Perfectly planned, tailor-made tours

WITH a long list of impressive and prestigious awards to their credit, the Durban-based family business of Avoca Travels is now in its 37th successful year of operation.

Started by Noorjehan and Ebrahim Vadachia, the business is currently run by the second generation family members and has a staff complement of 20. The founders are still actively involved, however, and are more in marketing, product development, supervisory and mentorship roles.

“Mum always was and is still highly passionate about travel. She worked as a consultant initially and felt that she could do better on her own rather than working for a boss. Dad didn’t doubt her ability, rented suitable office space and the rest is history,” said their son Mahomed Vadachia.

“Avoca Travels is 100 percent blackowned and more than eighty percent of the staff are women from previously disadvantaged population groups.”

The company is “original and innovative” with an emphasis on tailormade tours, and prides itself on delivering a professional service that meets and exceeds all customer expectations, coupled with ethical integrity and sound financial responsibility.

“Avoca Travels is a tour operator, not just an intermediary or an internet portal that has no control over the quality of its offerings,” the company explains, adding that it is one of the most trusted travel brands in the land.

“We offer a truly bespoke and personal service to ensure that every step of your journey is planned perfectly,” they say.

Avoca’s world comprises an endless variety of destinations, with their most popular KwaZulu-Natal tours being their Hluhluwe Heritage and their KwaZulu-Natal Highlights. Avoca Travels specialises in inclusive tours to niche destinations for individuals and small groups of travellers.

Asked what makes the industry so exciting for the company, Vadachia said it was “Experiencing this wonderful world, meeting interesting people and, helping our customers live their dream holidays.”