REWILD — Southern Africa

Rewilding

re·wild·ing · /riːˈwaɪldɪŋ/ · verb

In the world: lands restored, species returning, wilderness reclaiming what was taken. Every place we travel through is doing this work — and your presence funds it.

In you: a journey into foreign lands and back to self. Intuition that got numbed. Aliveness buried by inbox and obligation. Courage you'd forgotten.

The Expedition at a Glance

Dates

March 26 – April 5, 2027

Length

10 nights

Route

Victoria Falls · The Okavango Delta · Cape Town

Group Size

30 women

Access

By application & invitation only

Extensions

Optional add-on adventures through our partner network in the region

Illustrated expedition map of Southern Africa showing Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, and Cape Town

The Journey

Chapter I

Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe · 3 nights

It's always raining at Victoria Falls. The water crashes with such force that it creates its own clouds overhead. Mosi-oa-Tunya — The Smoke That Thunders. You hear it before you see it.

On this leg:

Full-property buyout of a luxury lodge on the Zambezi — ours alone
Private sunset cruise down the Zambezi
Guided small-group walks along the edge of the falls
Game drives through the Zambezi National Park with possible sightings of elephant, antelope, buffalo, hippos, spotted hyena, giraffe, lions, leopards, and over 400 bird species
Talks and private guided snare walks with one of the leading conservation experts of the region
Riverside sundowners
Private dinner at the edge of the falls
Culinary experiences to sample the unique flavors and health properties of Zimbabwean cuisine

Chapter II

The Okavango Delta

Botswana · 4 nights

A flood that arrives once a year in the middle of a desert. Rain that fell months earlier in Angola and traveled a thousand kilometers south to arrive, improbably, here. Elephants wade. Lions swim. For days, you hear no human sound but our own.

On this leg:

A pop-up, luxurious mobile camp custom-built for us, inside a conservancy being actively rewilded
Game drives, mokoro rides, and walking safaris in the Delta — the Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalo), cheetahs, the rare African wild dog, and over 500 bird species, all within reach
Sundowners in places no footsteps have walked
Private bush concerts at camp, performed by up-and-coming South African and Zimbabwean musicians
Chef-prepared meals under the stars, nightcaps around the bonfire, the bush lulling you to sleep beyond your canvas walls
Intimate fireside chats with the team leading the conservancy's rewilding work — where our presence funds the meaningful conservation work

Chapter III

Cape Town

South Africa · 3 nights, with optional extensions

A city at the foot of one of the oldest mountains on earth, at the edge of a continent — before two oceans collide. A city that came through one of the modern world's darkest histories, and is still actively building what comes next.

On this leg:

Settle into one of Cape Town's most iconic and historic hotels, with hiking trails from the front door
A wild food foraging day at Cape Point — kelp from the shore, indigenous plants and the wisdom that holds them, botanical cocktails, and a private cooking lunch beneath the trees
Beach day with the endangered African penguins, away from the crowds
Sunrise kayaking with dolphins, seals, penguins, and if we're lucky — a humpback or Bryde's whale
Visit one of Cape Town's oldest townships — sound healing, music and dance workshops, and walking tours with those building the next generation through the arts
Private wine tasting with one of South Africa's award-winning female winemakers
Exclusive dinners with local chefs, intimate musical performances, sunrise hikes, and conservation and social empowerment talks with those pioneering the next era of South Africa

A new kind of Adventure, by The Wayfaress

REWILD is an annual expedition into some of the most spectacular — and delicate — corners of the globe, and the people and stories protecting and transforming them. Each year, a different route. Each year, new women join our growing community of leaders, artists, founders, change-makers, and adventure-seekers. An itinerary never done before, never to exist again.

Curated Itinerary

Every property, guide, voice, and experience chosen personally after years of location scouting, relationship building, and exploring this continent. Mobile camps, exclusive property buyouts, bush dinners under stars — access to places most see only through a screen. No comparable itinerary anywhere, offered one time only.

Local Voices

Local conservationists, nonprofit founders, musicians, guides, families, and change-makers — gathered for this group and given a stage. Access shaped by years of relationships, with the time to let real conversations happen. People doing the quiet work of protecting and transforming their land and communities.

Global Community

Hand-selected, fiercely alive, and from all walks of life. The kind of connections you don't build in normal life — friendships, collaborations, the beginnings of work you'll do together long after this trip ends. The women in the room are as much a part of the trip as the route itself.

Positive & Lasting Impact

Change that flows in both directions. For you: new clarity, professional turning points, and ongoing relationships that become a continuing thread. For the places we move through: partners chosen for their commitment to sustainable tourism, true care for the environment, and empowering local communities.

Local Leaders Gathered & Amplified

Conservationists & Rewilders

You'll learn from them sitting around a bonfire, foraging in the wilderness, exploring the bush on foot. Real conversations, rare opportunities to ask questions, and open invitations for long-lasting connections.

Founders & Builders

Women (and men) running the small businesses and nonprofits building community on the ground — township development, education, women's economic empowerment, job training, health and wellness. Work most travelers never see.

Musicians, Artists, & Taste-Makers

Musicians, artists, chefs, and winemakers — voices and tastes that come out of this land. Some will play live where no one expects a concert. Some will pour and cook what most travelers never get to taste.

Guides & Hosts

Drivers, pilots, hotel hosts, kitchen staff — the people whose work runs underneath every day. Often overlooked by travelers, often the warmest in the room, often holding generations of wisdom in plain sight. We make room for their stories too.

A Journey That is Built To Last

Some adventures end when you return home. This one is just beginning.

Ten nights in corners of the earth this wild, in company this intentionally gathered, changes you in ways that don't easily come undone. You'll come home with clarity about something you'd been circling. Courage you'd forgotten you possessed. A few decisions already made, without the noise. Priorities shifted in ways only unfamiliar terrain can accomplish. The kind of peace and inspiration that follows being very, very awake.

You'll come home, too, with a group of women you'll still be in conversation with a year later. Many who will gather again for our next REWILD Expedition. Deep bonds forged by a journey into the unknown together. Connections that lead to co-creation. Some of you will build things together that haven't been thought of yet — born of unlikely worlds colliding on a trip like this.

And the places themselves — the river, the Delta, the city — don't fade into mere photographs. They are kept alive by the people you've met. Work you stay close to. Relationships with the causes and communities we spent time with, continuing long after the trip ends.

Not a break from your life. An inflection point inside it.

Who This Is For

This expedition is built for women already living rich, capable lives who are hungry for more. Women questioning the next decade. Women who want to be pushed physically, intellectually, and socially in ways that wake them up. Women tired of retreats that feel like self-help brochures.

You are ready to be challenged, not coddled.
The relationships matter as much to you as the route.
You want substance over photo-ops.
You're ready for impact that doesn't fade when you land.

Investment

From $12,000 per person, double occupancy

Included

All accommodations across ten nights · all internal flights, charters, and ground transfers · all meals · all guides · all expedition programming · all contributor sessions · all in-camp experiences

Not Included

International airfare to Victoria Falls and from Cape Town · personal expenses · gratuities · travel insurance (required)

Payment

A deposit secures your place upon invitation. Two further payments follow through 2026 and early 2027. Full payment schedule shared in the application terms.

Extensions

Optional extensions available on the back end through our Southern Africa partner network — Shamwari, Cape Town experiences, wilderness add-ons.

Frequently Asked

Can I come solo?

Yes — and most women do. REWILD is designed for solo travelers to feel instantly held by the group. Single supplements are available if you'd like your own room; otherwise, we pair roommates thoughtfully.

Can I bring a friend, sister, or mother?

Yes — many travelers come with someone close. Roommates can be identified on the application or after acceptance. In some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms for groups traveling together.

What's the age range?

Most travelers are between 30 and 55, though anyone over 18 is welcome to apply. What matters more than age is the shared appetite — curiosity, substance, and zest for adventure.

How physically demanding is it?

Moderate. Expect some walking safaris, a sunrise mountain hike, navigating uneven coastal terrain. No technical experience required. Alternative pacing is always available.

Is it safe?

Yes. Every location has been personally scouted. Camps, transfers, and guides are vetted. You'll have 24/7 support throughout the trip.

Can I see a full itinerary first?

The day-by-day itinerary is intentionally kept under wraps. You'll get enough to feel prepared and excited, but part of the experience is what you don't see coming. Surprises are woven throughout, by design.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Almost always. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies — share everything in your application and we'll coordinate directly with each property.

Are payment plans available?

Yes. After acceptance, we'll set up a payment schedule that works for you — typically a deposit followed by installments through 2026 and early 2027.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is required and must include medical evacuation coverage. Recommendations shared upon acceptance.

What's the cancellation policy?

Full terms are shared with the application. Deposits are non-refundable once placement is confirmed.

I can't join this one — will it be offered again?

No. Each REWILD expedition is one-time only. Next year will be a different route, different destinations, different stories. Returning travelers receive priority access to future expeditions, and newcomers are always welcome.

From the Curator

Alexandra Saper, founder of The Wayfaress and curator of REWILD

Alexandra Saper is the founder of The Wayfaress and the curator of REWILD Women's Expeditions.

A former attorney in Washington, D.C., she left the law and booked a one-way flight to Bali. Over the next eight years, she traveled to 74 countries — riding a train across Siberia, hunting with the Hadza in Tanzania, trekking the peaks of Mt. Kenya, diving the world's most remote coral reefs, sailing the Philippine Sea, camping with Bedouins in the desert, to name a few. As a travel content creator, she documented misrepresented and beautiful corners of the world. Her work inspired followers not just to venture into the unknown, but to welcome the change those journeys bring. For the last four years, she's organized and led large- and small-group expeditions across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. She lives between Bali and Cape Town.

The Wayfaress · Instagram

Apply

This application is your first step to join our 2027 expedition. It helps me get to know what motivates and excites you, and whether you'd be a good fit for this group and itinerary. This isn't a popularity contest — I don't care if you use social media.

If you've made it this far, REWILD might be the adventure you've been searching for. Fill out the application below. I read every one myself. You'll hear back within two weeks, and if it's the right fit, we'll reach out with next steps.

After March 2027, this expedition won't run again.

— Alexandra

Start your application