Escape+Explore
Escape+Explore is a Cape Town-based private adventure tourism company founded in 2014 that designs bespoke luxury adventure experiences across Africa for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, corporate groups, and families, using proprietary fully equipped Adventure Utility Vehicles and a Guide Academy-trained guide network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Escape+Explore does
Escape+Explore is a Cape Town-based private adventure tourism company founded in 2014 (operating since approximately 2015) that designs and delivers bespoke luxury adventure experiences across Africa. Its core offering is built around the proprietary Adventure Utility Vehicle (AUV) — a fully equipped expedition vehicle fitted with onboard Wi-Fi, gourmet pantry, adventure gear (wetsuits, surfboards, inflatable SUPs, hiking packs, mountain bikes), and optional extras such as children's car seats and travelling nanny services. The company is led by founder Ingram (Ingram Casey) and supported by an in-house team of "Adventure Architects" sales consultants and a Guide Academy-trained guide network including a "hop-on" specialist network for wine, art, food, and culture.
The product portfolio spans Private Adventure Day Tours (SUP with penguins, Table Mountain 4x4 scooters, wild beach hiking, culinary, photography, helicopter add-ons), multi-day Pioneer Expeditions (notably Africa's first Quirimbas SUP Safari in Mozambique), passion-pursuit verticals (Surf Africa, SUP Africa, Hike & Run Africa, Bike Africa, Winelands Uncovered, Culinary Escape, Family Exploration, Photographic Adventures), Stay & Play overnight hosted adventures, and Escape+Explore XL for corporate groups and celebrations. Operations span South Africa, Mozambique, Seychelles, Mauritius, Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.
Revenue is generated through one-time bespoke bookings priced per experience (helicopter supplements $550–$1,750 per person; 6-day Quirimbas SUP expedition 25,000–32,000 Rand / ~$1,925–$2,475 per person) with all quotes handled personally by the Adventure Architects team. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer sales targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, and captains of industry, complemented by a global B2B trade partner network of international tour operators and recurring presence at the We Are Africa trade show. Safety infrastructure includes R50 million liability insurance and a 24/7 crisis management centre, and the company holds Fair Trade Tourism Approved and Travelife Certified (Stage 3) status.
Escape+Explore firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Escape+Explore
- Legal name
- Escape+Explore
- Website
- https://escapeexplore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Escape+Explore is a Cape Town-based private adventure tourism company founded in 2014 that designs bespoke luxury adventure experiences across Africa for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, corporate groups, and families, using proprietary fully equipped Adventure Utility Vehicles and a Guide Academy-trained guide network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Escape+Explore industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adventure Tourism
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Tour Operators (56152)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG), Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL), Safari & Wildlife Travel Agencies (THAKAFAG), Safari & Wilderness Luxury Resorts (THAGACAD), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
Keywords
Where Escape+Explore is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Escape+Explore business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Bespoke Private Adventure Tours: Fully customized private day tours and multi-day adventures across Africa, priced per experience with supplements for premium activities like helicopter rides
- Passion Pursuit Adventures: Specialized multi-day expeditions focused on specific activities: surfing, SUP, cycling, hiking/running - typically 1-7 days with all-inclusive pricing
- Group Events & Corporate Travel: Exclusive group experiences for corporate events, family gatherings, celebrations, and team building - intimate, action-packed adventures
- Stay & Play Accommodations: Overnight hosted adventures at curated private African lifestyle homes with dedicated adventure guide and fully equipped AUV
- Pioneer Expeditions: First-of-their-kind expeditions like Quirimbas SUP Safari combining multiple adventure activities over 6 days
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cape Peninsula Spectacular Helicopter Adventure |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full-Day Multidrop Heli Adventure |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Quirimbas SUP Expedition - Tour Operator Partner |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Quirimbas SUP Expedition - Guest Rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Escape+Explore product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Escape+Explore designs and delivers bespoke private adventure tours and multi-day expeditions across Africa, supported by its proprietary fleet of fully equipped Adventure Utility Vehicles (AUVs) and an in-house team of trained Adventure Architects and specialist guides. Offerings include private day tours (SUP, surfing, hiking, biking, culinary, photography, helicopter), pioneer multi-day expeditions, group and corporate events, and overnight Stay & Play hosted accommodations. All experiences are quote-based, tailor-made, and targeted at VIPs, luxury families, and corporate clients.
Product overview
Escape+Explore is an adventure tourism company offering a portfolio of experiential travel products centered on bespoke African experiences. The core offering is the Adventure Utility Vehicle (AUV) service providing fully-equipped touring vehicles with expert guides for flexible day adventures. The product suite includes adventure day tours (SUP, surfing, hiking, biking, culinary, photography, helicopter), multi-day expeditions (Quirimbas SUP Safari, Hike & Run Africa, Surf Africa), group travel services (Escape+Explore XL), and youth development (Next Generation/BRAVE Rock Girls program). All offerings are supported by an in-house Guide Academy for training consistency. The company differentiates through pioneering first-to-market experiences, VIP clientele including celebrities and CEOs, and strong ethics/sustainability certifications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WAA Sunrise Adventures: Sunrise adventure experiences offered during the We Are Africa travel trade show, featuring activities like 4x4 scooter tours, yacht cruises, hiking, SUP, cycling, and wellness experiences.
- WAA LOCAL Sunrise Adventures
Products and services
- Private Adventure Day Tours Bespoke private day tours covering authentic local experiences including SUP with penguins, 4x4 scooter adventures on Table Mountain, wild beach hiking, cultural storytelling, wine tasting, culinary escapes, family adventures, and extraordinary experiences like ziplining and abseiling. Sold to individuals, families, and small private groups seeking tailor-made Cape Peninsula experiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Trusted by VIPs including Elon Musk, Jack Ma, CEO Walmart, Founder of Starbucks, World Surf Champion
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Escape+Explore
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Escape+Explore technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Escape+Explore partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ibo Island LodgecoreStrategic partner for Quirimbas Archipelago expeditions. Sponsors accommodation and dhow logistics for pioneering SUP expeditions. Provides luxury lodging at historic Ibo Island with colonial mansion rooms, tropical gardens, and rooftop restaurant.
- Pangolin Photo SafarisminorPartnership for photography tour development. Pangolin Photo Safaris experts trained Escape+Explore Explorer Guides to deliver engaging guided tours with photography slant. Provides professional photo guidance and Canon DSLR camera equipment for tours.
- BRAVE Rock GirlscoreGrassroots nonprofit partnership supporting girls from Cape Town's underserved communities. Escape+Explore developed Adventure Academy for training next generation of female adventure guides. Joint initiative includes BRAVE Hub House in Sea Point for safe accommodation and workspace.
- Abercrombie & KentminorTrade partner supporting BRAVE Hub House initiative. International luxury travel operator collaborating on community upliftment programs.
- Red PaddleminorSUP board equipment supplier for expeditions. High-tech inflatable SUPs used for Okavango Delta, Quirimbas, and Cape adventures.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Escape+Explore competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wilderness Safaris: Largest Africa-focused luxury safari operator with own lodge and camp network across multiple countries. Comparable geographic footprint (Southern Africa) and high-end guest profile.
- &Beyond: Luxury African safari and travel brand owning its own lodge portfolio across multiple African countries. Comparable in multi-country Africa coverage, UHNW positioning, and depth of experiential product.
- Singita: Ultra-luxury African safari and conservation brand operating exclusive lodges and experiences across multiple African countries. Competes for the same discretionary UHNW travel spend.
- Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury tour operator with deep Africa presence and a similarly UHNW clientele. Already a trade partner of Escape+Explore (per the BRAVE Hub House collaboration), making it both a competitor for the same VIP wallet and a distribution channel.
Direct peers
- African Travel Inc. US-based Africa-specialist tour operator offering bespoke luxury safaris and experiential journeys across the continent, with a similar trade partner and curated-itinerary model.
- Roar Africa: Luxury bespoke African travel designer focused on once-in-a-lifetime, high-touch itineraries for celebrities and UHNW travelers — closest direct competitor on positioning and clientele.
- Micato Safaris: Bespoke luxury Africa safari and experiential travel operator with a similar focus on high-touch, handcrafted itineraries for affluent travelers, including family multigenerational trips across East and Southern Africa.
- Rothschild Safaris: Bespoke luxury Africa safari operator with strong ties to high-net-worth and family clients; comparable positioning around tailor-made, exclusive multi-country itineraries.
- Great Plains Conservation: Luxury safari and conservation brand operating high-end camps across Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe; comparable UHNW positioning and focus on exclusive, low-density African experiences.
Regional players
- Wildfoot Travel: UK-based adventure travel specialist with curated luxury African itineraries including multi-activity experiences (SUP, hiking, wildlife); overlaps with Escape+Explore's 'pursue a passion' product category from a complementary distribution geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Escape+Explore social profiles
Digital presenceEscape+Explore compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Escape+Explore financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Escape+Explore leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Escape+Explore funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Escape+Explore M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Escape+Explore
What does Escape+Explore do?
Escape+Explore designs and delivers bespoke private adventure tours and multi-day expeditions across Africa, supported by its proprietary fleet of fully equipped Adventure Utility Vehicles (AUVs) and an in-house team of trained Adventure Architects and specialist guides. Offerings include private day tours (SUP, surfing, hiking, biking, culinary, photography, helicopter), pioneer multi-day expeditions, group and corporate events, and overnight Stay & Play hosted accommodations. All experiences are quote-based, tailor-made, and targeted at VIPs, luxury families, and corporate clients.
Is Escape+Explore a public or private company?
Escape+Explore is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Escape+Explore founded?
Escape+Explore was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Escape+Explore based?
Escape+Explore is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Escape+Explore make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Bespoke Private Adventure Tours are the primary driver. The others are passion Pursuit Adventures, group Events & Corporate Travel, stay & Play Accommodations and pioneer Expeditions.
Who are Escape+Explore's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wilderness Safaris, &Beyond, Singita and Abercrombie & Kent. Direct peers are African Travel Inc., Roar Africa, Micato Safaris, Rothschild Safaris and Great Plains Conservation. Wildfoot Travel is listed as a regional player.
Does Escape+Explore have an API?
No public API is recorded for Escape+Explore.
What industry is Escape+Explore in?
Escape+Explore's product category is Adventure Tourism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAFAB, Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies, with a secondary code of THAJALAG, Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry). Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 7900.