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Posted on Thursday, October 13th, 2011, 11:30:am by SATOA
This year, for our WTM 2011 Networking Function on Tuesday the 8th of November, we would like to thank Tourism Kwa-Zulu Natal for sponsoring this event. It will be a wonderful opportunity to hear about the new East3Route briefly, to enjoy great food and have a few drinks while you network with attendees from all parts of the travel industry including tourist boards, airlines, car hire companies, tour operators, hoteliers, representation companies and media. We would once again like to thank Tourism KwaZulu-Natal for sponsoring this event. If you have not puchased your ticket for this event yet, just click on the link below:
http://www.eventelephant.com/satoaworldtravelmarketsocialnetworkingevent
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Posted on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011, 7:45:am by Tolene
Mozambique is a land with influences ranging from North African to Arab and Portuguese, a vibrant society with much to offer from superb seafood to the ultimate scuba diving experience.
Offering a fascinating blend of culture, ranging from the early Bantu-speaking North African tribal inhabitants to the Arab traders and Portuguese colonialists who ruled until independence was gained in 1975. The architectural styles reflect this diverse history, from Manueline to gaudy 1930's-inspired Art Deco.
The treasure of this country is the stunning variety of coastal, riverine mountain and forest environments, home to an array of flora and fauna interspersed with traditional villages and the coral fringed coastline with translucent tropical waters offering amazing scuba diving.
According to Lonely Planet, the top pics for Mozambique are:
1) Maputo - The energetic waterside capital with flame tree-lined streets, lively sidewalk cafes and pulsating nightlife
2) Inhambane - Dhows and flamingos dot the bay in the sleepy, charming town near beautiful beaches
3) Tofo - white sand dunes, a long arc of beach and diving with the manta rays
4) Archipelago de Bazaruto - The ultimate tropical paradise, with incomparably turqouise waters and shoals of colourful fish
5) Montes Chimanimani - cool, dense forests shelter secluded valleys and rich traditional cultures.
The best time to visit Mozambique is from May/June to November, during the cooler dry season. Sunshine, blue skies and temperatures averaging between 24-27 degrees celsius along the coast are the norm, except during the rainy summer season from about December/January through to April when everything gets soggy and sticky, and temperatures exceed 30 degrees celcius in some areas.
To enjoy a good bush and beach holiday, combine your clients travels with Kruger Natiional Park Lodges and Mozambique.
Getting There: SATOA Member South African Airways fly to Maputo from Johannesburg.
View our SATOA members here that specialise in Mozambique.
View a Video on Mozambique's history here
For more information please contact us on info@satoa.com
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Posted on Wednesday, June 1st, 2011, 10:44:pm by
Visit Namibia between 23 May and 12 October 2011 and you can fly from £919,-*.
3 good reasons to fly with SAA:
1. 20 weekly connections from Johannesburg to Windhoek:
- - Three flights a day from Sunday to Friday (SA74, SA76 & SA78)
- SA74 departs @ 09:45 arrive @ 10:45
- SA76 departs @ 13:20 arrive @ 14:20
- SA78 departs @ 18:20 arrive @ 19:20
- - Two flights a day on Saturday (SA74 & SA76)
- SA74 departs @ 09:45 arrive @ 10:45
- SA76 departs @ 13:20 arrive @ 14:20
- - Travelling period between 23 May and 12 October 2011
- - The lead in fare is £919 (Incl. taxes)
2. Spacious Economy Class with 31- 34 inch seat pitch
3. Book now and fly from London to Namibia via Johannesburg from £919,-*
Book via flysaa.com or call 0871 722 1111 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras).
* price per person for a return flight in Economy Class including taxes, charges and fuel surcharges
(as of 23rd May 2011) subject to change. Date changes permitted for a fee of GBP60.00 (subject to the same booking class being available). Comments »
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Posted on Monday, March 14th, 2011, 10:25:am by Tolene
A video worth watching - this is paradise, this is where Africa begins - TANZANIA
Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar..... The names roll off the tongue like a roster call of Africa's most alluring destination, all packed into one country.
Bagamoyo, Tabora, Ujiji stops on the 19th century caravan routes into the heart of what was then an unkown continent. Mafia and Pangani - once famed ports of call for merchant ships from the Orient. Kilwa - linchpin of a far-flung Indian Ocean trading network.
Kigoma, Kalema, Kipili, Kasanga - bustling outposts along the remote Laka Tanganyika shoreline.
Selous - Africa's largest protected area. Ruaha and Katavi - insider tips for serious safari-goers. Mahale and Gombe - prime destinations for seeing chimpanzees in the wild.
While most visitors head for the northen wildlife-watching circuit, followed by the amazing beaches in Zanziba, Tanzania has so much more to offer.
Interested to find out more? Contact our members who specialise in Tanzania to have your questions answered.
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Posted on Friday, March 11th, 2011, 10:12:am by Tolene
FUN THINGS TO DO IN MAURITIUS
Although celebrated for is beautiful beaches, Mauritius has plenty of natural, cultural and man-made attractions to explore.... here are some of them.
The capital Port Louis seems to be on everyone's list.... - The best Shopping at the Caudan Waterfront, the Blue Penny Museum, home to the world's rarest stamp.
The Natural History Museum has a skeleton of the Dodo (beats the Blue Whale in the New York Museum in my eyes!!!)
Golf Courses..... I should not even get started on this, we have one of our SATOA members - Reve Tourism who market Tamarina Hotel Beach Golf & Spa here in the UK, A golf course designed by Rodney Wright - remarble and beautiful all in one
Beyond the bustle of Grand Baie, the main tourist centre
is the red-roofed church at Cap Malheureux, the islands northernmost tip.
Dont forget to visit the Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens with its famour collection of indigenous and exotic plants (by the way a Pamplemousse is a type of grapefruit)
Oh boy, we can go on forever on the things to do in Mauritius, but why don't you log onto Mauritius Tourism and find out much more about this amazing destination.
The top ten - according to Selling Long Haul Magazine
- Take a trip to Ile aux Cerfs
- Take a drive along the wild south coast to Gris Gris
- Casela Nature & Leisure Park
- Visit the sacred Hindu lake of Grand Bassin
- Try eco-adventure on a sugar estate, like Domaine L'Etoile
- Get a bird's eye view on a helicopter ride
- Explore Port Louis
- Take a walk through Black River Gorges National Park
- See the coloured earth at Chamarel
- visit colonial houses Eureka or Chateau de Labourdonnais
That is it from us on Mauritius this week - don't forget that South African Airways offers amazing specials to this destinations - check them out on FlySAA
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Posted on Friday, March 4th, 2011, 11:32:am by Tolene
In the North
- Grand Bay - the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, with a lively night life
- Pereybere - A wonderful public beach and very popular because of all the shopping, restaurants and pubs
- Balaclava Ruins - A few metres away from Baie Aux Tortues you can find the ruins of the old Balaclava Estate, you will see the sea walls, whos initial foundations were laiddown by Mahe de Labourdonnais
- The Triolet Shivala - The longest village on the island and offers a visit to the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819.
- The Labourdonnais Orchards - A large variety of tropcial fruite trees, colourful and perfumed exotic flowers, best seen by mountain bike or hiking
In the East
- Flacq Market - one of the most important villages in Mauritius, a meeting point for inhabitants of the East and has the countries largest open air market.
- The Waterpak Leisure Village - Unforgettable moments of sliding on the giant Chutes with family - relaxation guaranteed
- Ille aux Cerfs - A paradise for Watersports and 'owner' of the most beautiful beach in Mauritius.
IN the South East
- Dutch Ruins - At Vieux Grand Port, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications.
- Ile aux Aigrettes - A few of the world's rarest birds, including the kestrel can be seen here and you can also discover the extremely rare Ping Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise.
- Mahebourg - One of the main fishing villages, founded in 1804. The Martello Towers represent the scene of the ancient rivalry between old colonial powers and the ingenuity of mankind. They are a milestone in the islands history, they symbolise the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian Immigration
- Domaine du Chasseur - in the Anse Jonchee hills, the Domaine des Grand Bois has splendid hunting grounds covering an area of 900 hectares. Stags, monkeys and boars live amidst the lxuriant vegetaion of the hillside.
- Souillac - a small seaside resort along the rugged coast of the Savanne district. A popular viewpoint is founded at the southern end of the village, right on the cliff top.
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Posted on Friday, March 4th, 2011, 11:27:am by
A member country of SATOA, Mauritius is a small island of beauty and relaxation.
Mauritius will enchant you, will uplift your soul, making you feel that you belong to the chosen few. Every visitor enjoys personal attention. Every encounter is an opportunity to discover a friendly face. Behind each smile lies the promise of a unique holiday. The contrast of a multitude of colours and tastes, the island, set in its turquoise sea, is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. Mauritius, a melting pot where past and present are smoothly blended together, offers an essential beauty that will compel to return to its shores time and time again. May your stay with us remain engraved in your memory forever.
View our list of members who specialise in Mauritius.
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Posted on Friday, March 4th, 2011, 11:12:am by Tolene
Visit Mauritius between 16 March 2011 and 15 September 2011 and you can fly from only £1136*
THREE GOOD REASONS TO FLY WITH SAA:
- 8 Weekly connections from Johannesburg to Mauritius
Flight times: SA190 09:40 - 15:45 (local times)
SA192 08:40 - 14:45 Saturdays Only (local times)
- Spacious Economy Class with 32-34 inch seat pitch
- Book now and fly from London to Mauritius via Johannesburg from £1136*
Book via flysaa.com or call 0871 722 1111 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras)
*price per person for a return flight in Economy Class including taxes, charges and fuel surcharges (as of 28th February 2011) subject to change. Changes permitted for a fee of GBP60.00 (subject to the same booking class being available) 25% cancellation fee. Maximum stay: 12 months.
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Posted on Thursday, February 17th, 2011, 3:13:pm by
The red carpet was laid out for the Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba and SSA CEO Siza Mzimela in Toulouse, France, last Monday, as they took delivery of the new A330-200 aircraft. the new plane landed in Cape Town last Tuesday, where it was welcomed by the President of the Republic of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma.
The A30-200 long range jetliner is the first of six new aircraft being added to SAA's fleet. The new plane forms part of the national carrier's fleet renewal project; New, more efficient aircraft replacing old ones.
Premium Class
- * First Class comfort and service at Business Class prices
- * Seat reclines into a fully flat bed
- * 74 inch seat pitch
- * Window or aisle seat guaranteed
- * All seas are forward facing
- * a la carte menu - with top South African wines
- * lounge access at airports
- * laptop power, USB port and a picture viewer application at ever yseat; screen 12 inch
Economy Class Seats
- * 32 inch seat pitch
- * individual audio/video on demand at every seat; screen 10 inch
- * complimentary amenity kit
- * choice between two meals and excellent South African wines
- * free of charge seat reservations
- * meal menu and moving map on screen
For more information on SAA please contact the sales office
AN OFFER FROM SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS: - There is no better way to South Africa
Sunny south Africa from £566, -*
Visit South Africa between 31 January and 30 September 2011 and you can fly from £566.00*
3 Good reasons to fly with SAA:
- * Daily non-stop flights from London to South Africa - overnight and without jet-lag
- * Spacious Economy Class with 85 cm seat pitch and an audio/video on demand enteratinment system at every seat **
- * Book and now and fly from London to Johannesburg from £566.00*
Book via www.flysaa.com or call 0871 722 1111 **calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras**
*price per person for a return flight in Economy Class including taxes, charges and fuel surcharges (as of 27th January 2011) subject to change. Changes permitted for a fee of GBP90.00 (subject to the smae booking class being available). No refund in case of cancellation. Maximum stay: 12 Months
**not available on all flights.
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Posted on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011, 4:14:pm by
We are very pleased to welcome African Sun as a new member to the SATOA family.
African Sun is one of the fastest-growing hotel and leisure groups in Africa, with business and resort destinations in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Whether you are transacting business in Johannesburg, Accra or Lagos, game viewing in Hwange, or witnessing the magnificence of the Victoria Falls, you will find the same warm welcome and world-class service whenever you stay with African Sun.
African Sun is represented in the UK by Penny Hooper from Travel E Sense you can contact them on penny@travelesense.com for more information.
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Posted on Monday, February 14th, 2011, 9:40:am by
Breathtaking views over Durban's Golden Mile can be appreciated from the comfort of your room at the Southern Sun Elangeni. Renowned for fine service, excellent food and reputable hospitality, this hotel is a preferred destination for both business travellers and holidaymakers wanting the space and comfort of home, right at the sea.
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Situated on Durban's Golden Mile, the hotel is two hundred metres from the beach and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Offering easy access to local landmarks, golf courses, entertainment for the family, shopping malls and the Durban CBD.
The new all-inclusive packages :
- Accommodation
- Breakfast
- Lunch (in-house or pack lunch option)
- Dinner
- Drinks with meals
- Afternoon tea & coffee
- Based on a min 5-night stay.
Extra value adds include:
- complimentary access to the gym facilities
- complimentary daily newspaper
- complimentary access to the Sun Coast Sun Deck
- complimentary access to bicycles
- complimentary shuttle service to the main shopping malls
For more information contact nina@amgltd.biz or visit www.southernsun.com
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Posted on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011, 12:04:am by
We are happy to announce that our exhibitors for our February 2011 workshops are now confirmed and we are fully subscribed.
23rd February will see SATOA and our exhibitors hit the road and set up 'shop' at The Bridge in Wetherby where we will be teaching Southern Africa & Indian Ocean specialist travel agents about our exhibiting products.
Our exhibitors for the evening of the 23rd will be:
Europcar
Protea Hotels
Tourism KwaZulu Natal
Taj Hotels & Resorts
Ethos Marketing
Africa Collection
Three Cities Hotels
Emirates Airlines
We will be feeding our visiting travel agents well and among the prizes, will be some good wine, free nights accommodation and a goodie bag with all sorts in.
The 24th February sees our 'tour' move to Bolton where we will be taking over The Ramada Hotel
And with us will be:
Southern Sun Hotels
Tourism KwaZulu Natal
Taj Hotels & Resorts
Travel 2
Ethos Marketing
Africa Collection
Three Cities Hotel Group
Emirates Airlines
If you have a travel agency in these areas and have not received your invite... Please do let us know, so we can make sure you attend and for those attending.... we look forward to seeing you, please make sure you follow us on twitter and like us on facebook - be sure to leave feedback on your experience and thoughts on our exhibitors.
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Posted on Monday, February 7th, 2011, 8:50:am by
This week we focus on the beautiful Maldives.
In horizon of the vast Indian Ocean grow green palms. This is my homeland, this is the Maldives. From the clear blue seas, we grow like pearls, This is my homeland, this is the Maldives.
(Dheebu Dhivehi Mee, Old Malivian Folk Song)
With deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches and palm trees, this is also a place full of character, where its people have long spent their days languishing in the very essence of idyll living. While it is the perfect place to sit on a beach and watch the sunset with a cocktail balanced on your hand, it is also a geographical marvel, knowing that there are thousands of fish swimming around the vivid corals just a few feet away from where you sit.
For your travels:
The time zone is GMT+5hours, the Capital Island is Male and there are a total of 1190 islands of which only 200 or inhabited and 97 are resort islands. Maldives has approximately 300 000 people living here.
Weather & Climate
Picture Perfect is what usually describes Maldives weather, sunlit days, breezy nights, balmy mornings and iridescent sunsets. The temperature hardly ever changes - which makes packing for your holiday an easy task, with the average temperature at about 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year, the sun is constant on most days.
There are two distinct seasons; dry season (northeast monsoon) and wet season (southwest monsoon), with the former extending from January to March and the latter from mid-May to November.
Diving Maldives:
The warm seas have high visibility throughout the year, with water clear enough to see the passing fish as far as fifty metres away at times. Add to that the marvellous formation of over 3000 coral reefs and the free flowing tides of the monsoons, the result...... perfect conditions for one of the world's richest diving coral reef areas.
Diving in the Maldives usually takes place along the faru (reef), a thila (a submerged aquarium like reef), on a channel where the atoll meets the ocean, or on a wreck. Night diving is particularly beautiful as is a macro dive that lets you see tiny, interesting and usually disregarded creates up close and personal.
How to get to paradise?
Although isolated, the Maldives is easily accessible from anywhere in South-East Asia, the Middle-East and Europe.
SATOA members who fly to the Maldives: Emirates Airlines (who currently have great special offers).
If you are interested in the Maldives then please contact a SATOA member who sells holidays or represents some Maldives resorts in the UK.
Somak Holidays
Talking Stick Marketing & Communications
Exclusively Pride
Exclusive Retreats
Emirates Airlines
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Posted on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010, 1:41:pm by SATOA
"Thank you for the evening, it was good fun despite the weather. Shows you have a good network as people still made the effort!" Nicola Reade - Essque Hotels
"A great night despite the English weather so thank you to all for organising!" Amy Thomas - Reve Tourism
"Thank you for an excellent night tonight. Met lots of lovely new people tonight but there were loads more I wanted to meet so you must organise another social very soon!" Alex Walters - Great Plains Conservation
"I just wanted to say thank you for a great event last night, we have the opportunity to network with quite a few new people." Wayne Redman - South Africa Airways Comments »
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Posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010, 8:36:am by
We spent a week 'visiting' Mozambique virtually on our Facebook Fan Page and discovered the beauty and wonder of this country.
We learnt that the best time to visit Mozambique is between May and November, as the weather is great. You have the rains subsisiding around April or May, the sun comes out and the humidity drops. June to October offers the traveller the dry season (and you can perfectly combine your beach trip with a game lodge in the Kruger National Park). Although still quite tropical, the coolest months are June, July and August. During September and October it does remain dry and the daytime temperaturs climb, but it cools down are night.
We have also learnt that British Nationals still require passports but the price has increased and can be purchased at the border in cash, so be sure to have US$82 on hand per person to gain entry into this beautiful country.
Be sure to flick through our Album for Mozambique, kindly donated by Tesna George from Luxury Rep Collection
A list of all our members how specialise in Mozambique can be found here
For more information on Mozambique or any other destination specialists, contact us on info@satoa.com
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Posted on Thursday, August 12th, 2010, 5:50:pm by
This week, SATOA focussed on Namibia and brought about some interesting facts on the beautiful country. You should join our facebook fan page to get updates and Fun Facts on the various member countries.
So what did we learn this week about Namibia?
Well - what does this picture tell you? Beauty - Namibia can offer incredible vista's but did you know that this country has the world's largest underground lake and it is called Dragons Breath Lake and is in the Otavi Mountains in north east Namibia.
Namibia borders several countries and the longest border it shares is with Angola.
Apart from playing host to the birth of one of the famous Hollywood Couples babies, Namibia has become another vital destination to the Hollywood Crowd, A Filmmakers paradise, with some of the most natuaral sets available to this money making industry!
Many of our valued SATOA Members are true experts in the field of Namibia and can help plan trips of a lifetime.
We have some great specials with these members, various packaged holidays from Cox & Kings or a unique holiday with 2By2 Holidays watch this space for the new Africa Inside Out website
And as Hugh Laurie says after wrapping the new movie Flight of the Phoenix.. 'People travel from all over the world to be here... this is an absolutely spectacular places to be... One of the most spectacular places in the world... Its a wonder of the world' - Thanks for your wonderful words Hugh.
Now click here for a view in pictures courtesy of Karen Black on Namibia
For more information on Nambia visit our webstie www.satoa.com Comments »
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Posted on Monday, July 26th, 2010, 8:20:am by
This pas week we hosted a Mauritius Week on our Facebook fan page and our Twitter and had a few responses and retweets, which has been quite exciting.
Whilst you can view a list of our members who focus on Mauritius and can answer any and all your questions here, here are a few ideas and tips for Mauritius based on our members input.
Mauritius It is situated in the South West Indian Ocean approximately 2,000 kms from Durban, 1800 kms from Mombasa, 6,000 kms from Perth and 4700 kms from Bombay. View the Mauritius Webcam here to entice you to go and enjoy some great weather.
Our member Bushbaby Travel offers excellent packages for clients booking DIRECT with them for families. Mauritius is a great family destination with the hotels offering every activity you can imagine and in most cases, the rates are Full Board.
2 By 2 Holidays is offering some incredible honeymoon packages and being a small company you are guaranteed incredible and passionate service, you can email sales@2by2holidays.co.uk - perhaps even combine your honeymoon on the beach with a Wildlife safari in South Africa
Mauritius being a destination where so many people get married, there are so many questions that need answering and Dream Events Mauritius is able to answer all these questions and help plan your or your clients weddings.
For more information on Mauritius, please contact us on info@satoa.com
We bid you a wonderful day and lots of happy thoughts on Mauritius. Comments »
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Posted on Monday, May 24th, 2010, 3:14:pm by
A SATOA member and an award. What a lovely feeling that is.
We congratulation South African Airways on once again being voted Best Airline Africa 2010 and was this year also the winner of the category Staff Service Excellence Africa in the Skyatrax World Airline Awards.
More than 17.9 million passengers, representing 100 different nationalities took part in completing Skytrax's World Airline Survey, which was conducted over a ten month period. The awards are recognised worldwide
Michael Bentele, SAA Head of Europe said: "We are very proud to be the winner of this prestigious award. I am delighted to be able to be here at the 11th Aircraft Interiors Expo and to have the honour to receive this award on behalf of SAA worldwide. We thank our customers for voting SAA!"
SATOA would like to congratulate our National Carrier on their excellent work in keeping the tourists flowing to the beautiful country.
For more information on South African Airways, visit our members page on www.satoa.com
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Posted on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010, 9:31:pm by
Click here to see our our latest newsletter full of Great Member offers and latest news! Comments »
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Posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009, 9:47:am by
I am pleased to report that the summer social was a GREAT success!!
Excellent venue, good networking networking, fun and delicious food! Thanks to all for making it a great occasion! Comments »
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Posted on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009, 1:24:pm by Storm Napier
Hooray!! SATOA's summer social is fully booked for tomorrow!
We are looking forward to a cracking social, a braai, and some great company!! Comments »
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Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009, 5:10:pm by Storm Napier
Please check back soon to see what we've been up to. Comments »
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