FEATURE SOUTH AFRICA
travel options to destinations
previously difficult to reach by air. For example, new operations to Bujumbura (Burundi), Kigali (Rwanda) and Cotonou (Benin), start on October 31 this year.”
GARTH KEW, general manager, Makanyane Safari Lodge “The Big Five are on everybody’s safari hit-list, but a game drive in the Madikwe Game Reserve reveals so much more. The unique location of Madikwe makes it the ideal place to spot a variety of species you wouldn’t normally see in the same area together, such as gemsbok and waterbuck. The blend of wet and desert regions means you’ll also find both impala and springbok here. The thin vegetation and low grass at this time of year means that you stand a much better chance of spotting certain species like the unusual aardwolf and rare pangolin, both of which are usually very high on the experienced safari enthusiast’s must-see list.”
From The Front Line BETH ALCORN
product and marketing manager Emirates Tours “There’s been an
enormous growth in family travel to South Africa and we are also seeing a lot of honeymooners. The influx of new bedstock has led to some exceptional offers while there’s been a big growth in experience-based travel, with culinary itineraries and cycling tours through the winelands becoming very popular. The luxury Blue Train and Rovos Rail are also selling well.”
ANDREA LODDO regional product manager,Hayes & Jarvis “The key selling point is
diversity. There are magnificent beaches but there’s lots more to do than just laze in the sun. City breaks, safaris, game drives, motoring tours, battlesite visits, whale watching, shark cage diving – there’s a host of options and it’s worth noting that many of the game parks are malaria free. “Additionally, although the cost of food
and drink has risen in recent times they remain among the lowest in long-haul destinations while offering consistently high quality.”
JULIAN KATZ director of sales & marketing, Fairmont Zimbali Lodge & Resort
“Thanks to the World Cup effect, South 22 September 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Africa is now a fully-fledged international destination. A lot of new business is coming from India, China and Russia while uplift from the UK has risen dramatically thanks to both a wider appreciation of what this amazing country has to offer and what is now recognised as a quality destination at affordable prices.”
Where To Book It HAYES & JARVIS - 0871 200 2211
www.hayesandjarvis.com Four nights B&B at the Cape Town Ritz, including a ‘Glimpses of Cape Town’ package (full-day Winelands tour and full-day tour of Cape Point and the Peninsula) is from £1,149pp, including South African Airways flights from London Heathrow.
EMIRATES TOURS – 020 7590 1450
www.emiratestours.co.uk The top-end Discover South Africa 10-night private tour costs from £6,219pp. Featured are three nights at the One&Only hotel in Cape Town, two nights aboard the Rovos Rail luxury train, a night at the Westcliffe in Johannesburg and four nights at Lion Sands private game reserve, Sabi Sand. Included are private transfers and economy flights from London Gatwick.
AFRICAN PRIDE - 01904 619 428
www.african-pride.co.uk For independent fly/drive travellers, the operator has special deals at the five spectacular lodges operated in the Zulu
SOUTH AFRICA Top Selling Tips...
• Back to nature: “Getting in touch with nature is a prime part of South Africa’s appeal. At Kwandwe Game Reserve guests can participate in a four- day rhino-darting programme – an essential task to ensure the preservation of the species” LUCINDA LACON, Classic Communications
• Corner those commissions: “South Africa offers so many attractive add-ons, upgrades and commissionable attractions that an astute agent can build a booking into a high-commission holiday of a lifetime. Since the most expensive part by far is getting there, it’s a relatively easy sell to entice clients to bolt on added days” ROGER ST PIERRE, award-winning travel writer
Battlefields, on the Elephant Coast (both KwaZulu-Natal) and inside Kruger National Park. Commissionable rates – around £120-£142 pp per night – are inclusive of accommodation, meals, teas and coffees, one daily game-watching activity and, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, a visit to a Zulu village for a traditional Boma dinner.
2BY2 HOLIDAYS - 01582 766122
www.2by2holidays.co.uk Seven nights, with five nights at Winchester Mansions, Cape Town, and two nights at Kuzoko Lodge, located in the malaria-free Eastern Cape, is priced from £1,795pp, including flights with South African Airways from London- Heathrow.
Who Flies There? Direct from London SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS 0027 11 978 5313,
www.flysaa.com BRITISH AIRWAYS - 0844 493 0787
www.britishairways.com VIRGIN ATLANTIC - 0844 209 7777
www.virgin-atlantic.com
Connecting via UAE EMIRATES - 00844800 2777
emirates.com ETIHAD - 009712 599 0844
etihadairways.com
Main Picture: Shamwari Bayethi Lodge; Giraffes are a regular sight at private reserves in the Eastern Cape
This summer, South African Airways won two major Skytrax awards for the ninth consecutive year as Best Airline Africa and for Service Excellence Africa. •
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