AFRICA
For a Vacation They’ll Never Forget Send Your Clients to South Africa JOAN GONZALEZ
Y
ep, you’re right, South Africa is a long way from home. However, it is also one of those lifetime experiences your clients will cherish forever and be chomping at the bit for a chance to return. The country covers a large, diverse area and it is almost impossible to visit and experience it all on just one fantastic trip. With a stubborn determination to succeed both as a great place to live and a fascinating country for visitors, South Africa gave birth to South African Airways 75 years ago. The airline is a Star Alliance member and, “The World’s Most Awarded Airline to LUCILLE SIVE Africa.” Mr. Marc Cavaliere, SAA’s Executive Vice President North America, based in Ft. Lauderdale, also wants to remind agents that they have a number of code share flights that allow passengers to travel seamlessly on flights operated by other airlines. SAA offers a series of special vacation packages for individuals and groups to South Africa from both the United States and Canada, handled by Lucille Sive, president of Lion World Tours and who also handles South African Vacations. (www.lionworldtravel.com). She has a long list of award-winning 5-star hotels and lodges that she features in her programs. For toll free calls from the U.S, dial, 888-722-4872 and from Canada, 800-668-9968. For in-depth information about the various properties, check the website: flysaavacations.com/ itin-specials.htm. A magnificent creation, South Africa was spewed out of a series of volcanoes millions of years ago. It is a land with great stone mountains, miles of fertile hills and deep valleys, bottomless diamond and gold mines, blankets of wild flowers, superb wines and great nature reserves where elephants, lions and zebra roam and herds of graceful impala leap and play. It is great for bird watching, with hundreds of bird species in not only Kruger Park but in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian wash its coastline,
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converging at Cape Point, a short, spectacular drive out of Cape Town.
It’s Not All About Animals Believe it or not, South Africa has other diversions beside its huge game reserves. Soccer is said to be, “gripping the nation!” Other sports gaining in popularity include cricket, rugby, tennis and of course golf, although golf has been around awhile. But the big news is that South Africa will be holding the 2010 World Soccer Cup event in June and July. The final championship match will be July 11. Get bids in early for seats and accommodations as 500,000 people are expected to show up. The country is already working on how to provide transportation to the games. However, there will be special “fan parks,” where fans without tickets can safely watch the 64 World Cup matches in secure areas on high definition big screen televisions. Food and beverages will be available and also public transportation. It is really expected to be one big party in the park with D Js and bands. The tourist board and others involved have literally left no stone unturned, even providing charter flights for those who can’t find close-in accommodations. And if all the accommodations on land are full, there will be luxury cruise liners waiting at sea. The country can’t be any more accommodating than that!
South Africa’s Parks South Africa is truly one of the most fantastic places on earth. It has many interesting national parks, including Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, Augrabies Falls, Marakele, Richtersveld, Vaalbos, Golden Gate Highlands and of course, the famous Kruger Park. South Africa differs from East Africa in game sighting. East Africa has open plains where you can see large herds at great distances. In South Africa, you must really game spot. Impala are all over the place, but for some of the other game, their camouflage is almost complete and you must be sharp of eye. It is amazing how even an elephant can blend in with the side of a rock mountain. Brochures on all the parks are available from the tourist offices.
South African Airways There’s no better way to get to South Africa than www.travelworldnews.com • Travel World News