APT EXPANDS AFRICA PORTFOLIO

APT has added two new itineraries to its 2015 Africa Small Group Safaris program, with the portfolio now combining South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and East Africa. The new all-inclusive 15-day Victoria Falls & Tanzania with Zanzibar tour takes guests from Johannesburg to Livingstone to stay on the banks of the Zambezi River, including a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. Travelling on to Tanzania, guests stay at luxury hotels, lodges and camps such as the Tarangire Balloon Camp. Highlights include an excursion to Ngorongoro Crater, a local school visit and guided tours which provide an insight to village life and the local cuisine. In the Serengeti National Park, guests also visit the historic Olduvai Gorge and stay at APT’S exclusive mobile tented camp. The trip concludes in Zanzibar with a two-night stay near Stone Town and the opportunity to explore the spice plantations. Meanwhile, the new eight-night Namibian Air Safari, which starts in Windhoek, takes travellers to five destinations on a private plane journey. Highlights include accommodation in a luxury tented camp on the sand dunes of the Namibrand Nature Reserve, alfresco bush dinners and game drives in the Etosha National Park. General manager marketing and sales Debra Fox said the program was the culmination of months of hard work to create an “intimate and exclusive” program for Africa. “As well as reaching into seven countries, we also offer guests the opportunity to experience several travel styles, whether it be journeying by land, travel on a custom built 4WD game vehicle, aboard a Zambezi river cruise or via private air safari,” she said. APT tour group sizes are limited to 28 passengers, with a maximum of eight guests on 4WD game drives. All flights within Africa are included, along with a local tour director, sightseeing, accommodation, most meals, airport transfers and game park fees. Extensions for 2015 include a four-day Rwandan Gorilla Encounter, a two-day stay at Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor, a five-day stay in the Okavango Delta and four days soaking up the sun of Zanzibar on a beach extension. All bookings made before December 2015 are eligible for APT’S “Companion Fly Free” deal when two people travel together on the same Africa tour. Guests can also take advantage of APT’S Business Class promotion including return flights from Australia to Africa from $5395 per person.