Tales from Tour:
Kathy's Winning Adventure

A massive fan of Wild Earth, Kathy dreamed of seeing wildlife up close on safari. But after planning the flights, transportation, and itinerary for a previous trip to Uganda, she was ready to hand off the logistics and simply enjoy the trip with her husband, Clay.

Our South Africa & Victoria Falls tour stood out immediately: if they were going to travel that far from Saskatchewan, Kathy wanted an itinerary that explored every aspect of the region. “I wanted to have experiences and learn, so this was a perfect opportunity to do that,” she said.

Then came an unexpected surprise.

Kathy was the winner of our 2025 Great Canadian Contest, meaning her dream trip would be completely free. The news quickly became something to celebrate with family and friends. “They were as excited as we were,” she said. “It was woo-hoo all the way around!”

After packing their safari outfits and plenty of sunblock, they were ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

Favourite Moments & Flightless Friends

A visit to Robben Island became one of the tour’s most meaningful stops, giving Kathy a deeper understanding of South Africa’s history and the people who shaped it.

“I really didn’t know about Nelson Mandela to that extent,” she said. “There were cultural visits where you got to see the way of life in South Africa. You just have real appreciation when you see it. I think it changes everybody who goes there.”

While South Africa’s history left a lasting impression, the country’s wildlife provided plenty of memorable moments as well. Another favourite moment was seeing the colony of penguins that call Boulders Beach home. “I never ever thought that one day I’d actually be there seeing those little penguins. They are so cute!”

An Unforgettable Birthday

The wildlife encounters weren’t the only highlights. The couple chose their specific departure date so they could both celebrate their birthdays on tour! Once Kathy’s big day rolled around, she got a surprise she didn’t expect: a cake from her Group Guru.

“Connie knew we were celebrating and had a birthday cake for each of us, and everybody sang,” she reminisced.

That birthday celebration was just one example of the trip’s unexpected moments. The pair had the opportunity to zipline in Victoria Falls, and Kathy decided to take that once-in-a-lifetime chance – but not without a bit of hesitation first!

“I thought somebody was going to have to push me off the cliff,” she said. “Once I got up there, I thought – ‘what was I thinking?’ The worst part was facing the fear of letting go. But once we were there, we swung up and down a few times. Clay and I went side by side.”

What started as a passing thought when she watched Approach’s webinar became a thrill she never thought she’d experience. She was one of five travellers who gave the zipline a try. “The rest of the group was watching from the restaurant,” she said. “There were a lot of high fives when we got back!”

Into the Wild

Kathy had learned so much about wildlife from watching safaris from home but nothing compared to seeing the real deal.

While the zipline pushed her outside her comfort zone, the game drives were what she had been looking forward to most.

One of her most memorable safari encounters came on an early morning game drive, where the Jeep brought them close to a male elephant, and Kathy recognized some signs she had seen on safari TV programs before.

“The elephant was by himself — a male in musth,” she remembered. “There was secretion from his temporal gland. When you see that, you know he’s in a heightened state. We parked the vehicle a fair distance away, but he was still right there. Then he turned, did a little bluff charge, and started flapping his ears. He came right up to the vehicle and let out a trumpet!”

Encounters like this were exactly what Kathy had hoped for when she booked the tour. Across six game drives, she managed to spot four of the Big Five. Despite missing the elusive leopard, she enjoyed getting to journey through vast, endless fields, surrounded by nature. It was also a delight to be surrounded by a group of adventurers like her – if she ever missed a moment or didn’t get a photo, she could count on something else capturing it. Those shared wildlife experiences brought the group closer together.

“One of the highlights for me was just observing everybody else in the vehicle and seeing their pictures. It was fun to see everyone’s reactions,” she said.

27 Strangers, One Adventure

Having travelled with Approach before, Kathy had already seen how quickly strangers can become friends on tour. Even the coach rides from city to city felt like a breeze. “We were all listening to this playlist and singing,” she recounted.

“It just blows me away, how everybody mixed and mingled. No arguments, no drama. Nothing. When you bring all those people together, everybody’s there for the same reason.”

Looking back, Kathy feels the all-inclusive nature of the tour allowed her to focus on what mattered most: enjoying the destination and the people around her.

Leave the Planning Behind

Travelling alongside like-minded adventurers, Kathy and Clay both got to fully enjoy the tour without having to worry about any planning or travel mishaps. “I knew what to expect, but it still amazes me, all the work from start to finish that is done behind the scenes. I can see why it’s a year in the making to coordinate those flights and all the properties that we stayed at. Plus, it’s a Canadian company with no hidden costs or add-ons, tips included. And you get your Group Guru and your local guides.”

Since returning home, Kathy has already found herself thinking about where to travel next. Some of the friends she met on previous tours are considering Enchanting Portugal for 2027, and she might join them.

Her piece of advice for travellers who are thinking about taking the same tour? “Just do it while you can! Honestly, you never know — circumstances change. And you might not be able to do it in a couple of years. You think you have time, but sometimes you don’t.”

Want a chance to win your tour for free like Kathy?

Enter the second edition of the Great Canadian Contest!

Book any Approach Tour between now and July 1st, and you’re automatically entered into our weekly contest to win your tour for free or prizes totalling over $2,500 in value from proud Canadian companies.