant, thriving company always aiming to deliver excellent service, on par with the highest international standards. The company is now a reputable, established company and leader in ground-breaking African travel.
They created a travel company which combine excellent service and knowledge and of the highest international standards; establishing eXplore Plus Travel & Tours as a leader in ground-breaking African travel. Not only do they share 50 years of industry experience, but they have also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 11 times, including the other four highest mountains in Africa!
This goes to show how adventurous and passionate they truly are! With extensive first-hand knowledge of the destinations on offer and their respected reputation in the market, Mariska and Rika design tailor-made African holidays. They can provide trustworthy suggestions according to each client’s specific requirements. They have built leading industry relations which provide them with great contacts who offer excellent service, quality, hospitality and charm.
They keep updated with all the destinations they promote by regularly visiting old favourites and exploring new options. They use every possible opportunity to discover more hidden secrets in each country and discover off-the-beaten-track destinations.
The two of them are still involved on a day to day basis running the company and have recruited around them a team of smart, dedicated, patient safari consultants who love Travel as much as them.
RikaGroenewald
Owner & Team Leader
MariskaGriffin
Owner & Marketing Manager
Naomi
Vermeulen
Safari &
Expedition Specialist 
Naomi started her career in 2005 as a leisure and corporate travel consultant.
Her passion is to travel and experience all the different wonders and beauty the world has to offer, along with experiencing all the unique traditions and cultures.
She loves the fact that she can sell dreams to her clients and be part of their travel journey.
Sanel Volschenk
Safari &
Expedition Specialist
Abegail
Shitlabane
Safari & Expedition Specialist
Abegail is a nature lover. She studied Travel & Tourism and worked 13 years as a Cabin Crew Member for an Airline. She loves to travel, have new adventures, and learn new things. She recently joined eXplore Plus Travel & Tours. Her expertise and passion for Africa make her an invaluable asset to our team and a trusted advisor for those seeking a memorable African adventure.
Social
Although it has been many years since the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 killed up to one million Tutsi’s, for many survivors the crisis continues. With so many traumatised people (many had suffered rape or witnessed the killing of family members), the journey of reconstruction, healing and reconciliation is an ongoing process. After visiting Rwanda, Rika and Mariska decided to get involved and play their humble role in making lives better, by supporting Ellel Ministries.
Financial
eXplore Plus Travel & Tours is a bonded member of SATSA (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association) - member number 2353. SATSA membership require annual renewal and stringent compliance with their exacting standards of quality, financial health, insurance and service delivery.
Furthermore our accommodation, transport and activity suppliers we deal with meet strict quality controls. Should any supplier become insolvent and fail to provide the accommodation, transport or activity we booked for you, our supplier default insurance protects the money you paid for that service.
Our
SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE AFRICAN EXPERIENCES:
Climbing the 5 highest mountains in Africa:
- Mount Kilimanjaro (between Rika and Mariska they have climbed Kilimanjaro 11 times)
- Mount Kenya
- The Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda
- Mount Meru in Tanzania
- Simien Mountains in Ethiopia
- Climbing Mount Nyiragonga in DR Congo
Every step of discovering our destinations has been and still is a highlight to us!
Tanzania Highlights
- Standing on top of Mount Kilimanjaro for the first time.
- Summiting Mount Meru on a beautiful clear day and watching the sun rise behind Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Exploring the rugged Ruaha National Park and its thousands and thousands of baobab trees in bloom.
- Eating nyama choma (local barbeque meat) with our safari guides.
- Diving in the crystal-clear water of Mafia Island.
- Enjoying a glass of wine on top of the light house on Chumbe Island, near Zanzibar and seeing coconut crabs for the first time.
- Being awed by witnessing your first wildebeest migration river crossing.
- Seeing the big tuskers of the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Watching wild dogs in the Selous Game Reserve.
Kenya Highlights
- The privilege of seeing Lake Nakuru covered in pink – before the flamingos moved to other areas due to the raising water levels.
- Seeing the last two northern white rhinos on the planet.
- Spotting the Northern 5 of Samburu - Grévy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, long-necked gerenuk and the Somali ostrich with its blue legs.
- Enjoying lunch at the trout restaurant near Mount Kenya.
- Visiting the Karen Blixen area in Nairobi to see her house, visit the giraffe centre, the elephant orphans of the David Sheldrick Rehabilitation Centre and meet the ladies who make the beautiful Kazuri beads.
- Doing a game drive in Amboseli where we saw twin elephants (a rarity last seen 35 years ago) and seeing Tim, the last remaining big tusker of Amboseli, who passed away in December 2019.
- Going to the movies in Nairobi. Once everyone is settled and ready to dive into their popcorn and drinks, the national anthem is played before the movie starts.
- Standing on top of Mount Kenya!
Botswana Highlights
- Floating in a houseboat on the Chobe River.
- Sleeping in a tent in the Okavango Delta.
- Taking a mokoro ride as you weave your way through waterlily clad ponds and lush papyrus fringed waterways.
- Enjoying a walking safari on Chief island.
- Sitting back with a G&T and experiencing one of Africa’s most beautiful sunsets over the Chobe River.
- Coming across the renowned Kalahari lions, known for their majestic size and beautiful manes.
- Flying with a small aircraft over the Okavango Delta.
- Catching our first tiger fish on the Chobe River.
Rwanda Highlights
- The ultimate highlight, seeing a mountain gorilla face to face the first time.
- Visiting the genocide museum in Kigali and getting some insight about the ordeals the citizens went through.
- A road trip though the rural areas of Rwanda and being welcomed with abundant smiles!
- Hiking to the Diane Fossey grave site where Digit (her favourite gorilla) and other gorillas were buried next to her.
- Exploring the beautiful Nyungwe Forest on foot.
Uganda Highlights
- Seeing shoebill storks is a “wow” moment as it is really an exceptional, once in a lifetime opportunity.
- Hiking the most beautiful mountain in Africa, Mount Rwenzori. It is the most difficult hike of all the mountains that we have climbed and the most beautiful as well.
- Trekking chimpanzees in the Kibale Forest.
- Enjoying a sunset cruise on Lake Albert in Queen Elizabeth National Park with thousands of birds surrounding you.
- Coming face to face with a mountain gorilla in Bwindi National Park.
- Seeing the Jackson's chameleon, sometimes called the three-horned chameleon.
- Taking a photo at the equator.
- Swimming in one of the fresh water lakes of Uganda.
Other Highlights in Africa
- Canoeing on the Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia.
- River rafting near Victoria Falls.
- Seeing dugongs (a rare and elusive sea creature) near Bazaruto Island in Mozambique. With an estimate of 300 left on the East Coast of Africa.
- Quad biking on the beach and through local villages in Inhambane.
- Visiting
Deadvlei
and the
dunes of Sossusvlei.
- Experience a 'living desert' tour at Swakopmund.
- Staying on Mumbo Island, Malawi, in an eco-chalet.
- Hiking Mt Nyiragongo in DR Congo and to look down onto the larges active lava lake in the world.
- Visiting the rock churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia.
- Standing at the summit of the Simien Mountains – Ethiopia.
- Enjoying a local lunch – Injera - in a village in the Simian Mountains.
- Diving & snorkelling in the
Red Sea.
- Trying out local dishes in Egypt like koshari and Egyptian flatbread.
- Taking a local taxi in
Cairo
(you so grateful you survived the ride!!).
- Enjoying a balloon ride in Luxor and seeing Egypt's biggest open-air museum from above.
- See the most beautiful
sunset you can dream of near
Hurghada
in the desert!
