Prior to touching down in Latin America, Viva’s founder and managing director, Rachel Williams, worked for many years guiding tours throughout Africa, and later worked in wholesale travel in NZ supporting Kiwi trade to sell Africa.
Having guided in 22 African nations, Williams has intimate knowledge of the region and says that Africa is already a popular destination among Viva’s current and past clients.
‘Our clients want to travel with us again, so we wanted to create new opportunities for them to do that,’ says Willams.
‘The type of traveller that ventures to Latin America or the polar regions is the same type of traveller that wants to explore Africa, so it was an easy choice for Viva’s next step.’
Leading Viva’s team of Africa specialists is Tanya Gurtin, who has more than 15 years wholesale experience in selling Africa. Gurtin attended Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban last month, connecting with suppliers and visiting luxury lodges at nearby Hluhluwe Imfolozi and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Gurtin has handcrafted Viva’s portfolio of packages, which includes luxury tented safaris, private conservation lodges and other experiences offering travellers a connection with the people, the wildlife and the landscapes of Africa.
Viva’s Africa portfolio includes a culinary series, featuring an exclusive dining experience with Arabian Thoroughbreds, a star drift and sleep-out experience and more. View the Africa tours HERE.
Viva brings Drifters back to NZ market
Viva has an exclusive agreement with Drifters Adventure Tours in Africa, bringing the Drifters product back to the New Zealand market after more than five years without representation here.
Viva will be the exclusive NZ distributor for Drifters tours, following the announcement last week of its expansion into the African continent.
Drifters has been operating in Africa for 40 years and provides a range of camping and accommodated tours as well as private safaris throughout southern and eastern Africa.
Viva managing director Rachel Williams notes that since Drifters was last in this market, it has refined and improved all of its itineraries. It has also removed the upper age limit on its tours, which was previously 55 years old.