Travel Weekly contributor Ben Roussel traveled to South Africa with Roar Africa, a New York and Cape Town-based operator that specializes in southern Africa. He sat down with Roar Africa co-owner and tour guide Geoff Calmeyer, who discussed misperceptions about tourism in southern Africa and how his company differs from other tour operators.
Travel Weekly: How long have you been working as a tour guide, and what part of the job do you find most rewarding?
Calmeyer: Officially, since we started Roar Africa in 2005. Unofficially, for the last 35 years. My daughter Deborah and I realized that we had been putting together customized trips -- arranging travel, planning itineraries and the like -- for our American friends visiting South Africa and outlying countries for years. We loved doing it so much that we decided to do it full time.
TW: Prior to my trip, I expressed an interest in yoga, and you arranged a class in the bush, an amazing accommodation. What are some of the other ways you work to meet the specific needs of travelers? What are the most common requests?
Calmeyer: Yoga Safari is certainly a popular emerging interest. We also get a lot of families, looking to organize reunions or to celebrate special wedding anniversaries, who want to rent out entire villas or camps. As far as specific interests, we have a cadre of experts from various fields: geologists, zoologists, ornithologists, artists or historians. We even have a professional shopper who keeps on top of the hot spots around Cape Town and Johannesburg.
TW: What are some common misconceptions Americans have about Africa travel?
Calmeyer: They expect it to be a once-in-a-lifetime visit, but, once here, their expectations are exceeded so much that they vow they will be back. Southern Africa is huge, diverse and full of contrasts.
TW: And the biggest misconception?
Calmeyer: That Africa equals safari. There is so much more to see, especially in South Africa. Cape Town is a world-class city offering excellent restaurants, four-star vineyards and five-star hotel/wineries like the Steenberg. A safari isn't necessarily a two-week affair, so when we get a request like that, we often suggest they break the trip up with a stint there.
TW: What is the most popular Roar Africa experience?
Calmeyer: Safaris and our Behind the Scenes Wine Tour. These packages have the added benefit of allowing travelers to experience the diversity of all of South Africa's various ethnic groups.
TW: How does Roar Africa's approach to handling travel differ from other operators'?
Calmeyer: Well, we are a family-owned and -run business, so our approach is decidedly family-oriented. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to touring Africa. We are meticulous when it comes to understanding our clients and delivering peak experiences because, unlike other tour operators, we do not outsource the delivery of our trips. We create and deliver these trips ourselves.
TW: Is this also reflected in your choices of accommodations?
Calmeyer: We do prefer to use smaller, socially and environmentally responsible, owner-run accommodations where a premium is placed on an attention to detail. We have an extensive network on the ground that can only be provided by South Africans themselves. While we do offer packages and deals, we prefer to tailor each trip so our clients' interests and our product knowledge are intermeshed.
Visit www.roarafrica.com or call (877) 762-7237.