Grand Safari Company Leaves Behind Lasting Legacy
Hayward’s Grand Safari Events and Expeditions is a name that is synonymous with eco-friendly elite big group safari camps. Preserving Africa’s heritage and exposing South Africa’s future leaders in commerce and industry to the true exotic beauty of their own back yard and the lessons that can be shared about ancient sustainable wisdom of its indigenous rural communities is the driving force of the company.
Uniquely, this luxury tented mobile hotel offers leading South African and international companies the exciting new opportunity of focusing their next big incentive travel trip or product launch into the undiscovered heart of rural South Africa – rather than the usual approach of blowing huge budgets on air charter and cross border scrambles to luxuriate on “exotic” island beaches which in affect support foreign economies instead of making a vital contribution to the future survival of rural communities within our own country.
The man behind the name is Peter Hayward a 5th generation South African who has managed to successfully blend safari event management and tourism with sustainable village revitalisation.
Taking the lead in motivating South African corporate groups to join him on life changing safari expeditions into the hinterland, Hayward has come a long way from his humble beginnings. In 1979 whilst still gold mining with Anglo American, he started out with only a few small ten man guest camps for friends and clients participating over weekends in hunting and fishing excursions.
By 1993 he launched the world’s first (proudly South African) grand tented mobile hotel – accommodating up to 200 guests in big 5 game reserves. Today Hayward’s is the only 5 star rated mobile tented-hotel camp on the continent (if not the world) setting a new international precedent for the big group tented-hotel concept. “One can’t really get more exotic and adventurous than a grand mobile tented safari,” says Hayward.
He added, “I have a great passion and deep love and respect for southern Africa and believe that this sub-continent region has at its fingertips enough leadership, wealth of knowledge and innovative know how to avoid duplicating crumbling western (G8) models and rather develop new viable economic and resource utilisation models that are unique to Africa and that will provide solutions of future sustainability for all. We cannot keep falling into the antiquated industrial age trap of “rape and plunder” – we are digging our own graves if this continues.”
Hayward’s camps have been the preferred setting for some of the most lavish events for VIP’s & celebrities from around the world; but always, no matter the event, each safari camp has always served as a bridge to activate vital communication between the visiting urban leaders and their learned rural land custodian counterparts.
These safaris are offered in the some of the most off the track regions of this sub-continent giving everyone from global business opinion leaders to celebrities a rare opportunity to be immersed in and inspired by the sustainable lifestyles of rural communities.
High on the “wanted list” and being demanded by international incoming groups is to take part in a variety of legacy building activities. Whether it’s simply planting fruit trees, starting a communal food garden, helping to build libraries, training centres, clinics or schools, this adds to the adventure and most guests rate it as an “enthralling experience”. A close-knit highly experienced team at Hayward’s helps to preselect a village and the collaborative philanthropic venture necessary based on the group’s budget and time restraints. Cancelling long haul charter flights to other countries usually provides more than enough budget to kick-start such a project.
“We are totally committed to acting as a bridge for both communities to come together and celebrate each other’s unique but equally important role in the future viability of South Africa“, says Hayward.
As with great explorers of past, the comfortable camp is usually set up near the village but within an adjoining nature reserve with an abundance of wildlife and adventure for a truly authentic safari experience where guests also can enjoy great safari pastimes such as clay pigeon shooting, long bow archery, fly fishing, falconry instruction, mountain biking, picnics, horse trails or enjoying traditional dancing around blazing camp fires and dine on mouth-watering local cuisine.
It is an experience that provides a chance to take part in something that will make a long-lasting difference in people’s lives and the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life as a reminder of the pleasure in the simple joys of life.
For more information, please contact:
Aimee du Plessis / Jade Allen
072 809 0851 / 082 552 4093
aimee@redcarpetpr.co.za / jade@redcarpetpr.co.za
