Crystal Serenity

Springbok Atlas Coach Charter were delighted to have been the transport services provider for the Crystal Serenity on 12th April 2011 in Durban and yesterday, 14th April 2011 in Port Elizabeth.

At 68000 tons and capable of serving 1080 guests, Crystal Serenity is the largest ship in the Crystal Cruises fleet.

We supplied the transport for the following day tours while passengers were in port:

Half Day Tala Private Game Reserve
Zulu Cultural Experience
Half Day Durban Coastal Tour
Half Day Valley of a Thousand Hills
Full Day Drakensberg by helicopter with return airport transfers
Sugar Baron: A Day in the Life
Half Day SOS Children's Village
Full Day Duma Manzi Private Game Reserve
Full Day Pumba Private Game Reserve
Full Day Kwantu Addo Elephant Park by 4x4
Full Day Kariega Private Game Reserve
Full Day Elephant Back Safari with return airport transfers
Half Day Port Elizabeth City
Half Day Township Tour

15 coaches were used in Durban and 12 coaches in Port Elizabeth

Hotel Site Inspection at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice

The USA division went for a site inspection at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Cape Town this morning and this was no ordinary site inspection thanks to the quirky hotel staff!   

Can you imagine the surprise when our consultants saw three in a bed surrounded by bright pink feathers and a scuba diver hiding in the shower… what a great note to start your day on!!

Swakop River - more photos

Swakop River, Windhoek

With the copious amounts of rain Namibia’s been receiving since the beginning of this year the Swakop River is now flowing. On the evening of 26 March 2011 - for the first time since 2009 - the river reached the Atlantic ocean. 

For a desert country like Namibia a flowing river is a sensation and during week-ends people form inland travel to Swakopmund to see the river reaching the ocean.

The river has been flowing strongly, bank to bank and in some places over 100 metres wide. According to the Swakopmund residents the last time the river made such an impression was in the 1970’s.

Springbok Atlas is named as official transport provider!

Springbok Atlas is very proud to announce that we have been appointed as the official shuttle transport provider for 2011, 2012 and 2013 by South African Tourism and Witch & Wizard. http://www.witch-wizard.co.za/
Utilising a fleet of 40 vehicles, we will be running airport shuttles and hotel/ICC shuttles. This is a great honour and provides us the opportunity to showcase our fleet to the international and domestic tourism industry at Indaba.

Please visit us at Indaba.  We would love to meet with you.

People moving up!

Craig Drysdale has been promoted to the new CEO of Coach Charter at Springbok Atlas.

Craig Drysdale joined Springbok Atlas in 1996 as operations manager and later was appointed branch manager of Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2000. In 2006 was promoted to national general manager – Coach Charter Division. Caig has just been promoted to CEO of Springbok Atlas Coach Charter Division in March 2011. During his time with the company he has been involved in many events, namely: International Touring groups, Cruise Ship Visits, Local and Overseas Incentive Groups (both Corporate and Sporting) as well as associated and corporate Conferences (local and international) With Springbok Atlas, he has been the Official Transport Co-ordinator for over a hundred major events and Conferences. He also pioneered within Springbok Atlas to put together the official bid committee for winning his company the World Cup Cricket Tournament, held recently in South Africa. For this tournament, Springbok Atlas was appointed the official transport carrier nationally for all the international supporters, as well as the official carrier for the fourteen international competitor teams. More recently he was once again instrumental in bidding and winning the contract to look after all the transport and logistics arrangement for the thirty two official competing FIFA Soccer teams in 2010. In January 2010 he qualified as a CMP (Certified Meetings Professional), the highest global designation bestowed on an individual in the business tourism industry by the CIC (Conference Industry Council) – Washington DC.  Craig is married with one son.

He is a member of the following associations:

• COASA (Coach Operator Association of Southern Africa) – 2006-2007 Chairman

• SATSA (South African Tourism Association) – 2010-2012 National Vice President

• SAACI (South African Association of the Conference Industry)

• KZN Local Committee 2003 -2012 Service Chapter Committee – Chairman 2004 -2006 National Vice chairman 2005-2006 Was honoured with the SAACI personality of the year in 2005 (“An individual who has contributed greatly to the conference industry in Southern Africa)

• International Convention Centre, DURBAN USER FORUM – Committee Member

• SKAL – Voted Outstanding Transport Operator – Individual Category - (KZN) 2007

• Hospitality Investment Conference Africa 2009 – Runner up for the „Mover & Shaker‟ Award

  

Andre Barnard's successful trip to Europe

Andre Barnard Jnr arrived back at the Cape Town office today after visiting clients in Holland, Belgium and France.

The trip went well and all our services were very well received. There was a renewed interest in Namibia from Holland especially for the self-drive market.