Award-winning special interest tour operator Andante Travels (www.andantetravels.co.uk, 01722 237094) has added a brand new twin-centre tour to its portfolio for 2024, which explores the far depths of our human past in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

This 16-day, all-inclusive tour departs on 30th March 2024 and guests can save up to £550pp if they book and pay in full by 17th March 2023. An escorted tour to these areas is very special because many of the sites on the itinerary are difficult to both find and get to independently, and travelling to them in the company of an expert guide means a level of insight and immersion that won't be found elsewhere.

Put together by Andante's experienced team, this fascinating itinerary explores the far depths of the human past in the company of an expert in human origins while revelling in the magnificent savannah landscapes in which humankind developed.

Highlights include a visit to the famous Sterkfontein Caves, where finds have included the 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull as well as “Little Foot”, an almost complete skeleton more than 3-million years old; an adventure into the bush on a walking rock art safari at Berg en Dal; a chance to admire the paintings depicted at Koaxa's Shelter, which open up the hidden world of the ancient San people; a visit to Mapungubwe, one of the glories of South African archaeology; and, of course, the extensive UNESCO-listed site of the Great Zimbabwe, the largest and most important capital of the vast Shona Kingdom.

There is also a chance to observe some of the incredible wildlife, both on early morning and late afternoon game drives at Kruger National Park, which is home to the Big 5 - lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants and buffalo.

The tour's expert Guide Lecturer

This tour is led by Dr John McNabb, a senior lecturer in Palaeolithic Archaeology at Southampton University who has widely researched within South Africa, including the site of Makapansgat, which is visited on Day Six of this extensive itinerary.

What's included

The price includes return flights from London, an expert guide throughout along with a professional tour manager, all local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach or 4WD vehicles as required by the itinerary, all visits as per the itinerary, accommodation throughout, all meals, all taxes and tips and Field Notes mailed out to guests ahead of departure.

View the tour online here.

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For further media information, please contact Martha Bernardo: martha@specialistjourneys.com

Andante Travels – Notes to Editors: Founded in 1985, Andante Travels – part of the Specialist Journeys group – has grown to become one of the UK's leading specialist tour operators. The company has won a number of British Travel Awards over the years, including Best Small Holiday Company for Customer Service, Best Special Interest Holiday Company and Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula & Malta. Andante's itineraries have also been mentioned in National Geographic's Trips of a Lifetime feature and one of its expert guides recently won a World Guide Award from Wanderlust magazine.