Vancouver, BC - Outside Magazine has just announced their 2013 Travel Awards, naming South Africa “Best Family Destination,” and pointing to Quivertree Family Expeditions as the best family travel operator to customize tours to the country. Quivertree is now leading the charge in what is currently the world’s fastest growing travel trend: multigenerational travel.
Founded by two travel-loving brothers, Gideon and Philip Nurick, Quivertree was born of the simple idea to offer families from all over the world access to the same adventures the brothers love to share with their own families.
In April’s issue, Outside Magazine describes South Africa’s appeal to traveling families: “With brilliant megafauna, more than 1,800 miles of stunning coastline, and great wine (for parents), South Africa is a natural first step for families looking to explore the world’s second-largest continent.”
While Quivertree offers unparalleled custom-built experiences in six continents (all but Antarctica), as native South Africans the Nurick brothers have special insight into how best to showcase the country’s golden white sand beaches, mountain ranges, and wildlife, to families.
“Coming from a country so rich in spectacular experiences, especially for families, it was natural to highlight South Africa among the destinations we customize trips in. We’re happy Outside Magazine sees what we do in the destination," says Gideon Nurick, Quivertree co-founder. "Our long-term contacts allow us to show our guests the special, hidden corners of the region that usually only locals get to see.”
Outside also notes the fact that South Africa is English-speaking, easy to navigate by rental car or domestic flight, and has a diverse range of adventures suitable for families of all ages, which helped earn its designation as Best Family Destination.
By customizing each trip, Quivertree ensures the entire family’s adventure is a rich and rewarding experience for all individuals, from grandparents to toddlers to teenagers. Quivertree understands that certain elements, like total flexibility throughout each trip, always having snacks at-hand, and early check-ins after a long flight, are essential to making a family adventure go smoothly. To ensure the destination is the right fit for families, the Quivertree brothers always experience it themselves first.
“Philip and I have traveled with our own kids since they were babies. For us, they are the acid test for a destination,” says Gideon Nurick. “They’ve vetoed countries if they didn't have a great time - it's actually happened!”
Each Quivertree experience is tailor-made for the family it is arranged for, taking into account each member’s interests, pace, budget and travel “bucket list.”
“We don’t see value in a generic 'family' trip. My family has its own peculiarities, idiosyncrasies and interests and may differ 100% from the next family,” says co-founder Philip Nurick. “We feel very strongly that a trip must be highly customized to each particular unit based on their interests.”
Any given South African trip could include swimming with penguins on a Cape Town beach, sleeping on a raised platform surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness while on safari, or spending a day or two on a working ostrich farm and guesthouse, joining the farmers on their rounds and eating the country’s most impressive local food.