One of the most enjoyable things for a single traveller to do is to go on safari.
Game viewing is a sociable soft adventure that makes it easy for people to meet others if they wish. Sharing game experiences, chatting over sundowners or at dinner, there is no need for ice-breakers -- people just mix.
So why don’t more tour operators organise safari trips for singles?
The problem, says Hector van der Walt, Manager of Natural Selection’s (NS) Tuludi lodge in the Khwai Private Reserve in Botswana’s northern Okavango Delta, is that accommodation is so limited that it is not viable to charge a low single supplement. Tuludi, Natural Selection’s new lodge catering for high-end tourists, has only seven 60 sqm luxury tents. Guests have great vistas from their bed, their own plunge pool and lots of privacy, all done with a very light eco footprint. Add in fine dining with wine pairing and it’s obvious why the business model requires all beds filled.
However, Tourism Update looked into the rates out of season. If NS is anything to go by there is a big opportunity for the trade to focus on the value available to singles from November 1 to the end of March.
“Singles in low demand season get great value as the accommodation single supplements are often dropped as we do at Natural Selection lodges,” said Dave van Smeerdijk, marketing and sales director.
Singles travelling in groups got much more competitive rates on transportation as well, he said.
For example, the published rate for the super-luxury Tuludi currently sells a twin tent at US$2 960 for two and $2 075 single. From November 1 that drops to $1 430 for a single and after a short peak for the December holidays, drops to $915 until March 31. Then the high season starts and it’s back up to $1 715 for a single.
NS has always claimed to make the authentic Botswana safari affordable, so looking at the lower end one can see the recently refreshed Jackal & Hyde camp close to Tuludi is about half that camp’s rate. The current $1 700 for two and $1 050 for a single, drops to $845 for a single and, after the short December peak, is $495 from January 10 until the end of March.
That is exactly half of the $990 for a twin tent, so singles effectively don’t even pay a supplement.
Positioned ratewise between these is NS’s Sable Alley. They all use the same airstrip and offer a similar private reserve game experience.
The downside of taking advantage of these rates is the heat and humidity, but as game viewing is early morning and late afternoon, this can be alleviated in the middle of the day by languishing at the pool.
The period January to March compensates somewhat with its lush and colourful vegetation and it is regarded as the best time for birdlife and photography.
I left Tuludi this week with two questions in my mind:
Is there a more natural way for people to mix than a safari?
How many agents have clients they know would love the opportunity to go on safari if they did not fear the stress and risk of being the odd person out?
