Geckos Adventures has introduced three brand-new, budget-friendly safaris in Africa catered to the fast-growing youth travel market.

Since becoming the first tour company to focus solely on the 18-29 year old demographic, the Intrepid Group’s youth operator has launched several new tours for travellers looking for more sustainable and cultural adventures.

The new safari tours will touch down in Kenya, Botswana and South Africa, offering an affordable option rarely seen on wildlife tours in Africa. While it is estimated an average safari can cost between $1,000AUD-$1,200 AUD per day Geckos Adventures safaris will start at just $994 AUD for an entire 9-day tour. The full list of tours are:

Amazing East Africa

12 days starting at $2,880 AUD – Starting in Nairobi, Kenya this East African adventure includes all meals, activities, and accommodation. This is an overland style trip meaning travellers pack into a truck with up to 22 fellow travellers with full camping gear and a crew (including a chef!) provided. The tour visits East Africa’s most iconic game reserves including the Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. This means ample opportunities to see hippos, lions, leopards, elephants, zebras and more, all in their natural habitat. This trip also spends an incredible night with a local Maasai tribe in Loita Hills, Kenya

Journey Through Botswana

9 days starting at $1,345AUD – Botswana is considered one of the most bio-diverse regions on earth and Africa’s hidden gem for safari. On this tour travellers will have the opportunity to get up close with rhinos at the incredible Khama Rhino Sanctuary before camping in the Okavango wilderness and spend time spotting hippos in the Okavango Delta. The tour will also visit Chobe National Park, which is home to the world’s highest concentration of African elephants. Off safari, travellers can expect to marvel at the size and scale of Victoria Falls and jet around in a mokoro, Africa’s canoe equivalent. The max group size is 16 travellers and will include stops in not only Botswana, but Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Vic Falls & Safari

9 days starting at $994 AUD – The average safari tends to run between $800-$1000 per night. How about paying that for the entire trip? Short and sweet, this tour combines southern Africa’s most exciting places – Hwange and Kruger National Parks and the jaw-dropping Victoria Falls. Travellers will spend the week seeking out the Big 5 on several incredible wildlife drives. Off safari, travellers will be awed by the Blyde River Canyon, a gigantic lush canyon in the Drakensberg escarpment.

Geckos Adventures hopes these tours will provide a responsible small group alternative to the typical youth big party bus tours and the high-end safaris. “The demand for wildlife tours appears stronger than ever” says James Thornton, Managing Director for the Intrepid Group. “When developing these new safaris we wanted to ensure we were offering trips that were not only fun and affordable, but also had a positive impact on the communities that we visited and on animal welfare.”

Geckos Adventures joined Intrepid Travel and Peregrine Adventures in the historic ban of elephant rides in 2014. Since then, Geckos has remained committed to Animal Welfare on their tours in Africa and all over the world. In 2017 Geckos will continue to work with the Blood Lions team on their #YouthForLions campaign in South Africa, while also donating a portion of all safari tours to Friends International.

While the new safaris will have a maximum of 22 travellers, on average Geckos hosts 9 travellers on their standard tours. Along with Africa, North America, Asia and the Middle East will also feature brand new itineraries for 2017.