People often ask me how Live the Journey began.
The truth is, it wasn't born in a single moment. It grew from a passion for exploration, a curiosity about the world, and a belief that travel could become far more meaningful than simply visiting beautiful places.
My training was in agricultural economics, but my passion has always been discovering remarkable places, meeting extraordinary people and creating experiences that stay with travellers long after they return home.
More than twenty-three years ago, Karien, my wife, and I chose a path that was far from conventional. We believed there were still extraordinary places waiting to be discovered, authentic stories waiting to be shared, and journeys that deserved to be experienced differently. Rather than following established routes, we chose to create our own. That pioneering spirit became the foundation of Live the Journey.
Today, that same spirit continues to define who we are.
We are a team of passionate travel professionals united by a shared belief that the finest journeys are rarely found in a brochure. They are patiently crafted over years — through exploration, trusted local relationships, countless scouting trips and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Many of the journeys we offer today exist because we chose to venture where others hadn't, and to invest long before there was any guarantee of success.
Looking back, I realise that while we built a travel company, we were also building something far more valuable.
We were building trust.
Today, around 80% of our guests choose to travel with us again. That extraordinary loyalty is the greatest compliment we could ever receive. Trust is earned — one journey, one promise and one relationship at a time.
People often ask me which journey has been my favourite. I have never been able to answer that question. I remember conversations around campfires, the silence of a desert sunrise, the laughter of strangers who leave as friends, and the privilege of introducing travellers to remarkable places — and remarkable people.
Although Live the Journey has grown far beyond what Karien and I first imagined, one thing has never changed: our commitment to creating journeys with authenticity, care and uncompromising attention to detail. Every destination we develop and every guest we welcome reflects the values on which this company was built.
As I look back over more than two decades, I feel both proud and deeply grateful. Proud of what the Live the Journey family has built together, and grateful to every traveller who has trusted us, every community that has welcomed us, Karien, whose encouragement helped turn a dream into reality, and every member of our team who continues to live our values every single day.
At Live the Journey, we believe travel is about far more than seeing the world. It is about experiencing it with curiosity, humility and wonder.
We build journeys worth remembering.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your story.
Jurgens Schoeman
Journey Builder · Live the Journey
Founded in 2003.
Booking another trip, again and again.
With travel stories they never thought they'd tell.
From your first email to the day you're home, a named specialist looks after your trip: your dates, your preferences, your questions — and picks up the phone when something needs sorting. Warm, personal, and genuinely glad you came.
Anyone can name the places. The craft is in the order and the pacing — fitting the right stops, days and logistics into a journey that flows instead of exhausts. And because we've travelled these routes ourselves, we know what works on the ground.
We've run trips since 2003, around 80% of our travellers come back for another, and our journeys have featured on kykNET, in Rapport and on Radio Sonder Grense. Trust isn't something we say — it's something travellers have given us, one trip at a time.
Every package spells out exactly what's included and what isn't, up front. We hate nasty surprises, so we don't spring them.
Live the Journey was established in 2003 by a team of passionate adventurers, friends and family. They share a passion for designing magical, awe-inspiring tours, tailor-made itineraries, and other adventures throughout the world.
The team at Live the Journey are all experts in their field and bring travel experience from across the world. Our logistical field teams and guides are without a doubt the best in the industry — living their journey every day by making sure our clients get the best possible experience.
"Live the Journey tours feed the soul. Arrangements are impeccable and the travels are life-enriching."
"I haven't been with an organiser better than Live the Journey — and I've been with many."
"Your ability to read the group is incredibly valuable — finding a balance between having things organised and allowing personal space."
Share your idea of the perfect journey, and we'll come back with the plan.