A round-up of new and updated itineraries and activities for 2016.
Tourvest launches new 2016 itineraries
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Tourvest is launching several new itineraries beginning this month.
The Classic Botswana self-drive tour is a 13-day itinerary travelling from Maun to Khwai, on to Savute, then from Savute to Chobe and all the way to Victoria Falls. The tour is based on adventure and leisure.
The Classic Zimbabwe self-drive tour is a 12-day itinerary around Zimbabwe. Guests can enjoy exploring the open roads, bungee jumping and nature trails.
The Upper Zambezi Canoe Safari tour explores the beauty, peace and wildlife of the Zambezi River while paddling downstream in a canoe with a guide. Visitors can discover islands and waterways along the route and take in the scenic wonders of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Croc Cage Diving itinerary is available in Victoria Falls and provides visitors will all the necessary diving equipment. Guests are instructed with the basic skills such as familiarising themselves with breathing underwater using scuba equipment.
The Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls itinerary gives visitors the opportunity to bungee jump with one of the world’s seven wonders as the backdrop and experience a 111-metre drop off the Vic Falls Bridge.
The Home Hosted Dinner in Victoria Falls tour is ideal for food and culture travellers. Visitors are hosted by a local resident who cooks and shares a traditional meal in their home, while connecting through conversation.
For more information, email tours@welcome.co.za.
New 17-day tour in Namibia
Drifters is launching a new 17-day Namibia tour for 2016. The tour is a complete upgrade from the current 12-day itinerary and now offers clients a comprehensive Namibia experience that includes highlights like Kgalagadi National Park, Fish River Canyon, Drifter’s Private Desert Reserve, Sossusvlei and Etosha.
The first tour departs on January 3. There will be regular departures, every three weeks, throughout the year.
The new tour spends much more time in the south to offer clients a comprehensive and well balanced tour that travels throughout Namibia, from Fish River Canyon in the south up to Etosha National Park in the north.
The new tour itinerary was improved to offer guests many new highlights such as two nights in the Kgalagadi National Park, Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais Hot Springs, Orange River, Kolmanskop ghost town and Lüderitz.
The tour will also include two nights in Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Brandberg.
For more information, click here.
New Cape to Addo Motorbike Tour
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris launched a 13-day tour geared towards motor-bike enthusiasts, in November 2015. The tour gives bikers the chance to experience the coastlines and mountain passes of South Africa from the action-packed comfort of a motorbike seat.
The Motorbike Cape to Addo tour starts in Cape Town and goes through the Cape Winelands, Route 62 and Oudtshoorn. Riders will also spend two nights in Addo Elephant National Park.
The second half of the trip takes travellers through the Garden Route and on to Tsitsikamma and Knysna, showcasing the beauty of the area, including the Tsitsikamma Forest, Knysna Lagoon and Featherbed Nature Reserve. The tour then continues on to Swellendam and Hermanus and concludes in Cape Town.
For more information, click here.
Around Zimbabwe Safaris by Falcon Safaris
Falcon Safaris is offering two unique itineraries in 2016 for its scheduled Around Zimbabwe Safaris.
The Amur Falcon Safari is a 10-day tour that departs from Harare and ends in Victoria Falls. The tour explores the mountainous Eastern Highlands, Great Zimbabwe, the diversity of wildlife in the Hwange National Park and allows visitors to view ancient rock art in the Matopo National Park. The tour departs once a month from January.
The Sooty Falcon Safari is an 11-day tour that begins in Victoria Falls and ends in Harare. Visitors can see the diversity of wildlife in Hwange National Park and can enjoy big cat sightings, guided game drives, bush walks and boat cruises in Matusadona and Mana Pools National Parks, before relaxing on the beaches of Lake Kariba. This tour departs on the 9th and 21st of every month, beginning in January.
For more information, click here.
Dare To Explore offers new Art Tour
Dare to Explore offers the unique experience of viewing original ethnic art from all over the African continent at a Johannesburg venue that has one of the biggest privately owned, contemporary South African art collections.
Visitors can enjoy original art works by South African artists such as William Kentridge, Marlene Dumas, Christo Coetzee and Doreen Southwood. Dare To Explore will also look to include a lunch or dinner activity, paired with specially selected wines from the Cape and with the added possibility of meeting some of the artists to discuss their work.
For more information, click here.
Dare To Explore adapts family programmes
Dare to Explore believes South Africa is a destination that is particularly receptive to family travel and has adapted its family programmes to include ‘exclusive use’ luxury family-friendly villas throughout the guests’ entire stay. The DMC says its North American guests favour this concept as it offers flexibility, quality and gives them their own space whether on safari or in the city. The exclusive use family programmes have been successful with the US and Canadian markets.
For more information, click here.
Sunway Safaris launches four new itineraries
Sunway Safaris will operate four brand-new itineraries throughout 2016. Botswana Baobabs departs on January 31; South Africa Vista departs on February 15; Windhoek to Vic Falls Elephant Route departs on March 16; and Botswana Zimbabwe Ivory Route departs on March 20.
African Insight launches new itinerary
African Insight launched a new itinerary exploring Durban on December 1, 2015. The itinerary includes wildlife, beaches, kayaking, cultural involvement and community service and is aimed at 18 to 30-year-olds. Guests can enjoy game reserves and will have the opportunity to teach English to remote rural communities.
SAA Vacations offers new travel package
South African Airways Vacations’ (SAAV) has launched its 2016 brochure and will introduce some new travel packages for 2016. Two are self-drive promotions that include car rental and allow travellers to explore South Africa. The packages, Garden Route Splendor and Exploring KwaZulu Natal, will bring travellers a more complete experience of South Africa.
New self-drive tour in Cape Town
SAA Vacations is launching the Garden Route Splendor self-drive from April 1 to May 31 and from August 1 to September 30. The 13-day tour includes a three-night stay in Cape Town and visits to Knysna, False Bay, the Wild Coast and the Eastern Cape.
New self-drive tour in KwaZulu Natal
SAA Vacations is launching the Exploring KwaZulu Natal self-drive from January 1 to March 31; from May 1-31; and from August 11-31. The trip starts in Durban and continues to Zululand. It features game drives, cultural experiences and visits to historic battlefields.
Cultural Roots of South Africa tour launches in January
The Cultural Roots of South Africa from SAA Vacations will operate from January 10 to May 31 and from August 10 to September 30. The 12-day tour starts in Johannesburg and visits the Drakensberg, the KwaZulu Natal battlefields and Durban.
New tracking expedition into Damaraland
Anderson Expeditions has partnered with the Tracker Academy to create a specialist tracking expedition into Damaraland and the Skeleton Coast in Namibia for June 2016. The expedition, limited to six guests, will use permanent camps and lodges in the region as well as a mobile tented camp to explore the most remote parts of the area.
New seven-day Lesotho tour launches in February
Sani Lodge will launch its seven-day Classic Lesotho tour on February 9. The tour will travel from Sani Lodge in the southern Drakensberg to Semonkong Lodge, Malealea Lodge and Maliba Lodge in Ts’ehlanyane national park. Guests can enjoy the Maletsunyane waterfall at Semonkong, pony trekking the community way at Malealea and Ts’ehlanyane national park.
Tour2.0 launches new itineraries
Tour2.0 will launch three new itineraries in April: the Khoisan Culinary Tour in Tsitsikamma; the East Griqualand Festival Tour, a three-day tour in KwaZulu Natal; and the Pondoland package that explores the Wild Coast and local attractions.
Baobab Ridge offers new rhino conservation itinerary
Baobab Ridge in the Klaserie Private Game Reserve is launching a rhino conservation package from March 1 to September 30. The package includes accommodation in twin or double-bed rooms, all meals, two game drives a day in open 4x4 vehicles with licensed guides and exclusive ‘hands-on’ participation in a Rhinoceros Conservation Event.
New mobile camping safaris launch
&Beyond Botswana Expeditions has launched six new mobile camping safaris in Botswana. Bookings will open in February. The expeditions are privately guided and offer exclusive game viewing experiences combined with comfortable and fully serviced mobile camping accommodation.
Chalo Africa Tours creates educational safari
Chalo Africa Tours, an Indian-based TO, has collaborated with Alex Walker's Serian Camps in Kenya and Tanzania to create an educational safari for school children. Participants will learn about ecology, conservation, biology and team-building during a one-week programme.
