New Frontiers Tours
South Africa’s premier DMC/tour operator specializing in up-market, tailor-made arrangements in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and St. Helena Island. Specializing in both tailor-made FITs and group travel, the company prides itself on combining properties in memorable locations with extraordinary experiences, complemented by full on-the-ground support and its own bespoke touring brand, New Frontiers Escapes, in the Cape region.
South Africa
South Africa
SA is home and we love it. The sheer scope of the country means you could be sipping sundowners at a cool roof-top bar in trendy Cape Town, and a day later you’re surrounded by nothing but bush and sky, the silence broken by the roar of an apex predator.
Botswana
Botswana
The lushness of the Okavango Delta on one hand, and the arid desert landscape of the Kalahari on the other. Along with the incredible differentials in scenery, comes the distinctive animals which are adapted to their specific environments.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Smiles as bright and wide as the majestic sunsets, laughter which echoes the thunder of the Falls, and a song which harmonises with the sounds of the wild. Zimbabwe, a place with a soul as pure as the animals which inhabit the beautiful terrain.
Zambia
Zambia
Uncomplicated. Untamed. Unspoiled. Discover the simple beauty of Zambia, where the tradition of walking safaris is deeply entrenched. Strike out along secluded trails, the remote open spaces and uninhabited wilderness offer connection and peace.
Mozambique
Mozambique
Warm seas, sun-kissed beaches and big skies. Welcome to Mozambique, a laid-back paradise, where exotic flavours blend with the sound of the surf, and the outdoors beckons. It’s not a resort as such, it’s more a destination to soak up the sun, sea and pristine beauty of the region.
St. Helena
St. Helena
St Helena Island boasts unparalleled adventure, impeccable beauty and unrefined nature. With ancient wrecks, giant stairways, great forts, natural wonders and extraordinary walks, the world within this exclusive land fleck is a world apart from anywhere else.
Why New Frontiers Tours?
New Frontiers delivers exceptional, personalized service to the trade while fostering long-lasting relationships with our partners – from small, intimate boutique lodges and camps to more well-known lodge operators and hotel chains – allowing us to offer the most competitive rates in the market and negotiate exclusive deals.
What Makes New Frontiers Unique?
- 20+ Years of Expertise: Proven track record designing unique, thoughtful, and personalized group and tailor-made FIT journeys.
- Strong Regional Presence: Local offices in Durban, Cape Town, and Victoria Falls for seamless on-the-ground support.
- Exclusive Resources: Access our easy-to-use ‘Agent Zone’ for instant product reports, destination education, and live availability/rates.
- Custom Touring: Full range of unique day tours throughout Southern Africa, including New Frontiers Escapes for bespoke private touring in the Cape region.
- Premium Welcome: Complimentary VIP Meet-and-Greet at JNB and CPT, greeting guests directly from the plane door.
- Seamless Logistics: Reliable regular and luxury transfers across all major South African airports.
- Dedicated Flight Desk: Expert flight booking for all domestic, regional, helicopter, and private charters.
- 24/7 Support: A dedicated after-hours client services team provides continuous, round-the-clock support to ensure customer satisfaction.
New Frontiers Escapes Explained
New Frontiers Escapes are our innovative Cape day tours that are carefully curated to go off the beaten track. These flexible itineraries take you away from the crowds, focusing on specific, authentic highlights that are fully tailored to your guests’ interests—be it history, culture, nature, food, wine, or adventure!
Learn more about New Frontiers Escapes here.
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Travel Trade Resources
For trade-related information and resources for New Frontiers Tours and New Frontiers Escapes, please visit their comprehensive Agent Zone: www.az.newfrontierstours.com. Contact us for credentials if you’re not already registered.
Meet the New Frontiers Team
Faith Johnson – CEO
Having cut her teeth in the UK tour operating business for 5 years, working her way through the ranks from voucher creator to reservations consultant and finally to product, her true love, Faith headed back to sunnier climates and her hometown Durban in 2005. New Frontiers was only a year old and had only 5 dedicated staff when Faith knocked on Craig’s door having received a recommendation from a mutual colleague. She fondly recalls how Craig said that he’d have to wait a month to employ her, but if she was willing to wait, he’d take her along the following week to Cape Town to join the team on some site inspections. She never bothered with any other interviews. New Frontiers was without question the company she wanted to work for and has subsequently served in various capacities for nearly 20 years, taking over the role of CEO in 2023.
Helen began her career in Inbound Tourism in 1996 with Thompsons Tours, an exciting and growing sector of the industry at this time and often credited as being the forerunners of the market, as international travel to South Africa wasn’t a reality during the dark years of Apartheid. In 1999 Helen was appointed in the senior position of Reservations Manger for Europe and in 2004, after having her first child, took a more flexible roll as Training Manager. In 2011 she decided to take some time out to raise her 3 young children and, although longer than initially anticipated, she enjoyed 8 special years focusing on her family before returning to her work ‘family’ at New Frontiers Tours in August 2019. Interesting timing some may say! Helen is delighted to be back in the game, sharing her love and passion for selling this incredible corner of Africa as a holiday destination.
Pippa’s focus is on the North American market. Pippa completed her National Diploma in Travel and Tourism and after working for SAA, she decided to focus on the outbound tourism sector. In 2004 she joined Thompsons Tours promoting the big wide world to the South African market. She travelled extensively, leading familiarization trips all over the world – from Russia to Aussie to Disney and everywhere in between. After having her two boys in quick succession, she decided that she would focus closer to home and in 2011 joined Beachcomber Tours as the regional manager selling the fabulous Beachcomber Resorts in Mauritius. After many happy years looking after the travel agents and travelling to Mauritius, Pippa has decided to move into the Inbound Sector and join the NFT family. Southern Africa has so much to offer and she’s found it fascinating being part of making client’s safari aspirations come true. Pippa is looking forward to building great relationships with her market and living the African Dream.
If you’ve worked with New Frontiers over the years, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Jené – whether during her time leading their Private Touring division, deep-diving into supplier relationships, or exploring new places and product in the Cape! A natural early bird (who’s partial to a mid-morning matcha), she brings a soulful approach to Product, rooted in her passion for uncovering experiences with depth, beauty, and meaning. Think: open roads, inspiring people, and wild coastal settings where shoes are optional and stories run deep. For her, great travel feels personal, genuine, and a little bit transformative. And with a French winemaker husband and their own family label, she has one foot in the world of wine (and a finely honed talent for champagne tasting – any hour of the day). Jené is the calm in the Product storm, bringing decades of insight, experience, and a big-picture vision to the team.
Renée brings her sharp eye, deep destination knowledge and signature calm under pressure energy to her role as New Frontiers’ South Africa Product Manager. She’s a true ‘bush, beach and berg’ kind of person – happiest when out walking in the wild or scouting hidden corners of KZN. Her passion for raw, immersive travel (think Mana Pools on foot or termite-swarm sunsets in the Delta) shines through, and her knack for storytelling and detail makes her a perfect fit for shaping the products New Frontiers loves to share with their partners.
After nearly a decade of consulting (and two years leading New Frontiers’ US team), Mvelo has made a seamless move into Product – bringing with him calm confidence, a wealth of hands-on experience, and a deep love for travel that makes a real difference. He’s passionate about community-led tourism and meaningful conservation – and it’s the people and purpose behind the product that really fuel his fire. He counts walking with rhinos in Hwange among his most unforgettable travel moments, and closer to home, it’s the quieter corners that capture his heart – the Kgalagadi being his top pick for the sheer beauty and stillness it offers to those willing to venture off the beaten track. Mvelo brings a thoughtful, measured approach to everything he does, along with excellent problem-solving skills and a genuine knack for seeing the big picture.
Thobekile (Thobs, pronounced ‘Tobs’) supports both Sales and Product with a calm, can-do spirit and an impressive eye for detail. A self-proclaimed early bird (powered by tea, not coffee), she brings sharp organizational skills and a quiet efficiency to everything she does. With a love for structure honed during her time in Ops, Thobs is perfectly positioned to help keep things running smoothly across departments. She loves the opportunity to grow, learn, and dive deeper into the heart of the product New Frontiers sells – and is fast becoming the person relied upon to get things done right the first time. Her favorite local escape? The mighty Drakensberg, with its breathtaking views and dramatic landscapes.
Craig Smith was the Founder of New Frontiers Tours and served as its Managing Director for nearly 20 years. Travel has been part of his life ever since his childhood when TV Bulpin’s Discovering Southern Africa was the family bible. He graduated from Pietermaritzburg University with a degree in languages, and has been involved in the inbound industry for the last 20 years, first as a sales consultant and then sales manager at Thompsons South Africa, before starting New Frontiers in 2004. We feel privileged to have worked closely with him for so many years and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
