Somak Holidays launches new Africa brochure

Award-winning Africa specialist, Somak Holidays (somak.co.uk) is proud to unveil its latest Africa brochure. The brochure has been exclusively produced with Virgin Atlantic, which recently launched flights to Nairobi, complementing its existing routes to Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Highlights include new safaris in undiscovered gaming parks in Southern Tanzania, brand new eco-tours, a wider variety of boutique lodges in Kenya, re-emerging destinations such as Mozambique and more affordable Namibia tours.

Somak has welcomed an abundance of new luxury lodges, throughout Africa, to its programme. In Kenya, in particular, there has been a significant increase in the number of high-quality tented safari camps available to visitors. One example is “Saruni”, a deluxe, intimate lodge set in a private conservation area outside the Masai Mara Game Reserve. With accommodation for only 12 guests in six spectacular tented cottages, Saruni is nestled within the heart of the most exciting wilderness in Kenya and is featured in Somak’s “Safari & Spa” itinerary. Surani runs the Masai Wellbeing Space, a unique feature in the Masai Mara and considered to be one of the best spas in Kenya.

The brochure gives special attention to Southern Tanzania, showcasing the country’s newest game parks in three brand new itineraries. The first, “Mikumi & Ruaha”, is a wild-life enthusiast’s dream come true, with five full days of game viewing. The ten-day tour goes to colourful Mikumi which has a high concentration of game including rare Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, impala, zebra and giraffe. Mikumi is followed by Ruaha, famous for its large elephant and buffalo herds and its abundance of lions, leopards and cheetahs.

In addition, Somak Holidays has introduced a “Ruaha & Katavi” itinerary which takes clients to Katavi National Park, one of Tanzania’s most westerly and remote parks. Heralded as ‘the ultimate in off the beaten track safari destinations’, Katavi is only just beginning to gain recognition for its beauty and the quality of its game viewing. Finally, a “Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale” tour has been added, giving clients the opportunity to snorkel in the fresh waters of Lake Tanganyika and witness wild groups of chimpanzees in Mahale.

Mozambique has made a welcome return to Somak Holidays’ Africa programme and the new brochure features suggested itineraries that allow holiday-makers to discover the country’s excellent diving and exceptional gaming lodges. After a comparative regression in tourism in the 1990’s, Mozambique is re-emerging as a premier tourist destination and Somak predicts it will be Africa’s holiday hot-spot for 2008.

New itineraries include “Flying Namibia”, an exciting new, seven-night tour, using light aircraft. The trip enables clients to visit all of the country’s most famous and scenic landmarks, from the capital city of Windhoek with its German colonial past to the Fish River Canyon, the world’s second largest canyon. Flying is the only way to see the whole of Namibia, a country four times the size of Great Britain and home to 17 national parks and game reserves.

Somak’s new “Flying Namibia” is the first three-star tour of its kind, offering fans of the tour operator’s “Wings Over Namibia” trip a more affordable way to see this captivating country. Clients will be seduced by Namibia’s legendary deserts and dunes, fascinating landscapes and varied wildlife that includes elephants, black and white rhinos, lions and dolphins.

In addition, Somak Holidays has teamed up with premier African adventure company “Drifters” for the first time to create two, new, overland, eco-tours. The first, “Drifters – Johannesburg to Cape Town” is an 18-night itinerary taking in “Big Five” game walks, wine tasting, pony trekking, forest walks and boat trips. The second, “Drifters – Southern Circle”, is an epic 24-night, mostly camping, adventure through the desert landscapes of Botswana, the lush forests of Zambia, the tea plantations of Malawi and the deserted beaches of Mozambique.

Drifters’ philosophy is based on sustainability – the long-term assurance that whatever activity it conducts in any area must contribute to the conservation and wellbeing of the inhabitants of that area. The tours go off the beaten track to explore areas where little or no infrastructure exists. Accommodation is either in camps or inns, cabins and small hotels and baggage is limited to rucksacks!

The tie-up with Virgin Atlantic also means that Somak Holidays is able to offer its clients some unusual and tempting add-ons to their Africa holidays, for example, Dubai, Mauritius or the Seychelles.

For reservations go to Somak.co.uk.