Stays at Great Plains Conservation camps and lodges are now inclusive of all top-shelf spirits, wines and champagnes, at no extra charge to clients, advises World Journeys.

Asking clients the right questions when it comes to booking a safari in Africa is crucial to ensure they get the experience they are after, agents heard at a function and movie night this week.

Part 4 in a series on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal: They’ve done the Winelands and Capetown, driven the Garden Route, and been on safari.

New Zealand agents are looking for new and exciting options in Africa as the continent continues to grow in popularity out of this market, according to suppliers at a World Journeys Experience Africa roadshow this week.

Part 3 in a series on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province
Stories that bring to life fierce battles between Zulu warriors and the British are highlights of a stay at Fugitives’ Drift in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The importance of tourism to Africa’s economy was emphasised from the ‘top’ last week when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed delegates at Africa’s Travel Indaba expo in Durban.
He spoke of the potential for the continent’s tourism to grow exponentially and how it could bring its people into the mainstream of the economy.

Response to Trafalgar Tours’ new Africa programme has been beyond the wildest expectations of the company’s chief executive, Gavin Tollman.

Eclipse Travel is reporting growing Africa enquiries following a focus on the destination this month with exclusive savings and value-adds on offer.

An Africa luxury travel specialist focusing on the ‘theatre of travel’ is set to make moves in New Zealand.

Adventure World Travel’s destination expert for Africa, Ryan Kendall, has recently returned from a reconnaissance in Africa and shares his top three insights:

1. Two weeks of driving through Namibia brought new highlights such as tracking black rhinos at the Desert Rhino Camp in Damaraland, star gazing over the Namib Desert, and climbing the ‘Big daddy’ sand dune in Sossusvlei. ‘Little Kualala is a luxurious desert retreat in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve and each of the 11 climate-controlled thatched kulalas there have a private plunge pool and a roof-top star bed’ Kendall tells of one of his camp stays in Namibia.

2. He also reports on a rebirth of Zimbabwe as a safari destination: ‘I noticed several new lodges and significant investment going into the tourism opportunities says Kendall about changes in the region. Ryan participated in a walking safari in Hawange National Park with Imvelo Safari Lodges. ‘Imvelo are leaders in eco-tourism and if you’re looking for a remote and exclusive destination, one that actually makes a difference to local communities and wildlife, Zimbabwe’s Bomani Tented Lodge is a great choice’ he says.

3. A third insight came from a visit to Cape Town where Kendall attended the ‘We Are Africa’ conference. ‘I was able to get a deep understanding of the diversity of product and stories coming out of Africa but also, that Cape Town is open for business. A tourist really won’t notice any changes due to the water crisis, the area and issue is being well managed so that there is no impact on a tourist’s experience.