Media release from APT
New brochure: APT Africa 2011-12
APT adventures into Africa
Experiencing the raw essence of Africa in the most personalised manner possible, without compromising on the style, convenience and security that APT travellers have come to expect, is the rationale behind APTs inaugural Africa brochure, released this week.
The brochure presents seven small group adventures covering experiences across South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Egypt for the 2011-12 season.
APT General Manager Marketing, Debra Fox said APT had limited travelling groups to no more than 28 so that guests could “truly capture this extraordinary continent at its very best”.
“On our private four-wheel-drive game park safaris, there are no more than eight passengers because there’s this tangible intimacy and connection with what is being experienced, and that connectedness deserves close attention and exploration,” she said.
“We’ve taken the best elements of independent African travel and enhanced them to create these incredible journeys through the wilds of Africa, staying at luxury lodges and camps set in the heart of Africa’s iconic game reserves,” she said. “These journeys are inclusive of unbelievable outdoor dining experiences, special encounters with incredible wildlife and local Masai and Zulu people.”
Opportunities to see the Big 5, access to the Kruger National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve and Victoria Falls, all flights in Africa and Egypt included in the price and the group sizes are billed by APT as key selling points, along with APT’s stylish standards of touring and accommodation and fully-inclusive nature of packaging.
APT is offering a $1600 per couple earlybird discount for bookings made before December 31, 2011.
The company’s popular Freedom of Choice Touring has been applied to seven locations. For example, at Victoria Falls (a 7 Wonders of the World site), options are village tour, helicopter ride, elephant back safari or Tiger fishing.
Private game lodges, luxury camps, “APT Exclusive” experiences, dining, rail journeys and river cruise safaris are featured in the 56-page brochure.
Among the list of 15 “APT Exclusive” experiences — apart from viewing the wildlife — are, viewing Mt Kilimanjaro at sunset during sundowner drinks, wandering around the village of Mto wa Mbu and dining on local dishes, a private tour of Olduvai Gorge, outdoor Boma fireside dining at Zulu Nyala Game Lodge, a private concert by The Kenyan Boys Choir in Nairobi, three different rail journeys with Rovos Rail and a three-day luxury river cruise safari on Botswana’s Chobe River where guests board small boats to get close to wildlife along the riverbanks.
Accommodation includes Tinga Private Game Lodge, Madikwe Safari Lodge, River Lodge in Lions Sands Private Game Reserve, Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp in Serengeti National Park, Karen Blixen Camp in the Masai Mara, Shaba National Reserve at Joy’s Safari Camp, Cape Town’s waterfront Table Bay Hotel and Zulu Nyala Game Lodge in Zululand
Lead-in package is the 29-day South Africa Highlights with Kenya & Tanzania package which includes Cape Town, Garden Route, Zululand, Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park, Serengeti, Masai Mara and Ngorongoro Crater.
It is priced from $17,195 per person, twin share (based on May 12 departure including a $1600 per couple earlybird discount) which includes coach and 4WD touring, accommodation (private game lodges, luxury camps, hotels), 63 meals, local guided excursions and game drives, tipping and APT Tour Director.
Ms Fox said APT’s expansion into Africa was driven primarily by APT travellers who had experienced APT’s holiday style in Australia and overseas.
“We have taken care to ensure our Africa adventures meet their discerning expectations,” she said.
Contact: 1300 278 278, see www.aptgroup.travel, or contact your local BDM.