It’s hard to forget your first sighting of a baobab tree through a sea mist, but it’s this memorable scene that makes you realise there’s more to Africa than safaris – it’s also great for beach breaks.
Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco are well known for their resorts but head to the south, west and east and you’ll encounter some seriously stunning seaside destinations. And with interest in Africa riding high on the back of South Africa playing host to the football World Cup in June and July, it’s a great time to suggest them to clients.
Some operators are already seeing this increased interest translating into bookings. For example, Somak Holidays marketing manager Louise Newton reports a 10% increase in requests for African beach weddings. “As an option they can be excellent value for money,” she says.
That said, one key element to focus on when selling African beach holidays is to manage clients’ expectations – the products here are notably different from those in other destinations.
Expert Africa managing director Chris McIntyre says: “Understand that service standards and language skills may not always be up to the levels you find in Europe or Asia. And often the accommodation is more like lodges on the beach than four-star hotels.”
Here is a selection of the options available, from old ‘faces’ to new kids on the block and emerging destinations.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Perfect for: Those looking for a great value tropical beach holiday. Prices are competitive and it is a great alternative to the Seychelles or the Maldives.
Why is it special? The rich culture and architecture benefits from a mixture of Arab, Moorish and Portuguese styles, and then there are the amazing fish dinners, tropical sunsets and palm-fringed, white-sand beaches.
Staying: Clients can stay in African-style cottages nestled on the beachfront at places such as Sultan Sands or boutique guest house that are renovated Arab merchant houses near the sea in Stone Town itself.
Away from the beach: Explore Stone Town, check out former Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s house, and shop for spices from the island.
Sample product: African specialist Somak is offering six nights’ all-inclusive at Sultan Sands for £1,355 per person until mid-July. Price includes flights, transfers plus one night’s bed and breakfast in Stone Town. somak.com, 020 8423 3000
The Gambia
Perfect for: Clients seeking a winter-sun destination with an affordable price tag.
Why is it special? For such a tiny country, The Gambia has a lot packed into it ranging from cultural, to historical and natural beauty. Senegal, which borders the whole country, is an option for clients who want to head further afield.
Staying: You can get five-star accommodation at affordable prices and all-inclusive packages are becoming more popular here too.
Away from the beach: The Gambia is a birdwatcher’s paradise and nature reserves are home to birds such as flycatchers, bee-eaters and pelicans. Alternatively you can cruise Gambia River on a boat, sailing past lush mangroves and eco-retreats.
Sample product: Cosmos has seven nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort and Spa from £925, including flights with Monarch Airlines from Gatwick. cosmos-holidays.co.uk, 0871 423 8518
Mombasa, Kenya
Perfect for: A tried and tested destination, holidaying in Mombasa is now even more flexible since the launch of scheduled flights to the Kenyan coast. It also works well for solo travellers as well as families.
Why is it special? The Indian Ocean coast is rich with Swahili culture. It also offers activities such as diving, kite-surfing, sailing, golf and tennis.
Staying: There is a vast array of properties to choose from. Steve Ody from Exclusive African Treasures advises: “You don’t have to settle for a large resort, there are some beautiful small properties where the service levels are extremely high and the quality of holiday is exceptional.”
Away from the beach: There are opportunities to visit craft makers, markets, and to experience village life with a local guide. Clients can also fly to the Masai Mara to go on safari for a few days.
Sample product: Eight nights in the three-star Mnarani Beachclub with Neilson costs from £554 per person on a club board basis, which includes breakfast, three lunches and four evening meals, some activities and use of the children’s clubs. The price includes Monarch flights from Gatwick and transfers. neilson.co.uk, 0845 070 3460
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Perfect for: Diving, snorkelling and there’s nearly 20 miles of unspoilt beach.
Why is it special? Rocktail Bay has some of the best diving in South Africa. Giant loggerhead and leatherback turtles come ashore between October and December.
Staying: There are a limited number of lodges, many of which are a stone’s throw away from the beach.
Away from the beach: This area combines well with safaris, in the nearby Kruger National Park.
Sample product: World Odyssey offers six nights at Rocktail Beach Camp from £6,295 for a family of four. This includes flights from Heathrow to Richards Bay on South African Airways, and accommodation in a family room on a half-board basis. world-odyssey.com, 01905 731 373
Northern Mozambique
Perfect for: Getting away from the madding crowd in an area that’s not yet been discovered by the mass travel market.
Why is it special? Mozambique is a stunning beach destination and confidently rivals its island neighbour Mauritius. It also has the advantage of being less commercialised.
Staying: Accommodation ranges from barefoot luxury and hand-crafted chalets to contemporary tented camps and luxurious colonial-type quarters. There are also more adventurous options for the explorer types, such as camping on the beach.
Away from the beach: Snorkelling in Africa’s third-largest freshwater lake, walking safaris in pristine wilderness and taking guided tours in the Quirimbas Archipelago – a chain of 32 coral islands.
Sample product: On Vamizi Island, five nights’ full-board accommodation in the lodge costs from £2,941 per person, including flights from Heathrow with British Airways. vamizi.com, 01285 762218
Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Perfect for: Fishing and following celebrities – even Prince Harry has holidayed there.
Why is it special? It’s a desert coastline, and there is constant heavy surf on the beaches. The coast is named after the bleached whale and seal bones that cover the shore – remnants from the whaling industry. Then there are the skeletal shipwrecks, with more than a thousand vessels littering the coast.
Staying: While there is limited accommodation on the coast, there are many more options away from the beach from where clients can make visits to this
amazing coastline.
Away from the beach: Visitors can easily combine the Skeleton Coast with a visit to the Etosha National Park to go on safari.
Sample product: Africa Travel offers a seven-night self-drive holiday for £1,998 with two nights at Camp Kipwe combined with time in Windhoek and on safari in the Etosha National Park. This is based on two sharing and includes economy flights from Heathrow to Windhoek via Johannesburg with British Airways. africatravel.co.uk, 0845 450 1535
