Bench launches cruise/safari desk
SYDNEY – African holiday specialists Bench International has set up a new desk to handle queries from agents and incentive operators with clients who want to combine an African safari with a cruise holiday.
Bench product director Fiona Orton said that the new service had been prompted by a growing number of requests from agents and incentive houses wanting to add a safari to a cruise.
She said that the majority of travellers using the service joined a safari from a cruise ship which terminated in either Cape Town or Durban.
However, she added that some round world cruise ships were now spending two days in Cape Town and then spending another day or two traveling to Durban, or vice versa, allowing passengers to join a short safari to leading wildlife reserves.
The new service will be headed up by Julie De Palo who has had extensive experience organising group travel to southern and east Africa.
Ian Jarrett
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