Ron McGregor's web site - Welcome to South Africa - tours.htm

TOURS & TRAVEL AGENTS

THIS PAGE DESCRIBES THE BASIC TOURS THAT HAVE PROVED POPULAR

You may prefer to take a complete package that will start and finish in your home country - this has the advantage of including the airfares, which can result in a big saving. It also means that your fellow travellers will be from your home country. Such packages are generally between 2-3 weeks in duration.

Alternatively, you may prefer to fly independently to Southern Africa, and then purchase seats on one or more scheduled tours in different cities/areas. You will then be sharing your travel experiences with people from many countries.

All tours should be guided by local, SATOUR-registered, tour guides (refer to Trust your Tour Guide).

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Complete package tours from your home country

These will generally cover the basic touring route by touring coach: Cape Town - the Garden Route - Port Elizabeth to Durban by air - Zululand - Swaziland - Kruger National Park - Mpumulanga Scenic Route - Pretoria. Or vice versa, of course, depending on whether the tour starts from Cape Town or Johannesburg.

Tours will often offer pre- or post-tour extensions at either end. These take the form of a few extra days to relax and enjoy Cape Town, or an extension by air (or rail) to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Please click your area of origin:

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If originating in Britain, the best established operator is Saga Holidays. Saga is a big company specialising in services for senior citizens - you don't have to be very senior - 50 is good enough!

Saga run a 17 day package covering the main touring route between Pretoria and Cape Town. The programme has the advantage of many two-night stops - far more relaxing than packing your bags and moving on each day!

It's focus is very much on value for money - almost all meals are included. This is great for budgeting, though it does discourage one from trying some of our excellent restaurants. And the eternal hotel buffets do become a bit boring.

Another disadvantage is that the itinerary leaves out the famous Panorama route (God's Window, Blyde River Canyon, etc), and also bypasses Durban.

Saga also offer pre- and post-tour extensions, enabling you to spend extra time in Cape Town, and/or take in Victoria Falls in neighbouring Zimbabwe (though currently they are visiting the Falls from the Zambian side due to the problems in Zimbabwe)..

Saga's Victoria Falls extension is available either by air, or on the fabulous Rovos Rail historic train, which is a really classy way to travel.

Saga also has two excellent offerings based on the Rovos Rail train journeys. One features the trip between Pretoria and Durban via Kruger National Park, Swaziland and Zululand. The other - aptly named Magnificent Africa - takes Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Pietersburg via Kruger National Park, then flies to Victoria Falls by historic aircraft, and also visits Chobe National Park in Botswana.

For obvious reasons, these cost more than the coach tours, but then again, the coach tours are simply not in the same league as Rovos Rail. (It's purely my personal opinion, but there's no travel experience in the world in the same league as Rovos Rail!)

Saga also do "long-stay" programmes at selected South African resorts - the Natal South Coast, Eastern Cape, and the Cape Town area.

Saga works on direct marketing, so you cannot book their tours through your travel agent. They are located in Folkestone, Kent, and are easy enough to get hold of.

Back to the coach tours. More expensive than Saga is Titan. For the extra cost you will get an altogether better class of accommodation, especially in Cape Town. Titan also includes a night at the exclusive Mala Mala private game reserve. And they don't bypass Durban.

Then there's Travelsphere, who run a good quality, no frills operation which, judging by the regularity of its departures, is meeting the requirements of its passengers without bankrupting them in the process.

Another operation I have encountered is Flexi-Holidays, which I think is a kind of club. They own some self-catering establishments in South Africa, and use hotels in other places. Good value, and a nice itinerary.

Voyage Jules Verne is an operator that sends unaccompanied groups to Southern Africa. This is not really group travel as such - without a full-time tour escort you are rather more independent. Local guides are provided for the individual excursions en route. They do not follow the basic route described above. The standard is frankly luxurious.

Complete packages tend to operate mostly in the spring summer period from September to April. O

If originating in North America, you have a wide choice. Globus is one of the tried and trusted names that springs immediately to mind, with a two week itinerary from Cape Town to Johannesburg that will enable you to complete your travels over two weeks and three weekends. Very useful for those who can only get away for exactly fourteen working days. If you can sneak in a few extra days at the end, they have the extension to Victoria Falls, too.

Travcoa, Maupintour, Smartt and Abercrombie & Kent are other operators who have established operations to South Africa since we became respectable again. These offer varied itineraries and standards, so there is something for everyone, both in cost and duration.

Complete packages tend to operate mainly during the spring and summer months from September to April. However, both Globus and Smartt operate throughout the year. O

If originating in Australasia it is not that easy to find regular package tours operating to Southern Africa. The volumes from that part of the world do not support too many tours. Australians and New Zealanders are more likely to fly independently to South Africa, and join tours originating here.

There is, however, one name that stands out, and that is Bench, in Australia. Give them a call - I am sure that they are not hard to track down. I have no particular experience with them (I tend to be kept very busy with the British and American groups), but I know they have been dealing with South Africa for many years, and if anyone knows all the angles in getting from there to here and back again, it will be them. O

Scheduled tours that you can join while in Southern Africa

The list below gives a list of the most popular tours, where they go, and how long they last. No operators are specifically mentioned, but if you go to Useful Web Sites you will find links to some of the majors which will give you an indication of who's in the market (and also how much the tours are likely to cost you.)

One word of advice - remember that the porter in your hotel will generally recommend the tour company that pays him the highest kickback. Listen to his recommendations by all means, but don't let him take over your arrangements completely. Pick up a few brochures, and speak to other travellers. The lounge or bar of your hotel is a great place to meet other tourists who may be gettin near the end of their stay, and will have gained some useful tips to share with you.

Another word - you may be able to have a tailor made tour just for your own private party if there are enough of you. (The usual minibus party is between 4 and 7 people). This can follow the standard route, but concentrate on things in which you have a special interest, or deviate to a special place for lunch, or even give you more leisure time. A private tour is your tour, and the guide does whatever you ask (within reason). O

Standard Scheduled Tours and Excursions by area

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You may proceed to Useful Web Sites, where you will find web links to a number of local and overseas operators, including the following:

Springbok Atlas Safaris - scheduled coach tours throughout South Africa

Hylton Ross Tours - scheduled tours from Cape Town

Wildlife Safaris - tours from Johannesburg to Kruger Park and environs

Karibu Safaris - quality camping tours of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana

Safari Plan - specialising in fly in safaris to game viewing areas in SA and Botswana

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