Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2007 - (Page 56) GROOTBOS GUESTS can chill out, have fun and soak up sun in the pool. ADVISOR INSIGHT: Jason Hedrick of Azumano Travel says most of his clients heading to Africa opt for Southern Africa or East Africa. “South Africa is a wonderfully diverse country,” Hedrick says. “It has been often referred to as a ‘world in one country.’” Hedrick explains that if there are members of a family who want to see game and go on a safari but also want to sample top wines, they head to South Africa. “You have the diversity of South Africa, which allows for that.” For kid-friendly options, Hedrick suggests Phinda, which is operated by CC Africa, as a great family destination. They do safaris for kids six and older. Short game drives can be arranged for kids younger than five years old. Zululand, a cultural area dominated by Zulu people, is a good place to take kids for a cultural experience. The area boasts villages and museums you can visit to learn more about these people. For a scenic experience, Hedrick says there are some wonderful drives along the coast from Cape Town, in the provence of Western Cape, through coastal towns such as Hermanus and up into Mossel Bay. He also says that a couple hours east of Cape Town is Stellenbosch, which has bed-and-breakfasts as well as wineries that could even give beloved Napa Valley a run for its money. famous chefs. The property is also popular for weddings; in fact, clients can hire Grootbos exclusively for their nuptials. Contact Wedding Coordinator Florentina Heger (florentina@grootbos.co.za; 27-28-384-8053) for details. The most challenging times to reserve the property are October, November, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Easter. Be advised to book clients six months in advance for high season and nine months in advance for Christmas. Note: The Whale Festival in Hermanus draws large crowds to the area in September. Travel advisors can contact General Manager Peter Kunz (peter @grootbos.co.za; 27-28-384-8019) directly. If you need two names in your speed dial, Heger can also take care of your VIPs. Micato Safaris (www.micato.com) strives to make sure every family member is having a good time—from the younger set seeking thrilling entertainment by way of riding dune buggies and ATVs to parents who might want to take it down a notch with a wine tasting or leisurely hike. All of Micato’s safaris are available to families, and partner properties include Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, The Royal Livingstone Hotel and, perfect for a pre- or post-safari stay, Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna, on the country’s famous Garden Route. Tailored to particular age groups, Micato arranges special programs for children at game lodges, such as scavenger hunts and guided nature walks. Envy factor: The options that have us dropping our jaws are safaris on elephant-, camelor horseback, visiting the penguins at Robben Island and whale watching. We hear the Cheetah Outreach Program (children can actually pet a cheetah), which is followed by lunch at an out- door restaurant while enjoying African entertainment, is also a big hit. For those family members opting for a more low-key adventure, Micato also offers beach picnics, canoeing and boogie boarding. Luxury travel advisors sending their VIP client and company should contact Micato’s South Africa specialist, Andrea Dobbe (800MICATO-1, ext. 53). Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (www. sabisabi.com), which is situated on Sabi Sand Wildtuin (wildtuin is the Afrikaans word for game reserve) in the southwestern section of Kruger National Park, has several top offerings for the entire brood. Offering the ultimate in privacy and the perfect accommodation for an intimate safari experience for families and small groups, Little Bush Camp features six luxury suites, each with a private viewing deck overlooking the riverbed. All are decorated in contemporary African design, complete with such must-haves as luxury furnishings, indoor and outdoor showers and, the most important element, air-conditioning. They also all face the Msuthlu riverbed. These suites can be booked over the GDS. Conveniently, each Lodge at Sabi Sabi is staffed with expertly trained babysitters to look after children who are too young to participate in game drives, not to mention older children whose parents might simply want to opt for a little alone time. Note: High season and Christmas are the times when the property is busiest, so try to make reservations as far in advance as you can for your clients. Contact General Manager Rod Wyndham (rwyndham@sabisabi.com; 27-13735-5656). THANDA’S VILLA ROOMS feature beautiful, cozy stone fireplaces. 56 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | August 2007 http://www.sabisabi.com http://www.sabisabi.com http://www.micato.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.