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| About Thompsons Touring & Safaris |
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Exceptional Travel Services in Africa are our business and we are fully committed on every level to making your experience a truly memorable one. We aim to make your dream holiday surpass your expectations and we do that by one simple philosophy:
we care !
Thompsons Touring & Safaris has established a reputation for excellent value and service by consistently exceeding our passengers’ expectations.
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We offer the following unique services: |
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Most of our tours are offered on a free sell basis. This means we just say yes, so that you will always be able to hop on board a Thompsons escorted or day tour at the shortest notice.
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We offer a wide range of tours with guides fluent in different languages. Vehicles are ‘top-of-the-range’, comfortable and well maintained. |
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We employ in excess of 94 permanent Tour Guides and Tour Drivers and we always endeavour to use permanent staff wherever possible. This allows us to provide the best qualified and trained guides. |
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Our passengers are given personalised attention by our decision to keep our vehicle fleet ‘small’ on both our day and Guided Holidays (South African Surprise is the only exception). We operate our tours using 7 and 18 seater vehicles. |
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With more offices in Southern Africa than most other operators (14 centres), we offer a consistent level of service and take responsibility for our passengers at every stage of their journey. |
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We employ our own permanent Meet and Greet staff at all major centres to ensure a professional ‘welcome service’. |
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In addition to this, we must mention that we have once again set ourselves apart from our competitors. |
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We are unique in that: |
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Our South African Surprise Fully Guided Holiday is by far the best value-for-money guided holiday in Southern Africa, coming in at a similar selling price to ‘overland tours’, while still offering accommodation and facilities in the three star range, accompanied by excellent guiding. |
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Our Namibian Discovery Fully Guided Holiday is the only ‘English only’ guided tour in Namibia. All other operators offer guided holidays in dual English and German commentary. |
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Again, our Namibian Discovery Tour was designed taking into account the vast driving distances in Namibia. We have made the first day the longest drive to allow the rest of the tour to be conducted at a slower pace with two nights in each stop on the tour, with a relaxed last day to allow for flight connections. |
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Our Zululand Tours take advantage of our excellent safari operations in St Lucia and Hluhluwe, allowing us to offer unique product such as the adventure combination packages in and around St Lucia. |
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Our operations at the Kruger National Park in Hazyview and Malalane allow us to offer open vehicle game drives from most locations in southern Kruger National Park. |
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NETCARE 911 |
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Netcare 911 provides pre hospital risk management, emergency response assistance and transportation of passengers who have an Emergency Medical Condition - an episode of illness or injury which, of necessity, requires immediate medical attention. The cover applies to all passengers travelling on tour with Thompsons Touring & Safaris. This service and responsibility of Netcare 911 is to stabilise the patient at the scene of illness or injury and arrange the transfer, by road or air, to the closest appropriate medical facility at which point their service will end. |
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FREE SELL POLICY |
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With Thompsons Touring & Safaris, we make it easy to book onto any of our day or guided holidays. The majority of our products are sold on a ‘Free Sell’ basis. For the passenger this effectively means we always say ‘yes, this tour is available to you’- bearing in mind a few simple rules:
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• Free Sell does not apply to groups of more than seven passengers. |
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• Free sell based on a minimum of two passengers travelling together. |
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• Guided Holidays are always available to you up to 30 days prior to departure. |
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Within 30 days of departure the tour will be subject to availability. |
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• Day tours are available to you up to 48 hours prior to departure. |
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• We may require to ‘Stop Sell’ a tour. (Only done in exceptional circumstances.) |
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• Free Sell applicable to standard twin/double and single rooms only. |
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OUR GUIDES |
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The very best caliber of staff has been employed as our permanent specialist guides. Consistently being awarded as winners of various Guiding categories such as Western Cape Guide, Tourist Guiding Excellence and Best Tour Guide of the Year, many of these passionate staff members hold university degrees in marketing, photography, tourism and education but have chosen to place their focus on realising the dreams of our guests. Join them on one of our exciting guided holidays - you will be completely blown away by their knowledge, excitement and passion ! |
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OUR VEHICLES |
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Thompsons uses the latest and finest vehicles on the market, including VW T5 Combis, Toyota Quantums, Mercedes Sprinters and Volare Mini Coaches, all with the requisite permits. We select our vehicles very carefully, against a strict set of criteria, in full knowledge of what our clientele needs and wants. All vehicles are exceptionally comfortable and spacious, with full air-conditioning throughout and good sound quality when the tour guide is speaking. With headrests, and ample leg and head room, transfers are comfortable, cool and professional. |
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DAY TOURS |
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With a comprehensive selection of day tours, including some fabulous adventure options for the not-too-timid, you will be spoilt for choice with the varied activities on offer in every location. |
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OPEN VEHICLE SAFARIS |
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Thompsons offers premium safaris in the Kruger National Park (based in Hazyview and Malalane) and in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (based in Hluhluwe and St Lucia). We employ only the most experienced guides to ensure the best game viewing experiences. In these two areas, your chances of seeing the 'Big Five' game are very good. |
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FULLY GUIDED HOLIDAYS |
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Thompsons Touring Guided Holidays, our flagship range of product, really is quite exceptional. With the very best Tour Guides and Drivers, excellent accommodation, dining and services, and a continent rich with cultural diversity, history, wildlife and dramatic scenery, along with a sunny climate, we have just the right mix for the holiday of your lifetime. |
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TRANSFERS |
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Seat in Coach Transfers: Transfers done in either a three-seater sedan, seven-seater micro-bus or 18/22 seater mini coach with a maximum of three pick-ups / drop-offs en route to / from the airport.
Private Transfers: Transfers done in either a sedan or micro-bus, for a maximum of three
or seven passengers respectively, where you are transferred straight to your destination.
Luxury Transfers: Transfers in a luxury sedan, for a maximum of three passengers, where you are taken straight to your destination. Please note that with the luxury transfer, there is a luggage restriction of one standard size suitcase per person.
Transfer Tours: A unique product by Thompsons Touring – essentially we turn a simple long distance transfer into an exciting and informative tour.
Vehicle Charter: Thompsons have invested in some of the newest and best vehicles available in Southern Africa. Our fleet of 70 vehicles is made up of the newest VW T5 combis, Mercedes Vitos, Toyota Quantums and Volare Mini Coaches. All vehicles are available for charter.
Shuttle Services: Thompsons offers a number of pre-booked fixed departure shuttles between key destinations.
- Sun City Shuttle – OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) to/from all Sun City Hotels. This shuttle departs four times a day at specific times.
- Kruger Shuttle – OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) to/from Hazyview (Perry’s Bridge Trading Post). Shuttle runs once daily.
- Hluhluwe Shuttle – Durban International Airport or Durban City Hotels to/from Hluhluwe. This shuttle operates four times a week on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
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DINING |
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Within our fully Guided Holidays we have included lunches and dinners in some of the best restaurants in South Africa and in some glorious settings. South Africa is a ‘foodies’ delight with so many exciting dining options to choose from that cater for all international tastes and with some wonderfully authentic South African and African dining options – there is a large variety to tempt every palate. From a traditional South African braai (barbecue) under a blanket of stars in the Kruger National Park and excellent bushveld cuisine on our The Kruger and Sabi Sand Tented Safari, all prepared on an open fire, to lunch under the milkwood trees in the Featherbed Nature Reserve with views of the Knysna Sandstone ‘Heads’ on our World In One Country Tour. The meals included on our itineraries have been chosen with care as we understand that great food and settings are key elements that will enhance your holiday experience.
The Western Cape has produced some of the finest internationally acclaimed award winning wines – the perfect accompaniment at any meal – you will be spoilt for choice and at an excellent price.
Included meals are indicated on each itinerary: B - Breakfast; L - Lunch; D - Dinner. |
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ACCOMMODATION |
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The hotels featured in this guide cover a range of holiday budgets, and are categorised according to each hotel’s location, food, service and general ambience. They are tried and tested, having been inspected by Thompsons representatives and endorsed by client feedback.
- Standard: A property offering value-for-money, clean, comfortable, quality accommodation, with limited services.
- Deluxe: A property offering oustanding luxury accommodation, services and facilities.
- Superior Deluxe: A property offering outstanding luxury accommodation and a high standard of service and facilities to match the best international standards.
- Boutique: An intimate B&B or Guest House, with no more than 15 rooms, that offers exclusive and unique accommodation and first class service with a focus on gourmet culinary excellence.
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CLIENT SERVICES |
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Our 20 Client Service Officers will give passengers a warm Thompsons Africa welcome at most airports in Southern Africa handing over documentation, assisting wherever needed, and in most cases escorting passengers to their hired cars or transfers. More sophisticated travellers, who appreciate special care and attention, are given a private service: the Gold VIP and Platinum VVIP. In this way, our clients are met and cared for from the moment they set foot in South Africa. With the Platinum VVIP Service, they are met as they step off the plane ! |
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