Feeling the pinch of the rising costs of everything? Here are three ways to have a safari experience without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re a couple, student or family, there is something for everyone. Just make sure that you plan ahead and quickly so that you can go off into the bush and experience South Africa’s safari heritage.
Thanda Safari Mid-Week Romantic Getaway
Thanda Safari, a 5-star private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, is offering couples the perfect romantic getaway in the African bush.
For those romantics at heart, the game reserve has a Romance Package on offer. The package is a mid-week special and includes two unforgettable nights at either Thanda Safari Lodge or Thanda Tented Camp, game drives with guide and tracker, all meals and selected beverages, a private moonlit dinner, a bottle of Cap Classique and a 30-minute couple’s massage.
The mid-week special applies from Sunday through to Thursday and excludes peak season from 16 December to 10 January 2023.
This package also excludes a conservation levy of R220 per person per stay, gratuities and all items of a personal nature.
SANParks offers student discounts
South African National Parks (SANParks) announced the opening of its Soweto based booking office in Vilakazi Street as well as its partnership with Varsity Vibe, South Africa’s first student discount app.
According to SANParks this partnership comes at a time when the travel and tourism industry is hard at work trying to find innovative ideas of inspiring travel.
“The partnership with Varsity Vibe, offers exclusive deals on accommodation, camping and activities, which includes a 30% discount to active members at selected national parks during specified periods on the Varsity Vibe App,” said SANParks acting chief executive officer, Hapiloe Sello.
Sello said that with this announcement, SANParks hopes to position itself as the primary holiday destination among the domestic market and specifically the youth, raise awareness of SANParks brand, as well as increase the number of black visitors to the National Parks.
SANParks launches 17th annual SA National Parks Week
SANParks has also revealed it will be launching its 17th annual SA National Parks Week from 11 to 16 September 2022. This initiative is in partnership with Total South Africa and First National Bank. The week grants free access to most of the 22 national parks for day visitors, especially people from the local communities.
Since its inception in 2006, National Parks Week, under the theme “Know Your National Parks”, has seen an influx of over 619 252 day visitors in all participating parks.
“The week was established in a bid to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage, protected by the national parks system. If we are to create a sense of ownership of the natural heritage of South Africa in all South Africans, then all South Africans must be able to have access to such,” said Sello.
It should be noted that free access to parks does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities. Some of the parks will be extending the week to include the weekend. For individual park dates and participating parks please visit: http://www.sanparks.org/about/events/parks_week/default.php
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