GLRU Awards Ceremony

Springbok Atlas Charter Transport were invited to attend the Golden Lions Rugby Union capping and awards ceremony that took place on Monday 10 October 2011 at the FNB Stadium (Soccer City Complex).

This is the MTN Golden Lions year end function to cap all the new players for this season, award the best players of the year and to thank staff, sponsors, players, families etc. for their support during the 2011 season.

Springbok Atlas Charter Transport is the Lions preferred transport provider.

Craig Drysdale (CEO), Malusi Mbambo (JHB Key Accounts Manager) and Kirsten Hubbard (JHB Key Accounts Manager) attended on behalf of Springbok Atlas Charter Transport.

Kim Gibbens is off to Dubai!

Congratulations to Kim Gibbens, Sales Executive at Springbok Atlas Charter Transport, who has been given the fantastic opportunity of joining a team of transport logistics professionals in Dubai to assist with the logistics for the upcoming Formula One! This team of professionals is no stranger to Kim as she had the privilege of working with them during last year’s Soccer World Cup.  TMS (Transport Management Systems) were in charge of the transport for the FIFA family and teams.  Kim has signed a one month contract with them and will be leaving on the 13^th of October 2011 and returning on the 15^th November 2011.  Her position will be VIP Association Transport Specialist, and she will have the honour of being placed in the paddock area. The team will consist of around 29 people from all over the world.  Kim will be staying at ZiQoo Hotel Apartment for the duration of her stay in Dubai. 

Change a Life cycles to the Wild West

The 2011 Change a Life Cycle event took place in Namibia from Friday 2^nd – Wednesday 7^th September (actual cycling days 3^rd – 6^th September). The 2011 tour was an adventure of a lifetime – from hot dusty roads to wonderful desert camps, from pain and agony to celebration and ecstasy. The 70 executive cyclists selected to go on the tour visited quaint towns, explored deserted beaches and towering sand dunes, and partied under star-studded skies.

The 530 km route started in Windhoek on 3^rd September and headed westwards across the Namib Desert before ending in Walvis Bay on the fourth day – 6^th September.

The Change a Life Cycle was arranged by Imperial Holdings in Swakopmund and Springbok Atlas was one of the sponsors.

Source: www.computersharecares.com

CPT is preferred tourist destination for the Chinese

Cape Town was recently awarded ‘the most preferred tourist attraction for the Chinese in 2011’ in the 1st Global Tourism Thermal List campaign. The campaign, which was jointly held by the World Travel Broadcasting Union and Radio Beijing Corporation, called on tourism enthusiasts in China to vote for their favourite destination online.

Cape Town has been steadily marketing itself in the Chinese market since 2007. The city’s efforts have translated into numbers with Chinese annual arrivals to the Western Cape doubling from 2008 to 2010 with 20 724 arrivals in 2008 and 41 532 arrivals in 2010. Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO Cape Town Routes Unlimited, comments: “Next to India, China is the emerging market with everyone scrambling to get a piece of this lucrative market. Since 2007, Cape Town and the Western Cape have aggressively pursued this market.”

Gilfellan says CTRU adopted a three-pronged approach to the Chinese market with targeted media hostings; education of local property owners, service providers and tour operators on the needs of the Chinese market; and attendance at international platforms in the East.

He says that after studying the Chinese markets, it becomes clear that the Chinese trade is interested in the following experiences and products: the West Coast flowers, golf tours, shark-cage diving, experiencing a South African cultural village, motorcycle tours, wine farm tours, beach quad biking and sand boarding. He adds: “Although the Chinese trade has no problem with English, they strongly urged us to at least print some of our basic collateral in Mandarin. It would also help if at least one page of our website is translated.”

Taken from: http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsDetails.aspx?newsId=60415

Springbok Atlas Day Tour operations over the Festive Season

Springbok Atlas Scheduled Tours division will not be operating any German Day Tours for the dates 24 December 2011, 25 December 2011 and 01 January 2012. English tours will however not be affected.

In addition, we will not be running the half day Winelands, full day Cape Highlights and full day Winelands tours on 25 December 2011 and 01 January 2012 as the wine estates will be closed on these respective days.

The adventure tours will not be operational on 25 December 2011, 26 December 2011 and 01 January 2012.

The half day Cultural Tour will run on 24 December 2011, 31 December 2011 and 01 January 2012 (AM only).  No tours will run on 25 and 26 December 2011.

The full day Shark Cage Diving Tour will not be operational on 25 December 2011 and 01 January 2012.

New Package - David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa

Day 1
Depart Cape Town International Airport for your direct flight to Livingstone Airport.  On arrival you will be met by a Springbok Atlas Representative and transferred to The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa.  Depart at 16h00 for a sunset cruise on the Lady Livingstone.  Overnight: David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis.

The luxurious, colonial styled four star David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa is situated 5km from Livingstone and a mere 10km from the magnificent Victoria Falls, also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya – the Smoke that Thunders.  Overlooking the mighty Zambezi River, this lodge serves as a perfect base from which to explore the Victoria Falls and surrounds.

Day 2
Today you will have the opportunity to participate in a Tour of the Falls on the Livingstone side.  The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the wonderful offerings of Livingstone.  Overnight: David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis.

Day 3
Another full day at leisure to explore wonderful offerings of Livingstone. Why not do a trip to Livingstone Island for a swim in the “Devil’s Pool” (time of year permitting) or a helicopter trip to view the Falls from a different angle?  Overnight: David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis

Day 4
Transfer from the Lodge to Livingstone Airport for your return flight to Cape Town (or extend to South Luangwa via Lusaka or Nelspruit directly – excluded from fare).

Included in this package

• Flight from Cape Town to Livingstone return
• Three nights’ accommodation at The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa
• All meals as specified
• Sunset cruise on the Lady Livingstone
• Tour of the Falls on the Livingstone side
• Return transfers from Airport to lodge

Excluded from this package

• Airline taxes, subject to change until time of ticketing
• ZAWA levy
• U$ 20 park entrance fee to Victoria Falls
• U$ 10 park entrance fee for the Zambezi River Cruise
• U$ 30 departure tax
• All other meals, accommodation, transport and activities
• All porterage
• Personal expenses such as tips for meals, gratuities for guides/game rangers, all alcoholic and other beverages, telephone calls and laundry
• Any other services not mentioned above

Optional Activities at Additional Cost

• Livingstone Island Tour (three times daily)
• Helicopter flights
• Elephant Back Safaris
• Walk with the Lions

Rates (Commissionable Rack Rates)

• ZAR 8550 per person sharing at The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa
• ZAR 1510 single room supplement

THIS SPECIAL IS VALID FOR TRAVEL UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2011 AND IS SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ALL SERVICES AT THE TIME OF BOOKING

Notes

• Rates are rack & commissionable to international inbound tour operators
• Accommodation is  based on standard room type only
• Clients require a yellow fever certificate and malaria prophylaxis are recommended

Flight details

• Cape Town to Livingstone: departs 08h00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
• Livingstone to Cape Town: departs 14h00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays

Contact your consultant for a rate for this package based on a lodge of your choice

E-Tourism Africa Summit in Cape Town next month

The fourth annual E-Tourism Africa Summit will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on September 15 and 16. Both SA Tourism and Cape Town Tourism will sponsor the event.

The summit will feature international speakers and presentations from leading online travel companies, including TripAdvisor, Expedia, Google, and Visit Britain. Day two of the summit will include a day-long workshop on online tourism.

Delegates attending the summit will receive the new Online Tourism Textbook, written for the South African market.

Taken from: http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsDetails.aspx?newsId=60395