South Africa names six premium trips for tourists over 60 — Daily Maverick
In South Africa, Daily Maverick presented six premium travel options for tourists over the age of 60, from a rail journey across South Africa to a Nile cruise and an Antarctic expedition. According to Statistics South Africa, the number of people aged over 60 in the country has nearly doubled since 2002 and reached 6.6 million in 2025, or 10.5% of the population.
The publication also cited a study by the American Association of Retired Persons, according to which 64% of people over 50 planned to travel in 2026. One in five planned international trips, according to these data, is expected to fulfil a long-held travel dream.
Routes across South Africa
Among the proposed routes is a three-night journey aboard the luxury Rovos Rail train between Pretoria and Cape Town. The 1,600-km route passes through the Highveld, the Karoo and the Cape wine regions, with stops in Kimberley and Matjiesfontein. The cost of the journey from October 1, 2026, starts at 54,000 rand per person based on double occupancy.
Another option is the private Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in the Kalahari, where each booking is provided with a separate off-road vehicle, guide and tracker. The program may include safaris, walks, animal tracking, stargazing and meerkat viewing. Accommodation prices start at 46,400 rand per person per night.
The Grootbos reserve near Gansbaai offers walks, coastal drives and land-based viewing of southern right whales. July to December is named as the best period for this. A night for two in a Luxury Suite costs 33,000 rand, with a conservation fee of 400 rand per person per night charged separately.
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The Nile, Japan and Antarctica
For international travel, the publication recommends an Oberoi Philae cruise between Luxor and Aswan. The vessel accommodates a maximum of 44 guests, and excursions are led by Egyptologists. Simplified boarding arrangements are available for guests with limited mobility.
The 15-day Luxury Japan tour by InsideJapan covers Tokyo, Nagoya, Inuyama, Kyoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Osaka. The program includes accommodation in four- and five-star hotels, the accompaniment of a group leader and luggage transfers between key stops. The approximate price is 200,000 rand per person.
Quark Expeditions offers the eight-day Antarctic Express program with a flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island, allowing travellers to avoid the sea crossing through the Drake Passage. Good physical mobility is required for landings from Zodiac motorized inflatable boats. The cost of such trips starts at approximately 282,000 rand per person.
Before booking, the publication recommends checking the route's physical demands, the availability of medical care, insurance terms and medical evacuation coverage. For long-distance travel, it also advises discussing medications, vaccinations and possible medical risks with a doctor in advance.
