Upmarket operator Beachcomber plans to increase bookings from its Wild Africa Safaris programme from 30 to 100 a month by working closely with the trade.
In a series of agent educationals, the operator has sent 20 agents out to southern Africa over the last few weeks and plans to send another 30 out over the next year. A second strand of activity is continuous agency visits. “We’re committed to educating the trade. We’ve got a five-strong sales team calling on travel agents in the UK,” said managing director Warren Raybould.
In the company’s latest brochure Chapters of Africa the emphasis is on small properties that offer a good level of personal service. “We offer 20-bed luxury lodges and small owner-managed hotels,” said Raybould.
This year the operator slimmed down its product line and split it into modules to make it easier to sell. “We have trimmed back product to those countries where we have an intimate knowledge – Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana. It will be easier for agents to make bookings, as each ‘chapter’ or module is a mini-itinerary that agents can tack on to another, for example Zimbabwe and Cape Town,” he said.
A seven-night Legends of Africa safari, based in Zimbabwe costs £2,073 per person. The package includes flights from the UK, full board in a safari lodge and all game drives.
Clients can also combine a southern Africa safari with a beach stay on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, which is around a 5hr flight away from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Prices start at £2,991 for six nights inZimbabwe followed by eight nights in Mauritius. The package includes all flights, full board on safari and half board in Mauritius.
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