REGENERATIVE TRAVEL
Welcome to the Oculus Travel Magazine from the desk of Gayle Higginbotham.
I am thrilled to introduce you to Oculus Travel - a labor of love and a manifestation of my lifelong passion for Africa, travel, and conservation.
OUR ETHOS & VALUES
I’m passionate about creating personalized African vacations and safaris that respect natural habitats and uplift local communities.
Our Ethos
Hello
Meet the founder
Gayle Higginbotham
Born and raised in South Africa, I care deeply about sharing the enriching experiences this beautiful continent has gifted me. African travel isn't just something I curate; it's my purpose.I'm now based in New York City, but my heart still lies in Africa. This is why I'm perfectly placed to curate bespoke African travel adventures.
The things that truly enriched my soul while working in the broadcast media industry for many years were conservation and travel. And that's what Oculus is all about.
People ask me how I create transformative travel experiences in Africa. Well, I work with travelers to ‘download’ the image of their perfect African trip from their mind's eye. I then use that new understanding to build African travel itineraries that turn their imagination into a cherished reality.
My aim in curating African journeys that seek to uplift local communities is to influence the continent positively and enrich my clients’ experiences. Because I've been exploring Africa for many years, I've developed an extensive network of contacts comprising local travel experts, ethical service providers, and respected conservationists. This diverse network empowers me to create African travel experiences that exceed my clients' expectations – and make a positive impact.
What is regenerative travel?
In the past, I have struggled to reconcile my love of travel with my passion for conservation and environmental sustainability. I became deeply concerned as I experienced rampant tourism ravaging the natural environments and negatively affecting the wildlife that so many of us have grown to love.
But I'm confident there's a better way. I am determined to deliver transformative African travel experiences while achieving the goal of having a positive impact on the natural world, wildlife, oceans, air quality, and the communities that call these places home.
We don't just want to avoid harming the places we visit, we want to reverse the trend of unethical tourism, uplift the communities that welcome us, and regenerate the ecosystems they inhabit.
I learned to love and respect nature while growing up in South Africa, and my passion for travel experiences developed during countless African safaris. This is why my work has a cathartic effect that gives me deep satisfaction.
I have the opportunity to play a part in conserving natural habitats across Africa while creating life-affirming travel experiences. I'm living my dream and can't wait to share that dream with you.
Explore what we do here at Oculus Travel
Our Services
itinerary creation
Itinerary Creation for Solo Travelers & Groups
With so many exciting African travel experiences to choose from and Tetris into a trip, putting a realistic itinerary together can be overwhelming.
Contact me to inquire about creating a custom journey, joining one of our pre-curated specialist tours, or creating your own hosted group adventure together. You bring the dream and I will bring the expertise to make it a reality with seamless logistics, on-the-ground support, and complete peace of mind.
Itineraries for Guides, Practitioners & Specialists
Are you a specialist wanting to arrange a retreat or specialist tour for your niche and clients?
I can assist you with extensive experience in everything from logistics to complementary experiences, must-see safari moments, and accommodations to suit your style and requirements. For seamless trips that your clients will love – you do the dreaming, and I’ll do the planning.
Personally Hosted Trips & Journeys
Hand over the reins of your journey to dedicated hosts so they can handle the logistics and detailed decision-making and you can focus on relaxing and having the trip of a lifetime.
Be swept up in an African travel adventure curated for you and personally hosted with your dream in mind. In today’s world of decision fatigue – in my opinion – this is the ultimate luxury.
International Flight Arrangements
Although itineraries by Oculus Travel exclude international flights, I have found a wonderful partner – Regal Wings.
They offer a specialized concierge service that manages all aspects of your international air travel – from bookings to rescheduling and refunds. They also handle all interactions with the airlines for fast, simple, hassle-free travel and peace of mind.
Travel Advice
I live and breathe African travel. Access expert advice, insights, recommendations, and know-how to make your next African adventure seamless and rewarding.
You can book an advice call to discuss your ideas and logistics planning, to ask questions, and to seek advice on your itinerary. (Service fees apply).
frequently asked questions
Is there a cost of making contact?
Why do I need your service if I can search for holidays myself?
Do your services make my holiday more expensive?
Do you only cover Africa?
How can my travel make a positive impact?
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Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked
There are so many Travel Agents to choose from – Why should I work with you?
How do you know so much about Africa?
How can African travel positively affect communities and the continent in general?
To which African regions do you arrange travel?
Do you offer travel services in other parts of the world?
What is the benefit of consulting a Travel Agent specializing in curated trips to Africa?
What are Specialized Group Tours?
Can I travel with like-minded people?
Will you charge me for making contact and asking for advice?
let's chat
Not sure where to start with journey planning? I can help.
From destination inspiration to detailed journey planning - fill out the form or email me to get started.
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