New family-focused tours
Live the Journey now offers family-focused tours in South Africa and Namibia that create lifelong memories for parents and children. Travel distances are shorter and locations are chosen for what they offer to both young and old. These tours are suited to families with children under the age of 12. Activities aim to keep children active and intrigued for the duration of the journey. Group sizes allow a maximum of six families but tours may be booked on a private basis. Food, accommodation, outdoor activities, safaris and animal interactions, as well as interaction with locals, are included.
New city tours for Johannesburg and Cape Town
Tourvest Destination Management’s My Joburg and My Cape Town tours are new full-day private guided tours. The tours focus on the individual and the pace at which they would like to move through the cities and the sites where they would prefer to spend more time. The rate includes a vehicle of appropriate size and a qualified tour guide – either English or German speaking. Entrance fees for activities are not included, which allows guests to create their own experiential day tour in and around the cities.
Ashtons to launch additional Kruger service
Ashtons will launch an additional scheduled service in January that will be called the Kruger Shuttle: Johannesburg-Hazyview. The new schedule will link Johannesburg with Hazyview, Protea Hotel Kruger Gate (PHKG) and Skukuza. Ashtons will offer daily departures from OR Tambo International Airport at 08h00, to arrive in Hazyview at 13h00, PHKG at 14h00 and Skukuza at 15h00. Daily departures include Skukuza at 10h00, PHKG at 11h00 and Hazyview at 12h00, arriving at OR Tambo at 17h00.
Accommodated tours from Drifters
Drifters will launch three accommodated tour options in 2017. There will be separate accommodated departures for the 16-day Botswana, the 17-day Namibia and the 24-day Cape Town to Johannesburg via Victoria Falls tours. They will be limited to 12 passengers per tour, giving clients an exclusive experience. This year Drifters will also launch Botswana Private Camping Safaris, a private tour or small groups for two to twelve guests. The destinations available include Moremi Savuti, Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The private tour includes a private guide and vehicle.
New motorcycle route for Southern Africa
Southern Cross Rides is a new motorcycle touring company that specialises in providing ‘top-end’ motorcycle tours around Southern and South Africa. Each tour ensures that clients experience the essence of the region while enjoying luxury accommodation, gourmet experiences and major attractions and destinations. The schedule begins in January.
Cape West Coast launches a three-day trail
The three-day guided journey connects guests with cultural and natural heritage. The route links !Khwa-ttu cultural centre to the West Coast Fossil Park. Hikers will trek through the Elandsfontein Nature Reserve and explore fossils exposed by wind. Evenings include dinners around the campfire, west coast cuisine, stories and astronomy lessons.
Ride Kenya launched in Mara
Great Plains Conservation’s Mara Plains and Mara Expedition camps offer guests the opportunity to enjoy morning and afternoon horseback rides in the private conservancies that join the Masai Mara Reserve and view wildlife from horseback inside the Mara Reserve. Ride Kenya launched in December 2016.
New cat experience hits the Western Cape
Capture Africa will launch the Big Cat Route early this year in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Hermanus in an eight-day tour. The route offers adventure, responsible tourism and conservation and visits wildlife reserves and big-cat sanctuaries where travellers can learn about the animals.
Zululand wildlife conservation experiences
Somkhanda Game Reserve in Zululand now provides wildlife conservation experiences for guests. Through participation, visitors can contribute to the conservation management of White and Black rhino populations. The programme is a three-night wildlife experience that includes tracking of various species such as wild dog and rhino.
New Black rhino conservation experience
A two-week programme for volunteer travellers is based on Somkhanda Game Reserve, Zululand. It involves one week’s work on Black rhino habitat restoration and the second week includes wildlife experiences such as tracking and monitoring elephant, wild dog, and rhino either on foot or by vehicle.
Klipspringer Mountain Bike Trail in Gansbaai
The Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, between the Western Cape villages of Stanford, Gansbaai and Baarskeederbos will launch a bike trail in 2017. The 30km circular route starts from Lomond Wine Farm’s tasting room facility or the Flower Valley Farm.
New creative and events precinct in the city
The African Beer Emporium (ABE) in Tshwane is set to open its doors in 2017. ABE is an upmarket restaurant and bar that will focus on giving visitors a taste of Africa from its stock of African beers and menus from all over the continent.
New safari flights to Masai Mara
Africa Last Minute, a safari tour operator in partnership with Private Jeep Mara guides and Mombasa Air Safari will offer flight safaris to Masai Mara Sopa Lodge from Mombasa from January 15. The product will incorporate the use of Masai experienced guides.
