Whether student or senior, a whole twelve months of unabated thrill seeking on distant shores is still hard to resist. According to Acacia Africa, a growing number of independent backpackers are adding group tours to their travels – overland expeditions, voluntours, and small group safaris becoming increasingly popular with those planning a gap year.

Arno Delport, Sales & Marketing Manager for Acacia Africa comments, “Social networking has played a huge part in this trend. Many of our adventurers are travel bloggers and online personalities in their own right, and their tweets and posts continue to have a major impact on how people travel.  It used to be group tour versus independent backpacker, but that’s certainly not the case anymore.”

The tour operator also claims while financial constraints are the basis for shorter gaps,  those with “location independent” skills are choosing to extend the traditional year-long holiday: group tours popular with gappers at either end of the spectrum.

Erin Michelson*, Editor of travel blog www.GoErinGo.com, comments “During my two-year around-the-world journey I took small group tours at least ten times. They gave me the opportunity to meet new travel buddies and enjoy adventures I wouldn’t have been able to participate in as a solo traveller. I booked the 6-day Troop To The Gorillas overland itinerary from the capital of Uganda, Kampala, to see the mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park. It was an unforgettable experience. As a single female traveller, group tours also offered a bit of safety and comfort, and they paid off in the end by allowing me to share the cost of my travels.”

Safety is just one reason behind the trend; wanting to get off the beaten track, hooking up on the road, volunteering and taking a break from solo travel, cited as other explanations behind the group-gap mix.

Wild Gappers – Tour operators cover more than the established destinations and small group safaris allow backpackers to appreciate Africa in a more intimate setting.  Enter Swaziland, and a village headed by one of the few female chiefs in the landlocked kingdom. Not simply an onlooker, here travellers can immerse themselves in the culture, participate in traditional music and dance (an integral part of Swazi life from cultural rites to marriage ceremonies) weave baskets, grind grain or prepare thatching for village huts. 7-day Kruger, Swaziland & Durban from £585pp + local payment from £247pp. Starts Johannesburg – ends Durban.

Social Gappers – Not all best friends make the best travel buddies, the high and lows of the unfamiliar putting a strain on the closest of relationships.  With no charges for single supplements overlanding is now seen as one of the ideal ways to meet a mate in Africa. And with a few weeks of shared T.I.A. (This Is Africa) experiences under their belt, adventurers might also make a wiser decision on their choice of backpacker companion. 19-day South West Safari from £775pp + local payment from £396pp. Starts Livingstone – ends Cape Town.

Gap Breakers – Even for the hardiest of independent travellers, sometimes it’s nice to take your foot of the gas and let a tour leader take over the logistics for a while.  Small group tours or shorter overland expeditions are viewed as a great way to recharge our personal batteries - new friends and shared safari moments adding a fresh dose of wanderlust to any gap year. 7-day Coast To Cape Town from £595pp + local payment from £205pp.  Starts Durban – ends Cape Town.

Give Back Gappers – There are plenty of people who decide to volunteer as they travel.  Ready-made voluntours are becoming increasingly popular as adventurers can give back with a clear conscience, established operators vetting programs and ensuring gappers are giving back to ethical organisations. A interesting take on the Spice Island, the 21-day Zanzibar, Community & Wildlife itinerary, features opportunities to pitch in and assist with village education, game drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater completing the voluntour. From £1,555pp + local payment from £403pp. Starts Zanzibar – ends Nairobi.

Prep Gappers – are usually single travellers who want the thrill of the open road all to themselves, but also wish to get acquainted with Africa.  Safety and age are the main reasons to add in a tour, an increasing number of younger gappers and female adventurers heading overland before they gap solo. 7-day African Insight from £395pp + local payment from £167pp.  Starts Johanesburg – ends Victoria Falls.

Arno Delport, comments “Obviously, budget constraints and careers can hamper our chances of taking a whole year out, and that’s why overlanding makes perfect sense.”

Ideal for anyone looking to morph their gap year into a shorter sabbatical, the 58-day Ultimate African Overlander expedition, Acacia Africa’s longest tour, covers eight countries. From £2,395pp (no single supplement) + local payment from £1,246pp and gorilla & chimp trekking permit from £358pp. Starts Nairobi – ends Cape Town.

Known as Gap Tasters, shorter tours covering several countries are ideal for those who haven’t yet pinned down the ultimate year out. The 13-day Desert & Delta Express is a lesson in the logistics of big tripping, the itinerary including, Botswana, Namibia & Zambia. From £525pp (no single supplement) + local payment from £288pp.  Starts Swakopmund – ends Livingstone.

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Acacia Africa: 020 7706 4700; info@acacia-africa.com; www.acacia-africa.com. ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED. The above prices include, camping accommodation, transport, most meals and services of a tour leader/guide. Year-round departures. Excludes return flight.  For all press enquiries, interviews and independent flight prices please email media@tionlondon.co.uk or call 020 8180 1614. 

Editors’ Notes

Erin Michelson* is originally from Los Angeles, but grew up throughout the Pacific Rim, including Washington state, Hawaii, and New Zealand. A business consultant and self-described “adventure philanthropist” Erin completed a two-year journey to more than 60 countries on all seven continents. Along the way, she donated time and money to various humanitarian causes. www.goeringo.com which, chronicled Erin’s adventure in real time, continues to be focused on social issues, travel and volunteering, and participatory philanthropy. Erin was recently nominated for the National Geographic Traveler 2013 Traveler of the Year award and is currently writing a book based on her experiences – Adventure Philanthropist: Great Adventures Volunteering Abroad.