Lately, we’ve been thinking not just about where we travel, but why.

We’ve found ourselves having more of those rich, meandering conversations — the ones that might start with safari planning, but soon wander into deeper terrain. About life. Purpose. And the kind of travel that lingers long after you’ve unpacked your bags.

 More and more of you are asking for experiences that are not only beautiful, but meaningful — a reminder that you’re part of something bigger than yourself. You’ve already seen the Big Five, climbed the dunes, heard the hippos. Now, you’re seeking more: not the checklist, but the connection.

Whether it’s walking barefoot in the Namib Desert, sharing stories over a township meal in Victoria Falls, joining local conservation efforts near Kruger, or hearing the hum of a remote delta camp reachable only by helicopter — there’s a growing sense that the real treasures of travel lie not just in what we see, but in how these experiences make us feel.

We hear you. And we feel the same way.

So here are a few of the experiences we’ve been including more often in our travellers’ journeys. Some are new, some are old favourites — but all offer a way to go deeper: into the land, into the community, and into connection.

Arriving at Karangoma by helicopter. 

It’s not every day that your journey includes a final leg by helicopter. But that’s what it takes to reach Karangoma Camp, tucked deep within a private reserve in the Okavango Delta — so remote it feels like stepping into Africa as it once was — untouched, unhurried, and deeply wild.

Karangoma is about more than just seclusion. In partnership with local NGOs, the camp works closely with surrounding communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict, helping farmers coexist peacefully with the Delta’s iconic predators. These aren’t textbook conservation projects — they’re real stories unfolding in real time, and as a guest, you’re part of it.

Here, the elephants are your neighbours, the horizon your theatre, and the night sky your ceiling. And when you wake to the sounds of the bush, you’ll feel not just like a visitor, but a participant in something far older and greater than yourself.

Mokoro excursion at Karangoma, drifting quietly through the Okavango Delta’s seasonal waterways.

Boesman, barefoot in the Namib, sharing the desert’s quiet wisdom.

One of the most quietly powerful days in Namibia begins with a barefoot man and a twinkle in his eye.

Boesman is a long-time friend of ours — a former insurance salesman who left city life behind to become a farmer on the edge of the Namib Desert. Always found barefoot, he’s spent the last 30 years learning the rhythms of the land and the ancestral knowledge of the San people, earning the affectionate nickname of Boesman (“Bushman” in Afrikaans) along the way.

His private walk through the dunes is more than a nature tour — it’s a glimpse into a deep and personal relationship with the desert. From clever beetles to medicinal plants, everything has a purpose, and everything has a story, all brought to life by Boesman or his long-time accomplice, Fransman.

Later, you can stay nearby at one of Namibia’s most breathtaking hidden lodges in the aptly-named Namib’s Valley of a Thousand Hills. There’s no luxury spa, no fancy fittings — just open skies, warm hospitality, and the kind of silence that speaks volumes.

Mortimer (left) and Ruth (right) with travellers Virignia and Cheryl.

Just beyond the roar of Victoria Falls lies another kind of experience — vibrant, personal, and deeply human.

Set aside a few hours, and join Mortimer and Ruth — local guides and friends of Compass Odyssey — as they take you through the neighbouring townships of Chinotimba and Mkhosana, where they live, raise their children, and know every face on the street.

You might visit the local school where their children once studied, or sit under a shady tree as they share stories of daily life in Zimbabwe. These aren’t “sites” to tick off — they’re windows into real life, offered with warmth and dignity.

Travellers are welcome (but never expected) to bring along English-language books or dictionaries for the school — gifts that, while simple, are deeply appreciated.

Hananani School food garden. Image with thanks to Thornybush Game Lodge.

Not all meaningful travel happens off-grid. Some of it takes place in award-winning lodges, over shared meals, and in conversations that stay with you long after the journey ends.

At Thornybush, a private reserve neighbouring Kruger National Park, guests can now take part in a unique 5-night Impact Safari — an experience that blends world-class wildlife viewing with immersive cultural exchange and hands-on conservation.

Your stay includes everything you’d expect from a premium safari — morning game drives, expert guides, elegant lodges — but layered with something more: meaningful time with the Shangaan community, planting alongside locals in village gardens, visiting the Nourish Eco Village, and listening to the Thornybush choir sing under a starlit sky.

You’ll also witness conservation in action — from aerial anti-poaching patrols to the sharp focus of the Tango K9 unit — and hear from inspiring leaders like Busi Chauke, whose quiet work in education and empowerment is creating lasting change.

This is safari not just as sightseeing, but as connection — a chance to understand how travel can be a force for good, and how your visit contributes to something larger than yourself.

The most powerful travel moments aren’t always the loudest. Sometimes they arrive quietly — in a conversation under a tree, the stillness of a desert morning, or the stories shared on a township street.

These are the moments that shift something in us. They stay long after the souvenirs are forgotten and the photos have faded — not because they were planned, but because they were real.

It’s clear that many travellers — perhaps you included — are looking for more than just a change of scenery. There’s a deeper desire for connection, for authenticity, for travel that feels meaningful. We don’t see this as a trend — we see it as a return to what travel was always meant to be. And we’re grateful to be walking that path with so many of you.

If any of these experiences have sparked something in you — a memory, a question, or even the start of a plan — we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re simply curious or starting to dream about your next journey, we’re always happy to chat.