Steppes Travel Review 2026: Expert-Led Groups, Prices, Who Owns It and a Record Score of 87
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 15 October 2026
Steppes Travel scores 87/100 as a company record, second only to Wild Frontiers among the 35 companies scored by 25 September 2026: the Cirencester specialist founded by Nick Laing in 1989 is still owned by him, sells tailor-made trips and expert-led groups capped at 15, prices its itineraries with dates and named hotels, and holds ATOL 6945 and ABTOT 5488. Below: who owns Steppes, who plans and leads the trips, what they cost, the booking terms, the support on the ground, the review record and the gaps, each line sourced and dated.
Verified 25 September 2026 · steppestravel.com team, protection and itinerary pages · Booking conditions v2 · Companies House · AITO and LATA · Trustpilot
Is this your company? Correct a fact. Steppes Travel can correct any line of this record through the contact page. Corrections are logged with the previous value kept, and the score moves only if the evidence does.
How Steppes Travel scores: 87 out of 100
Steppes Travel scores 87 out of 100: full marks for planning, pricing and financial protection, strong reviews, and one clear weakness, a 24-hour support promise without a number behind it. It is not on our Power Rankings; the rankings will be recalculated from these records.
| Criterion | Points | Out of | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning depth | 25 | 25 | 36 named team members, among them former rangers, guides and camp managers (8 of 8). Managing director Justin Wateridge grew up in Zambia (4 of 4). 141 destinations (5 of 5). Day-by-day itineraries with named hotels, such as Galapagos Islands by Land (5 of 5). Trading since 1989 (3 of 3). |
| On-the-ground cover | 11 | 20 | "24/7 support while you're away" is claimed, but the only 24-hour number printed is ABTOT's insolvency line (3 of 7). Local guides, such as Galápagos National Park guides, are stated; no Steppes office abroad (3 of 8). Named Steppes experts and hosts travel with its expert-led groups (5 of 5). |
| Pricing transparency | 20 | 20 | 13 priced trips (8 of 8). Inclusions listed (5 of 5). Pounds with departure dates or seasons (4 of 4). Booking conditions with a full cancellation scale (3 of 3). |
| Review evidence | 16 | 20 | Trustpilot 4.7 from 221 reviews (10 of 12). Travelstride 5 from 10 (2 of 4). Newest Trustpilot review a day before the read (4 of 4). |
| Financial protection | 15 | 15 | ATOL 6945 in its booking conditions and AITO's listing; ABTOT 5488 on its protection page (15 of 15). |
| Total | 87 | 100 | Company record score, 25 September 2026. |
Steppes publishes what most tailor-made companies keep for the sales call: dated departures, the supplement for travelling alone, the maximum group size and the hotels, night by night. It is a smaller business than household names such as Abercrombie & Kent, Kuoni and Audley Travel, and on the evidence it outscores all three.
The evidence record
The record holds 19 facts about Steppes Travel, each with its source and grade. Grade A means the company's own site or terms; grade B means a registry, review platform, awarding body or major press; grade C means a secondary source not confirmed elsewhere. Every line was read on 25 September 2026 unless its source says otherwise.
| Attribute | Value | Source · grade |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Steppes Travel Ltd, company 03307429, incorporated 24 January 1997 | Companies House · B |
| Address | The Travel House, 51 Castle Street, Cirencester GL7 1QD | About us · A |
| Founded | 1989, by Nick Laing, "born on the Great Steppe" | About us · A |
| Owner | Nicholas Laing, the founder, the only person with significant control, holding 25% to 50%; no investor or parent found | PSC register · B |
| Managing director | Justin Wateridge, a director since 2012, who grew up in Zambia | Biography · A; officers · B |
| Board | Also Simon Beeching, Richard Dikstra, Sir Richard Kleinwort, Harriet Rhys Williams and Rebecca Brown | Companies House officers · B |
| Marketing lead | Nadia Shahannaz Hussain, head of marketing | About us · A |
| Phones and hours | UK 01285 880 980, Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 17:30, Friday 09:00 to 17:00; US 1 800 272 4163 | Contact · A |
| 24-hour line | Only 01702 811397, ABTOT's helpline for "assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure" | Financial protection · A |
| Team | 36 named; "former rangers, guides and camp managers" among them | Our team · A |
| Destinations | 141 on the destinations page | Destinations · A |
| Formats | Tailor-made trips; expert-led small groups; wildlife trips; polar expedition cruises; Galápagos; Central Asia overland; family trips | Expert-led groups · A |
| Prices | 13 trips between £3,695 and £24,238 per person | Antarctica · A; group departures · A |
| Deposit and balance | At least 30% at booking; balance at least 12 weeks before departure | Booking conditions · A |
| Cancellation | 141 days or more: deposit; 85 to 140 days: 50%; 84 days or fewer: 100%; amendments £50 per person plus supplier costs | Booking conditions v2, August 2024 · A |
| Protection | ATOL 6945; ABTOT 5488; AITO 5233 | Booking conditions · A; AITO · B |
| Reviews | Trustpilot 4.7 from 221 (claimed 2023); Travelstride 5 from 10, newest 2018 | Trustpilot · B; Travelstride · B |
| Recognition | B Corp since August 2022; three specialists in Condé Nast Traveller's Top Travel Specialists 2025 | Steppes blog · A |
| Memberships | AITO, ABTOT, LATA | LATA · B |
Who owns Steppes Travel?
Steppes Travel is independent and owned by its founder: Companies House lists Nicholas Laing as the only person with significant control of Steppes Travel Ltd, holding between 25% and 50% of the shares and votes.
Laing founded the business in 1989, according to the company; the current company was incorporated in 1997 and was once called The Steppes Group Limited. Justin Wateridge has been managing director since 2012. No investor, parent company or sale was found in the register or the press.
Who plans and leads a Steppes trip
Steppes names 36 people on its team, among them former rangers, guides and camp managers, and puts named experts and hosts in charge of its expert-led group departures.
The writer Chris Aslan leads Uzbekistan in Winter: Artisans of the Silk Road; the broadcaster Kate Humble hosts a Galápagos cruise limited to 15 Steppes clients; the photographer Paul Goldstein leads trips to Brazil's Pantanal. Managing director Justin Wateridge traces his interest in travel to growing up in Zambia. Three Steppes specialists were named in Condé Nast Traveller's Top Travel Specialists for 2025, according to the company's blog.
How much does a Steppes Travel trip cost?
Steppes prices its trips between £3,695 per person for 12 days in Uzbekistan in December 2026 and £24,238 for a 28-day voyage to Antarctica's Ross Sea, excluding international flights. Prices below were read on 25 September 2026, per person, from.
| Trip | Days | From, per person | Dates or season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan in Winter, with Chris Aslan | 12 | £3,695 | 5 to 16 December 2026 |
| Highlights of Japan | 11 | £4,890 | Tailor-made, any date |
| Galapagos Islands by Land | 9 | £5,520 | Tailor-made, any date |
| Journey through Central Asia, the five Stans | 23 | £5,980 to £6,895 | Low and high season |
| Highlights of Kenya, Masai Mara and coast | 11 | £6,325 | Tailor-made, any date |
| Galapagos Islands cruise, with Kate Humble | 10 | £7,250 | 13 June 2027 |
| South Georgia and the Falkland Islands | 17 | £8,525 | 12 October 2026 |
| South Georgia, Falklands and Antarctica | 21 | £19,995 | 10 March 2028, with the Scott Polar Research Institute |
Group departures publish the single supplement and the cap: £495 and 15 guests on the Uzbekistan trip, read on 24 September 2026. Tailor-made itineraries name the hotels; Galapagos Islands by Land uses Montemar, Finch Bay Hotel, Pikaia Lodge, Scalesia Lodge and Galapagos Safari Camp, and Highlights of Kenya uses Lewa Safari Camp, Kicheche Mara Camp and Kinondo Kwetu. One weakness: the Antarctica page still showed voyages dated January and February 2026, and one from February 2025, as current offers, including the Ross Sea voyage at £24,238.
Steppes Travel booking terms and financial protection
Steppes Travel holds ATOL 6945 and ABTOT membership 5488, takes a deposit of at least 30% and wants the balance 12 weeks before departure.
The ATOL number is printed in the booking conditions and in AITO's listing, but not on the financial protection page, which mentions the scheme without the number. Steppes is also an AITO member, number 5233.
| When you cancel | Charge |
|---|---|
| 141 days or more before departure | The deposit |
| 85 to 140 days | 50% of the booking value |
| 84 days or fewer | 100% |
A scale this steep is common where cabins and group places are committed early, as on polar voyages. Amendments cost £50 per person plus any supplier charges.
Support on the ground
Steppes promises "24/7 support while you're away" but prints only office-hours numbers: 01285 880 980, Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 17:30 and Friday 09:00 to 17:00.
The one 24-hour number on the site, 01702 811397, is ABTOT's helpline for travellers stranded by the company's own financial failure, not a line for problems on the trip. On expert-led groups, the named host travels with the group; tailor-made trips rely on local guides.
What Steppes Travel reviews say
Steppes Travel holds 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 221 reviews, on a profile claimed in 2023, with the newest a day before the read.
Travelstride shows 5 out of 5 from ten reviews, the newest from May 2018. No Feefo profile exists. The homepage also claims a 2026 Condé Nast listing, which could not be confirmed; the 2025 listing is documented on the company's blog.
Who Steppes Travel suits, and who it does not
Steppes suits experienced travellers heading somewhere specialist, from Central Asia and the polar regions to the Galápagos and East Africa, who want either a tailor-made trip or a small group led by a named expert.
It suits less well someone who wants a 24-hour number for the trip itself, or who may need to cancel late: from 84 days before departure the charge is 100%.
Booking Steppes: the decisions that come next
A Steppes booking settles the trip; the traveller still decides how to pay, which flights to take, and what to claim if a flight fails.
| Decision | What matters for a Steppes trip | Where we cover it |
|---|---|---|
| Paying the deposit | Steppes asks for at least 30% at booking; paying by UK credit card brings Section 75 cover for purchases priced £100 to £30,000, alongside ATOL 6945. | Best luxury travel credit cards; UK and Europe travel cards |
| Long-haul flights | Its priced trips run from Botswana to Antarctica; the cabin is the traveller's choice even when Steppes books the flight. | Best business class airlines; best first class airlines |
| Airport time | Lounge access usually comes with a card or an airline ticket; check whether the booking adds it. | Credit cards with airport lounge access |
| A delayed flight | Flights from UK and EU airports carry fixed compensation of up to £520 or €600 per passenger for long delays. | AirHelp vs ClaimCompass vs Skycop vs Flightright |
| Polar and Galápagos voyages | Steppes sells expedition cruises to both poles and the Galápagos; the ship matters as much as the operator. | Lindblad vs Silversea vs Seabourn vs Scenic Eclipse; Antarctica operator index |
| Choosing where to go | Steppes sells 141 destinations; the wildlife calendar decides the month. | Best wildlife travel destinations; luxury safari operator index |
Where Steppes Travel stands on Uncompromised Travel
Steppes Travel is not yet on a ranked Uncompromised Travel page; this record is its first full assessment on the site.
| Page | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury tour operator Power Rankings 2026 | Not listed | To be considered when the rankings are recalculated from records |
| This record | 87/100 | Tour operator record rubric, 25 September 2026 |
Alternatives to Steppes Travel to compare
The closest alternatives are Wild Frontiers and Cox & Kings for small groups, Audley Travel for private tailor-made travel, and Natural Habitat Adventures for expert-led nature trips.
| Company | Record score | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Frontiers | 89 | Small groups with a stated maximum of 12; ATOL 5975 and ABTOT 5228 |
| Abercrombie & Kent | 86 | Resident tour directors and its own ground offices; ATOL and ABTA |
| Audley Travel | 82 | Private tailor-made across 80+ destinations; Trustpilot 4.9 from 5,022 |
| Cox & Kings | 64 | Small groups of 14 to 18 priced in dollars; an Abercrombie & Kent brand |
| Natural Habitat Adventures | Safari review | Expert-led nature trips from the US |
| Red Savannah | 70 | Tailor-made with seasonal prices; Google 4.9 from 82, no second platform |
What this record does not show
Five things a buyer would want could not be found or verified for Steppes Travel. Supplying a verifiable source closes a gap; it changes the evidence, never the rubric.
| Missing | Where we looked |
|---|---|
| A 24-hour number for problems on the trip | Contact, financial protection and booking conditions |
| Offices or staff in the destinations | About us, our team and contact pages |
| Founder Nick Laing's own destination experience | About us page |
| Current dates on some polar voyages | Antarctica page, which still lists 2025 and early 2026 departures |
| The 2026 Condé Nast listing claimed on the homepage | Company blog, which documents 2025 |
What changed at Steppes Travel, 2024 to 2026
The changes at Steppes were in the product: updated terms, a new kind of China tour and a run of expert-led departures into 2028.
| When | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 2024 | Booking conditions version 2 published | Booking conditions |
| 2025 | Three Steppes specialists named in Condé Nast Traveller's Top Travel Specialists | Steppes blog |
| 4 February 2026 | China: Future Frontiers launched, an 11-day technology and culture tour from £4,595 | Globetrender |
| September 2026 | Expert-led departures on sale into 2027 and 2028, including Kate Humble in the Galápagos | Expert-led groups |
Steppes Travel: the facts on record, read 12 October 2026
53 facts about Steppes Travel were read from its own website, the award publishers and the review platforms on 12 October 2026, and every one below says who stated it, where it was read and when. “Not stated on their website” means the right page was read and the fact is not there; “Could not access” means the page would not open; “No profile found” means the platform has no listing. None of the three means the company does not have it. The same form is kept for every safari planner on this site, so each line can be set beside any other company’s. Where a line here differs from an older line on this page, this one, read later, is the current reading.
Who they are
Trading name and legal entity
Steppes Travel Ltd, trading as Steppes Travel, Steppes Discovery and The Traveller; registered in England no. 03307429; 51 Castle Street, Cirencester, GL7 1QD
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Where it is based
Cirencester (Cotswolds), England, UK - office at 51 Castle Street, GL7 1QD
Source: Company · contact · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Year founded
Founded 1989 on the Great Steppe by founder Nick Laing (also says 'over three decades'; 'formerly under Discovery Initiatives')
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Owner or parent
Not stated on their website: founder Nick Laing named; Justin Wateridge named as Managing Director. No parent company or current owner named in the saved pages
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What it is
Bespoke (tailor-made) travel planner plus expert-led small group tours; also sells self-drive 4x4 group tours and expert-led cruises/charters. Not a safari-only company: Africa is one region among many. Pages do not say it owns camps
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Team
11 named Travel Experts on the 'Meet the experts' list (2 for Africa: Chris Johnston, Illona Cross), plus about 22 other named staff in 'Who else makes it happen' (Africa-tagged: Deborah Cook, Izzie Sewell-Bastock); Managing Director Justin Wateridge named
Source: Company · our team · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it sells
UK: 01285 880 980 (Mon-Thurs 09:00-17:30, Fri 09:00-17:00); US/Canada line shown as 1(800)272-4163 on the site header (US version of site at /us/). Office: Cirencester, UK only. Contact form departure options include UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, France, Ireland. Budget shown in pounds. No other offices named
Source: Company · contact · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
In its own words
'Bespoke journeys and expert-led group tours, by people who know the world differently'; says every itinerary is built from scratch and its team 'live what they love'
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Response time and named planner
Not stated on their website: says 'from your first conversation to the moment you return home, we're with you every step'. Expert-per-region model (e.g. Africa experts Chris Johnston, Illona Cross) - names a specialist team but pages do not say one named person plans each trip. No stated reply time on the saved pages
Source: Company · why steppes · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Reviews, by platform
4.7 from 23 reviews (listing: Steppes Travel, Cirencester, England)
Source: Independent source · Google business listing · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Trustpilot
Rating 4.8 from 229 reviews; newest review date shown in the saved page: 6 May 2026 (also 10 Apr 2026, 4 Mar 2026). Claimed profile since July 2023, paid Trustpilot subscription
Source: Independent source · Trustpilot · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Trustindex
No profile found: trustindex page returned a 404 (no profile)
Source: Independent source · Trustindex · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it asks clients to leave reviews
Home page shows Trustpilot testimonials and a 'Rated Excellent on Trustpilot' badge; the saved pages do not show a link asking clients to leave reviews
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Awards and recognition, read from the publishers
Every award, 2024 to 2026
Read from the publishers (Independent source): Condé Nast Traveler (US) Travel Specialists, Safari: 1 specialist listed, Chris Johnston (selected by the magazine's editors; read 12 Oct 2026) | Condé Nast Traveller (UK), The top travel specialists to know right now: listed, best for "far-flung culture" (hand-picked by the UK editors; published 7 Nov 2025)
Source: Independent source · travelandleisure.com World's Best Awards 2026 and A-List, cntraveler.com/travel-specialists, cntraveller.com top travel specialists · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Advisors on named lists
Read from the publishers (Independent source): Condé Nast Traveler (US) Travel Specialists, Safari: 1, Chris Johnston The company's own site also states (Company): Not stated beyond Chris Johnston being described as the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda (no year or list count). Home page badge 'One of the World's Top Travel Specialists' has no list named
Source: Independent source · travelandleisure.com World's Best Awards 2026 and A-List, cntraveler.com/travel-specialists, cntraveller.com top travel specialists · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Certifications
Certified B Corporation, certified Aug 2022 (says 'now (Aug 2022)'); also ATOL and ABTOT protected; AITO and adventuretravel.biz logos in footer (no certification dates)
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Money and booking terms
Prices published
Yes - holiday ideas and Africa destination pages show 'from' prices per person (e.g. Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Malawi, Ethiopia ideas). Number of itineraries not counted; Africa country pages alone list several priced ideas each. Itinerary pages also checked: all 8 saved Africa holiday-idea pages (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana x2, Kenya x2, DR Congo, Zambia-Malawi-Mozambique) show a 'Prices start from' figure per person, marked '(ex. flights)'
Source: Company · cape to kruger en famille, self drive across namibia, botswana family safari, kenya flying safari to the mara, family kenya from mara to coast, rwanda primates and volcanoes, zambia malawi and mozambique, highlights of botswana · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Priced example trips
1) Kenya - Highlights of Kenya incl. Masai Mara and Coast: 11 days, from GBP 6,325 pp. 2) Botswana - Okavango Delta and Selinda Concession Safari: 7 days, from GBP 6,270 pp (private concessions). 3) Tanzania group tour - The Calving Migration with Paul Goldstein: 8 days, departing 3 Feb 2027, from GBP 8,500 pp. Inclusions not itemised beside these prices. Further priced Africa itineraries on the saved pages, all per person 'ex. flights' and varying by season: Highlights of Botswana 10 days from GBP 10,850 (helicopter transfers between Delta camps, private concessions, Kalahari); Flying Safari to Amboseli, Meru and the Mara 8 days from GBP 9,190 (chartered 8-seater plane); Cape to Kruger en Famille 10 days from GBP 5,995; Self-Drive Across Namibia 12 days from GBP 5,950 (4x4 included); Botswana Family Safari 9 days from GBP 5,995 (based on family of four, two children over 12); Kenya Family Safari - Kenya Chronicles 11 days from GBP 6,995 (excl. Mara Elephant Project excursion); Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique 21 days from GBP 16,295. Pages state prices exclude international flights and do not list meals, park fees or drinks
Source: Company · highlights of botswana, kenya flying safari to the mara, cape to kruger en famille, self drive across namibia, botswana family safari, family kenya from mara to coast, zambia malawi and mozambique · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price per person per day
Not stated on their website: per-day range not stated; only trip totals per person (e.g. 7 days from GBP 6,270 pp, 10 days from GBP 10,850 pp in Botswana; 11 days from GBP 6,325 pp in Kenya)
Source: Company · botswana · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum spend
Not stated on their website: no minimum trip spend stated. Contact form budget selector runs from GBP 1,500 to GBP 20,000+ per person
Source: Company · contact · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What the price includes
Partly listed. Every Africa itinerary page saved says 'Prices do not include international flights' (shown as 'ex. flights'), that prices vary with time of year, and to ask a Travel Expert for an accurate quote; UK flights bought through Steppes are ATOL protected. Botswana Family Safari price is based on a family of four with two children over 12; Kenya Chronicles price also excludes the Mara Elephant Project excursion; Self-Drive Across Namibia says a modern 4x4 is included as standard, with detailed maps, an emergency mobile and two spare tyres, plus a briefing on arrival. No itemised list of meals, drinks, park fees or activities is given beside the Africa prices (itineraries do describe included transfers, in-country flights and game drives). Earlier finding: Costa Rica self-drive tour FAQ lists included items (fuel, ferries, certain entries)
Source: Company · botswana family safari, family kenya from mara to coast, self drive across namibia, cape to kruger en famille · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Deposit
At least 30% of total booking value; full payment at booking if booking 12 weeks or less before departure
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Balance due
Balance due not less than 12 weeks before scheduled departure (late balance: booking may be treated as cancelled and deposit retained)
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Cancellation charges
Per person: 141 days or more before departure - full deposit; 85-140 days - 50%; 84 days or less - 100%. Certain arrangements (scheduled flights, expedition cruises) may be 100% on top. Amendment fee GBP 50; insurance premiums and amendment charges non-refundable
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
How client payments are protected
'Your money is 100% protected': ATOL (number 6945, CAA) for flight-inclusive packages; ABTOT bond for non-flight packages (Steppes Travel member no. 5488; UK and EU customers; bookings made outside the UK covered only when bought directly); ATOL funds held by PT Trustees from 2021; insolvency insurance arranged by Towergate Travel via All Seasons Underwriting Agencies. ABTOT 24/7 helpline 01702 811397
Source: Company · financial protection · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Currencies and card fees
Not stated on their website: pages list prices in GBP (pounds). Booking Conditions mention exchange-rate based surcharges but state no billing currencies list and no card surcharge
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
24-hour contact while travelling
Yes - says an expert is on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions and make swift changes; no separate 24-hour number printed for general travellers (only the ABTOT insolvency helpline 01702 811397)
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Licences and registrations
ATOL 6945 (CAA); ABTOT member 5488; Registered company 03307429 (England); ICO Data Protection Register ZA311108. Not checked on registers
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Where it goes and how it works on the ground
African countries it plans
Destinations page lists: Southern Africa - Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi; East Africa - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania; Central Africa - DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Chad, Angola, Central African Republic; West Africa - Togo, Benin; North Africa - Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea; Islands - Madagascar, Reunion, Saint Helena, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Mauritius
Source: Company · africa · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own offices or staff in Africa
Not stated on their website: no offices or staff in Africa named. Says Africa team members have run safari lodges in East Africa, qualified as guides in Southern Africa and worked on conservation projects (in the past)
Source: Company · africa · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How it books on the ground
Not stated on their website: not clearly stated. Booking Conditions say many services are provided by independent suppliers; privacy policy lists hotels, ground handling companies, transport companies, tour leaders and guides as suppliers; no local partner company named for Africa
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Own camps or vehicles
Not stated for Africa. Site says it has its own travel app, and offers self-drive vehicles via group tours, but no owned camps or vehicles are named
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
Yes - Rwanda page: gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, lions in Akagera, chimps in Nyungwe; Uganda: mountain gorillas; 'Gorilla Trekking' is a holiday type; Rwanda highlights idea 11 days from GBP 14,595 pp; Republic of Congo lowland gorilla trekking idea 10 days from GBP 13,495 pp; Gabon habituated gorillas. Tanzania chimps not stated. Also DR Congo 'Primates and Volcanoes' idea (page titled with Rwanda in its URL): trek Grauer's gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Virunga, night on Nyiragongo, from GBP 6,325 pp ex. flights (itinerary runs Days 1-10, Kigali to Kigali; duration field left blank on the page)
Source: Company · rwanda primates and volcanoes · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Beach add-ons
Seychelles, Mauritius and Mozambique are listed as destinations (Mozambique: 'tropical brilliance of the Indian Ocean'; Alphonse Island Lodge, Seychelles, and Mozambique private dhow safari mentioned on honeymoons page; 21-day Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique idea). Zanzibar not found in the saved pages. Kenyan coast (Diani, Lamu) also offered. Itinerary pages add: Kenya Family Safari - Kenya Chronicles ends with 4 nights at Kinondo Kwetu, Diani Beach; Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique (21 days) includes Lake Malawi (Blue Zebra Island Lodge) and 3 nights at AsDunas Lodge, Vilanculos (Bazaruto archipelago), Mozambique; suggested extensions 'Mozambique Beach Escape' (4 days) and 'Madagascan Island Retreat' at Tsara Komba, Nosy Be (5 days), both price on request. Zanzibar still not found
Source: Company · family kenya from mara to coast, zambia malawi and mozambique, cape to kruger en famille · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Africa only, or other regions too
Worldwide, not Africa only: destinations include the Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East, polar regions, Australasia and more (also cruises and rail journeys)
Source: Company · destinations · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Who it suits and how it travels
Family trips
Yes - Family Holidays collection; Africa examples: Botswana Family Safari 9 days from GBP 5,995 pp; Kenya Family Safari - Kenya Chronicles 11 days from GBP 6,995 pp; Namibia Family Self-Drive Adventure 12 days from GBP 4,795 pp; Cape to Kruger en Famille (South Africa) 10 days from GBP 5,995 pp ex. flights, with exclusive use of a safari lodge. Botswana Family Safari price is based on a family of four with two children over 12
Source: Company · cape to kruger en famille, botswana family safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum child age
Not stated on their website: no general minimum age for Africa stated. Costa Rica self-drive group tour FAQ: no minimum or maximum age, with clients as young as five
Source: Company · uncharted costa rica 4x4 self drive adventure · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Teenagers and multigenerational trips
Yes - 'Multi-Generational' holiday type listed; family page notes example prices for a family of four with children aged 12-17 (Costa Rica); Botswana and Namibia family examples. No named multigenerational Africa itinerary in the saved pages
Source: Company · holiday types · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Honeymoon trips
Yes - Honeymoons page: Africa honeymoon ideas (Botswana Makgadikgadi quad-biking, Mozambique private dhow safari, Alphonse Island Lodge Seychelles); published itineraries shown are New Zealand 16 days from GBP 15,950 pp and Argentina and Brazil 11 days from GBP 4,545 pp (not Africa)
Source: Company · honeymoons · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Solo travellers
Not stated on their website: group tour filter has a 'No Single Supplement' theme and a 'Solo Traveller' suitability tag; the single supplement policy itself is not stated on the saved pages
Source: Company · group tours · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Older travellers and limited mobility
Booking Conditions: 'We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements'; asks for full details before booking and may require a doctor's certificate. No older-traveller guidance for Africa on saved pages
Source: Company · Booking Conditions v2-1 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
First safari
Kenya page: 'Kenya suits first-time visitors' with a 'First time visitor? Start here' idea (Highlights of Kenya, 11 days from GBP 6,325 pp); Botswana page also marks 'First-time visitor' idea (Highlights of Botswana, 10 days from GBP 10,850 pp)
Source: Company · kenya · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Private guide and vehicle
Not stated on their website: botswana 'Delta Mobile Camping' described as a private mobile safari with your own guide; Botswana idea says 'exclusive access within private concessions'. A guaranteed private guide and vehicle is not stated generally
Source: Company · botswana · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Exclusive-use camps and villas
Partly - Mumbo Island, Lake Malawi described as 'an exclusive camp'; Segera Retreat, Laikipia 'our own private villa'; 'Exclusively Yours' holiday type listed; Botswana private concessions. No general exclusive-use policy stated. Cape to Kruger en Famille: 'take exclusive use of a safari lodge'; Botswana Family Safari: 'charter your very own villa on water' on a Chobe river cruise, and a private mobile camping safari in the Delta as an alternative to a fixed camp
Source: Company · cape to kruger en famille, botswana family safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Small-group departures
Yes - small group tours: maximum of 15 travellers, average 8-10 per group (expert-led tours); Africa examples: Tanzania Calving Migration with Paul Goldstein (3 Feb 2027), Gabon small group tour 11-21 Aug 2027, Great Congo Basin Expedition, Zulu War Battlefields. Kenya 'Flying Safari to Amboseli, Meru and the Mara' (8 days, from GBP 9,190 pp ex. flights) runs on a fixed schedule, departing around once a week, on a chartered eight-seater plane with 'just seven other passengers'
Source: Company · kenya flying safari to the mara · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Who guides the trip
Expert-led group tours led by named experts (e.g. Paul Goldstein, Jorge Fernandez); bespoke trips use local guides, e.g. Kenya specialist guides and camp-based guides. Which guide type applies is not stated overall
Source: Company · gabon · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Self-drive
Yes - Namibia Self-Drive Across Namibia (12 days from GBP 5,950 pp), Namibia 4x4 Self-Drive Adventure: The Diamond and Skeleton Coasts (13-day group tour), Family Self-Drive in Namibia (12 days from GBP 4,795 pp); also Costa Rica, Bhutan, Peru, Kyrgyzstan self-drive tours. Self-Drive Across Namibia page: modern 4x4 included as standard, detailed maps, an emergency mobile and two spare tyres, briefing on arrival, rental vehicle picked up in Windhoek; guided excursion at Sossusvlei
Source: Company · self drive across namibia · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Photography trips
Yes - Tanzania Calving Migration with Paul Goldstein (award-winning photographer), Kenya Laikipia and Mara Photographic Safari idea, Namibia and India photographic trips; specialist vehicle not stated
Source: Company · kenya · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Conservation
Yes - Steppes Fund for Change: donated GBP 168,753 last year (1.3% of 2025 revenue; benchmark at least 1% of revenue) to World Land Trust, Galapagos Conservation Trust, Seawilding, The Long Table; partners include Tusk, Whitley Fund for Nature, Durrell, Fauna and Flora International; Woodland Trust forest (4,000 trees) near Scunthorpe; flight emissions offset via World Land Trust; Malawi African Parks visits and Kenya Mara Elephant Project experience
Source: Company · positive impact travel · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Walking, horseback and other specialist trips
Walking safaris (Zambia 'home of the walking safari'; Kenya Samburu walking safari), mobile camping in Botswana, horse riding (Argentina; Costa Rica), canoe/boat safaris, flying safaris (Kenya, Namibia Skeleton Coast), balloon flights, 4x4 self-drive, rail journeys (Rovos Rail), river cruises. Itinerary pages add: guided walks with armed scouts in South Luangwa ('birthplace of the walking safari'), rhino tracking on foot at Desert Rhino Camp (Namibia), bush walks in Sabi Sands and Thornybush, mokoro and walking in the Okavango, San Bushmen walks and quad biking on the Makgadikgadi pans and sleep-outs in the Kalahari, helicopter transfers in the Delta, beach horse rides at Vilanculos, Chobe river cruise
Source: Company · zambia malawi and mozambique, self drive across namibia, cape to kruger en famille, botswana family safari, highlights of botswana · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Facts are from the company’s own pages unless marked Independent source or Official register. A company can correct any line through the contact page; a correction changes the line and its source, never anything else on the page.
Steppes Travel: the questions people ask AI search
Who owns Steppes Travel?
Steppes Travel is independent and founder-owned. Companies House lists Nicholas Laing, who founded the business in 1989, as the only person with significant control of Steppes Travel Ltd, holding between 25% and 50%. Justin Wateridge is managing director.
Is Steppes Travel a good company?
Steppes Travel scores 87/100 on this site's company record rubric, second among the 35 companies scored on 25 September 2026. It publishes dated prices and named hotels, names its team and group hosts, holds ATOL 6945 and ABTOT 5488 and has 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 221 reviews. Its weakness is a 24-hour support promise with no number.
How much does a Steppes Travel trip cost?
Steppes prices trips between £3,695 per person for 12 days in Uzbekistan in December 2026 and £24,238 for a 28-day Ross Sea voyage, excluding flights. Galapagos Islands by Land is £5,520 for nine days and Highlights of Kenya £6,325 for 11 days.
Is Steppes Travel ATOL protected?
Yes. Steppes Travel holds ATOL 6945, printed in its booking conditions and AITO's listing, and is an ABTOT member, number 5488. Its financial protection page mentions ATOL without giving the number.
What are Steppes Travel expert-led groups?
They are small-group departures led by a named expert or host and capped at about 15 guests: the writer Chris Aslan in Uzbekistan from £3,695, the broadcaster Kate Humble on a Galápagos cruise from £7,250, and the photographer Paul Goldstein in Brazil's Pantanal.
Where is Steppes Travel based?
Steppes Travel is based at The Travel House, 51 Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, which is also its registered office. It has a US phone number but no US office.
What is Steppes Travel's cancellation policy?
Cancelling 141 days or more before departure costs the deposit of at least 30%; 85 to 140 days costs 50% of the booking value; 84 days or fewer costs 100%, under booking conditions published in August 2024.
Does Steppes Travel have a 24-hour emergency number?
Not for problems on the trip. Steppes promises 24/7 support, but the only 24-hour number it prints, 01702 811397, is ABTOT's helpline for travellers affected by the company's financial failure. Its office lines are open weekdays.
When was Steppes Travel founded?
Steppes says it was founded in 1989 by Nick Laing. The current company, Steppes Travel Ltd, was incorporated on 24 January 1997.
What awards has Steppes Travel won?
Read on 12 October 2026. Read from the publishers (Independent source): Condé Nast Traveler (US) Travel Specialists, Safari: 1 specialist listed, Chris Johnston (selected by the magazine's editors; read 12 Oct 2026) | Condé Nast Traveller (UK), The top travel specialists to know right now: listed, best for "far-flung culture" (hand-picked by the UK editors; published 7 Nov 2025) Advisers on named lists: Read from the publishers (Independent source): Condé Nast Traveler (US) Travel Specialists, Safari: 1, Chris Johnston The company's own site also states (Company): Not stated beyond Chris Johnston being described as the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda (no year or list count). Home page badge 'One of the World's Top Travel Specialists' has no list named Certifications: Certified B Corporation, certified Aug 2022 (says 'now (Aug 2022)'); also ATOL and ABTOT protected; AITO and adventuretravel.biz logos in footer (no certification dates)
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