FAQs
What services do you offer?
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We specialise in high-touch, inclusive, sustainability-focused expeditions across Africa — crafted around you. Whether you need accommodation only or a fully managed end-to-end journey, we handle as much or as little as you need. This includes accommodation, domestic and regional flights, ground transfers, curated experiences, and more. We don't book international flights, but we work with a trusted flight partner and can connect you seamlessly.
How do I get started?
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Fill out our enquiry form or email us at travel@mpinjiexpeditions.com with a brief of what you have in mind — the more detail the better, but if you're still in exploratory mode, that's perfectly fine too. We'll set up a call with you to get to know you and understand what will make your experience truly special.
What makes Mpinji different?
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Curated & high-end travel in Africa has long been curated through a narrow lens. We're changing that. Mpinji Expeditions is built around inclusive travel, not only for those who visit but also for those who receive. We intentionally amplify local and underrepresented voices, centre businesses owned, led and/or championed by persons of colour and tribal or indigenous communities. We specialise in experiences that offer a fuller, more honest picture of the places you visit. Every place has its magic, its special sauce, its beauty, and its truth; we hope to show you as much of an unfiltered view as possible.
We exist for guests who care about who benefits from their travel and what impact looks like, not just where they go. We are here for travellers who want to understand what it means for something to be ‘sustainable’ for the people, the land, and the wildlife. For travellers from the Black diaspora, we understand that a trip to Africa can carry a weight and meaning that goes far beyond general tourism, we bring sensitivity and intentionality that this. We also know how to have a good time with the cultural curators, artists, winemakers, chefs, community movers and shakers, DJs, musicians, etc that we call our friends (mpinji).
Every itinerary is personally crafted, and we are with you from the first conversation to when you arrive home.
What Does Inclusivity & Sustainability Mean to Us?
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Sustainable travel isn't just about minimising environmental impact — though that matters. It's about where money flows, whose businesses grow, and whose stories get told. We apply a conscious lens to every supplier we work with, centring businesses owned, led and/or championed by persons of colour and tribal or indigenous communities. This is accommodation, guides, and experience providers. We look for businesses that employ and invest locally, that are rooted in their communities, actively work to grow, protect, and better their environments and that offer genuine cultural exchange rather than performance.
Inclusivity matters to us because Africa is wildly diverse and this should be celebrated. It matters because Africa has been sold to the world in a very one dimensional aspect. It matters because African tourism has historically been shaped by — and designed for — a very specific kind of traveller. We think that's a loss for everyone. When more voices shape how a destination is experienced, you get a richer, more honest, more meaningful trip. And when tourism spend reaches more diverse businesses and communities, the economic benefits of travel distribute more fairly.
Where possible we seek out certified establishments (Fair Trade, TravelLife, etc.) and if not then we apply our own criteria to the business and seek out real data on their work and efforts.
One of our directors, who advises on product selection, is a consultant in the sustainability space, giving us a great advantage.
What Is Your Pricing Approach?
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We believe in transparency, and in paying people fairly for their time and expertise.
The core of how we earn is through our supplier relationships — meaning booking accommodation and experiences through us can save you money as we receive preferential rates, but it will never cost you more. Our relationships also mean we have a direct line for unlocking perks and making the experience more memorable and unique to you.
Our time spent and expertise acquired through researching, designing, exploring new as well as beloved destinations in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands is included in the form of a curation fee, especially for larger groups as our team typically works extra hours to ensure smooth logistics.
We also believe that paying our field friends (aka: suppliers) — guides, chefs, artists, winemakers, hotel staff, etc — fairly and respectfully is what makes the difference between a good trip and an extraordinary one. When people feel genuinely valued, they give more of themselves. Our guests feel that difference. We ensure this is taken into consideration when we select experience offers, recommend tipping structures, and ensure our own team is well looked after.
Payment & Cancellation Options and Policies?
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How do I pay for my journey?
We accept payments through Stripe, our secure digital processing partner. You can settle your invoices and payment links via:
ACH / Bank Wire Transfers (Highly recommended for capping fees)
Major Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) (will incur banking fees from 3%).
Localised digital payment options supported securely through Stripe at checkout.
What are the standard payment terms?
To Secure Your Booking: We require a non-refundable 30% commitment deposit. This deposit instantly locks in your exclusive dates with our safari lodges and transport providers and covers our specialised itinerary design time.
Final Balance: Your remaining 70% balance is due exactly 90 days prior to your scheduled arrival. We can schedule payment reminders at various intervals to ease your planning.
Last-Minute Bookings: If your trip is booked 90 days or less before arrival, 100% payment is due immediately to secure short-notice inventory.
What happens if I need to cancel my trip?
We urge you to speak to us about rescheduling to ensure your value is preserved.
If you must cancel your journey, you must notify us in writing. Because our boutique African properties, private airstrips, and wilderness logistics providers require strict upfront commitments, our cancellation scale dictates the amount of the total trip cost that is forfeited based on when we receive your written notice:
91+ days before arrival: You forfeit only your 30% commitment deposit. If you have chosen to prepay any portion of your remaining 70% balance early, those specific advance funds will be refunded to you in full.
90 days or less before arrival: You forfeit 100% of the total trip cost (Zero refunds apply). This applies to standard balances due at the 90-day mark, as well as any short-notice bookings confirmed within this window.
Note: While our contract reflects a strict policy to match our vendor mandates, we treat our clients like family. If a supplier generously waives a fee for us behind the scenes, we will always evaluate exceptions on a case-by-case basis at our sole discretion—though this cannot be guaranteed.
You can read our full policies HERE.