South Africa is one of the most visited and well-known locations on the continent of Africa. With Krueger National Park on the horizon, visitors from all over the world seek adventure in this distinct setting. But beneath the surface are a resolute people who struggle to survive day to day.
A pilgrimage or missions trip to South Africa with Wonder Voyage is an experience you’ll not find with anywhere else. You will have the chance to watch your heart, mind, and perspective transform as you serve those in desperate need of compassion and care. After a generation of Apartheid, South Africa still struggles with the ramifications of this dehumanizing policy. But hope continues to grow in the spirit of Nelson Mandela. Here is your chance to not only have the adventure of a lifetime but to give a piece of yourself into communities that need healing.
Overview
- Sit under the bright southern evening skies in silence and awe.
- Worship in a local South African bush church.
- Enjoy the diversity of creation in Krueger National Park.
- Take a morning a sunrise hike in search of elephants.
- Serve in a local school that serves impoverished communities.
Itinerary
Every Wonder Voyage itinerary (mission trip and/or pilgrimage) is personalized to the desires, direction and personality of each group. This itinerary is only a description of the kind of journey we can create for your unique team.
- Day 1 – Half Way Around the World
We have made the long journey and are finally here in South Africa, one of the most beautiful countries in the world and a nation historically torn. We are here to see the process of reconciliation and to learn how healing begins. We will spend our first evening preparing for a week of adventure, service, and understanding. A retreat awaits us in the South African countryside with beautiful grounds and a warm meal. - Day 2 – Perspective
The first day of our pilgrimage begins in Nelspruit. We settle in to our new home by learning about out hosts who have dedicated their lives to bringing hope to this part of the world. In the afternoon we will take time to explore some local towns and experience South African hospitality. Relics of the past and present merge to help us understand the plight faced by many Africans. - Day 3 – Stone Soup Surprise
Today we engage our hearts as we serve those in need in South Africa. A service project will allow us to interact with the locals in an exceptional way. By serving in a foreign land we better understand the people and their culture. In the afternoon we will visit local markets and learn to cook traditional cuisine. This is a stone soup unlike any others we do in the world. - Day 4 – Reconciliation and Healing
We will spend the day serving a school that is dedicated to children whose parents died of AIDS. For two decades, this special school has given children, normally cast off by society, a chance to learn, grow and thrive. We will serve the staff at the school asking them to give us the job nobody else wants. The smiles you leave with the children will be worth their weight in gold. - Day 5 – Dirty Hands, Soaring Hearts
Today we will continue our service in a local village helping to build a home for a family in desperate need. We will soak in each moment as we leave our mark on the lives of those whom we help. As the day comes to the end we will have dirty hands, sore muscles and soaring hearts. - Day 6 – Safari Adventure
Once in a lifetime everyone should experience an African safari. Today is that day for you. We leave before sun-up and explore until well after sundown as we search for Africa’s “big five” in their natural habitat: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and cape buffalo. Get your cameras ready- it’s safari time! - Day 7 – Jo-Burg
We depart our safari hideaway and enjoy one last lunch with our school family before we head to South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg. We make some mystery stops on the way before settling into our residence for our last night in Africa. Tonight we take time to share what is happening in our hearts and minds on our pilgrimage. - Day 8 – Until Next Time
Our pilgrims have enjoyed the grandest of adventures. We’ve dived deep into the racial struggles of South Africa and we now turn our eyes homeward, where we still deal with racial struggles. By meeting new friends and spending time with people making a difference, we’ve gone from supporting a mission work to being part of a loving family. May the Father of Light continue to illuminate our spirit. May the Son of God walk with us on our new journey. May the Spirit of God immerse us in a love that must be freely given as we continue along the sacred way.
Legacy Location
Legacy in South Africa
- *This is the base cost of the trip. Your cost may differ depending on housing, activities, etc.