Trafalgar heads into Africa

NEXT year, for the first
time in its 72-year
history, Trafalgar
will offer 10 itineraries to
nine countries in Africa,
highlighting the continent’s
natural landscapes,
indigenous cultures and
historic cities.
The countries packaged
include SA, Namibia, Kenya,
Tanzania, Zimbabwe and
Botswana. The product will
be open for sales from the
beginning of July.
Gavin Tollman, ceo of
Trafalgar, says that the
operator has chosen to enter
Africa after conversations
with travellers who list the
continent high on their
‘wish-list’. The Tollman
family recent bought 100%
of Cullinan Holdings, which
owns the DMC Thompsons
Africa, which will be their
fulfilment partner in Africa.
The travel directors on the
tours are trained by Trafalger.
Teresa Richardson, md
of Trafalgar SA, told TNW
operator will distinguish itself
from others packaging Africa
by offering local experiences.
These include sharing coffee
and vetkoek with a Damara
family in Namibia; visiting a
Maasai cultural village; and
meeting orphaned children
who have found sanctuary at
Kenya’s Shangilia Children’s
Home, with each Trafalgar
visit supporting the home’s
efforts to transform the lives
of these children.
“Guests will have an
opportunity to contribute
to the initiatives they visit,
says Gavin.
The itineraries are on
coach tours, although they
will include small group
site-seeing. Guests will be
accommodated at various
properties, including ‘stays
with stories’, for example at
the Oyster Box in Umhlanga,
where Stanley Tollman, as
a student, told his girlfriend
over dinner at the hotel that
he would one day own the
property.
The programmes will be
available on Trafalgar’s
website and the Trafalgar
sales team will be unpacking
each itinerary programme
during its product knowledge
sessions with agents, says
Teresa. “SA is currently our
third-highest performing
market globally,” says Gavin.
Marijana Cizek, owner of
Sirius Travel in Sandton, says
she is excited to see this
well-known brand enter this
space, adding that Trafalgar
is an easy sell, with perfectly
organised itineraries.