NEXT ADVENTURE, INC.

What NEXT ADVENTURE, INC. does

Next Adventure, Inc. is a private, family-owned custom African safari travel consultancy founded circa 1995 and headquartered in Berkeley, California. The company designs and books tailor-made African safari itineraries for high-net-worth individuals and families, primarily in the USA and Canada with concentration in the San Francisco Bay Area. Co-founders Kili McGowan and Safari Specialist Jeremy Townsend lead a team of 11 employees, delivering white-glove consultative services supported by a Discovery questionnaire, custom itinerary creation, and post-trip follow-up. Customers are segmented into honeymooners, luxury families, private groups, conservation-minded travelers, and first-time safari guests, with itineraries ranging from approximately $7,500 to $25,000+ per person across 10+ African countries including South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Republic of Congo.

The company's core offering is custom safari planning, augmented by specialty services such as private guided safaris, luxury lodge and villa booking, wildlife photography safaris, Great Migration itineraries, gorilla trekking and primate expeditions, cultural immersion experiences, and helicopter, balloon, and walking safaris. Revenue is generated through service fees or commissions on bookings of partner lodges, camps, and safari operators including Wilderness Safaris, Great Plains Conservation, and African Bush Camps. The technology stack is light and entirely third-party: Squarespace for the website, Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager for analytics, Safari Portal for digital itinerary delivery, Fluid Pay for payment processing, and Gmail for email. There is no proprietary technology, no native mobile app, no public API, and no AI/ML capability referenced.

The go-to-market is consultative and direct-to-consumer, driven by content marketing through 59+ blog posts, a monthly newsletter, and active social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The company has built a stewardship network of 100+ conservation programs across East and Southern Africa, including Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Mara Elephant Project, Children in the Wilderness, Elephant Crisis Fund, Dian Fossey Fund, Northern Rangelands Trust, Cheetah Conservation Fund, AfriCat Foundation, and Wildlife Works. Press features in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, SF Chronicle, and Smithsonian support brand credibility. The business is privately held, with no external investors, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no parent company.

Name

NEXT ADVENTURE, INC.

Legal name

Next Adventure, Inc.

Website

https://nextadventure.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Next Adventure, Inc. is a family-owned, Berkeley-based travel consultancy that designs custom African safaris for high-net-worth individuals, couples, and families in the USA and Canada, with itineraries ranging from $7,500 to $25,000+ per person across 10+ African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Safari Travel Planning

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (561510)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based) (THAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safari & Wildlife Travel Agencies (THAKAFAG), Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB), Adventure & Expedition Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAC), Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG)

Keywords

• Custom safari planning
• Luxury african travel
• Safari itinerary design
• Luxury lodge booking
• Wildlife travel experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Safari Planning and Booking Services: The company earns revenue by planning and facilitating custom African safari experiences. Next Adventure creates personalized itineraries, books accommodations at partner lodges and camps, and arranges ground logistics. Revenue appears to come from service fees or commissions from safari operators and lodges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Next Adventure plans and books fully custom African safari journeys for individual travelers, couples, families, and private groups. Itineraries pair expert personal guidance with handpicked partner lodges, camps, and guides across 10+ African countries, with optional specialty experiences such as gorilla trekking, wildlife photography, and cultural immersion. Engagements span consultation, itinerary creation, booking, preparation support, and post-trip follow-up.

Product overview

Next Adventure is a single, unified luxury safari planning service offering custom African safari experiences. The core product is Custom Safari Planning, which serves as the umbrella service that incorporates all other offerings. Additional specialty services include Private Guided Safaris, Luxury Lodge and Villa Booking, Wildlife Photography Safaris, Great Migration and Seasonal Wildlife Safaris, Gorilla Trekking and Primate Expeditions, Cultural Immersion Experiences, and Helicopter/Balloon/Walking Safaris. Supporting services include Safari Consultation, Visa and Travel Logistics, Conservation Education, and Post-Trip Client Care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Safari Planning Fully personalized safari journeys designed around each client's interests, travel goals, timing, and preferences. The flagship service covering consultation, itinerary creation, and booking support for individuals, couples, families, and private groups.
• Private Guided Safaris Expert local guides delivering immersive, flexible safari experiences with personalized attention. Designed for travelers seeking a higher level of exclusivity and guide-led depth.
• Luxury Lodge and Villa Booking Handpicked accommodations including exclusive-use camps, private villas, and boutique lodges across Africa. Booked as part of the client's custom itinerary.
• Wildlife Photography Safaris Specialist photographic experiences in top wildlife regions with expert guidance, designed for travelers focused on capturing wildlife imagery.
• Great Migration and Seasonal Wildlife Safaris Tailored itineraries built around peak natural spectacles such as the Great Migration and lesser-known seasonal wildlife destinations.
• Gorilla Trekking and Primate Expeditions Expert-led trips to Rwanda, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo for gorilla and primate encounters, including Dian Fossey Fund-linked itineraries in Rwanda.
• Cultural Immersion Experiences Engagement with Maasai, Samburu, San Bushmen, Himba, and other indigenous communities, woven into custom itineraries to add cultural depth.
• Helicopter, Balloon, and Walking Safaris Off-the-beaten-path safari experiences including aerial (helicopter, balloon) and walking options, designed for travelers seeking unique perspectives.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wilderness SafariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted safari operator partner offering luxury safari experiences. Next Adventure recommends Wilderness Safaris camps including Ruckomechi Camp in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe. Partnership provides clients with high-end accommodations and expert guiding.
• Great Plains ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElite safari operator known for conservation-focused luxury camps. Referenced as a trusted partner in Next Adventure's network of safari providers.
• African Bush CampscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafari operator partner with intimate camps in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Jeremy Townsend visited African Bush Camps properties including Somalisa Camp which received design awards and sustainability certifications.
• Linyanti Bush CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntimate safari camp on the Linyanti channel outside Chobe National Park, Botswana. Part of African Bush Camps portfolio.
• Khwai Tented CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-run concession camp on the eastern border of Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana. Features cultural engagement with local San community.
• Conservation Travel FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamibia-based conservation organization focused on anti-poaching and community development. Part of Next Adventure's stewardship network of 100+ conservation programs.
• Mara Elephant ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya-based elephant conservation initiative. Featured in Next Adventure's stewardship and conservation partner network.
• Children in the WildernesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation and conservation program for children in safari communities across Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Rwanda. Part of Next Adventure's 100+ conservation partnerships.
• Elephant Crisis FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican wildlife conservation fund addressing elephant poaching and habitat loss. Listed in Next Adventure's stewardship partner network.
• Lewa Wildlife ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Kenya conservancy and one of the most successful rhino conservation projects in the world. Founded by the Craig family in 1995. Next Adventure co-founder Kili McGowan has worked with the conservancy including supporting Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown filming.
• Northern Rangelands TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya conservation initiative including 35 community conservancies and 18 ethnic groups across 42,000 sq. kms. Inspired by the Lewa model.
• Dian Fossey FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGorilla conservation organization in Rwanda. Next Adventure includes Dian Fossey Fund partnerships in their Rwanda gorilla trekking itineraries.
• Cheetah Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamibia-based cheetah conservation organization. Featured in Next Adventure's stewardship partnerships for Namibia itineraries.
• AfriCat FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamibia environmental education organization providing youth programs on wildlife conservation and carnivore-human conflict resolution.
• The Pangolin ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya-based pangolin conservation initiative working with Kenya Wildlife Service. Only pangolin-specific project in East Africa, based at Sala's Camp in the Greater Mara Ecosystem.
• Wildlife WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading REDD+ program developer applying market-based conservation solutions. 20-year history protecting forests, wildlife, and communities through carbon offset programs.
• Anthony Bourdain Parts UnknownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTelevision production partnership. Next Adventure's Managing Director Kili McGowan accompanied the CNN crew during filming on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in 2018. Featured content showcasing conservation-focused safari experiences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• &Beyond: Luxury hospitality and safari operator owning premium camps across Africa while also selling full itineraries. Both a supplier to and competitor with Next Adventure, and a benchmark for vertically integrated safari brands.
• Wilderness Safaris: One of Africa's largest premium safari operators with a deep camp portfolio. Listed as a core Next Adventure partner but increasingly competing on direct bookings — relevant as both supplier benchmark and emerging competitive threat.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Large global luxury travel operator with a significant Africa safari portfolio. Broader geographic and product footprint than Next Adventure, but competes for the same high-end clientele in custom African itineraries.

Direct peers

• African Travel, Inc. US-based tour operator specializing in custom African safaris across multiple countries, with similar premium clientele and consultative sales approach. Directly comparable in geography, product mix, and customer profile to Next Adventure.
• Travel Beyond: US-based luxury travel company with a strong Africa safari practice and consultative sales approach. Comparable in target market (US/Canada HNWs), trip value range, and emphasis on curated supplier relationships.
• Ker & Downey Africa: Luxury African safari operator offering tailor-made itineraries with strong lodge and camp partnerships. Overlaps directly with Next Adventure in multi-country custom planning and high-end positioning.
• Africa Adventure Consultants: Small US-based custom African safari planner competing in the same niche with a relationship-led, multi-country itinerary offering. Comparable in scale, customer profile, and dependence on operator partnerships.
• Rothschild Safaris: High-end bespoke African safari planner serving US-based affluent clients. Comparable in white-glove service delivery, custom itinerary design, and supplier-network-driven model.
• Extraordinary Journeys: Boutique luxury safari planner designing custom African itineraries for affluent travelers. Closely comparable in scale, product mix, and reliance on strong supplier relationships across Africa.
• Micato Safaris: Long-established US luxury safari outfitter offering bespoke itineraries across East and Southern Africa. Comparable in high-touch service model, premium pricing, and family-led operating ethos.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nextadventuresafaris
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/next-adventure-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/nextadventureinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NEXT ADVENTURE, INC.