Festive season availability and specials

It may be the waning days of summer (or meteorological autumn, depending on your POV) but it’s past time to be thinking about festive season travel! Many destinations book up well in advance (Costa Rica comes to mind particularly this year) while others are a bit under the radar and have special offers to entice visitors. We have a round up of some of our destinations that still have availability and even – gasp! – specials for your travelers to take advantage of around and during the festive season. But don’t snooze – availability will continue to disappear like those last summer days! This post is aging even as we publish it!

Classic Africa Safaris have shared a wealth of specials and some great availability over the festive season. In Uganda, your travelers can take advantage of a long stay special at Mt. Gahinga Lodge (looking lovely after a refurb – see photo) – stay 3 consecutive nights and get 50% off the 3rd night. Kyambura Gorge Lodge and Bwindi Lodge are offering a stay 5/pay 4 over the holiday season! with space available from mid-December through to New Year’s Eve. Guests can ring in the new year at one of CAS’ favorite boutique lodges in Uganda – Chameleon Hill Lodge overlooking Lake Mutanda and the Virunga Volcanoes. Snap up this space quickly! Another option is to combine Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Apoka Lodge over the holidays for a 5 night stay and the 5th night is free. Please remember that gorilla permit availability in Uganda is limited and highly changeable, reach out to CAS to find out more.

If your guests are keen on visiting Rwanda, dates leading up to Christmas have some availability as well as gorilla permits (60+ daily), but from 25th to around Jan 3, accommodations are almost full and permits 40+ daily.

Ultimate Safaris Namibia have a few spots left during festive season on their outstanding Ultimate Namibia group safari! This is an amazing safari for an incredible price. Space is available as of this writing (but will go fast!) on the following departures –

2023
UNS #49: Tuesday, Dec 05 2023 – Thursday, Dec 14 2023
UNS #50: Tuesday, Dec 19 2023 – Thursday, Dec 28 2023

2024
Ultimate #1: Tuesday, Jan 9 2024 – Thursday, Jan 18 2024

Contact Birgit to secure space.

Imvelo Safari Lodges is offering a late season special! If you have clients who are still undecided about going on safari in 2023 – this could tip the scales: for any new bookings for travel between Sept 1 and Nov 15 2023, Imvelo is taking 10% off your contracted STO accommodation rates. This once-off special offer applies at Bomani, Camelthorn, Nehimba and Jozibanini in those special weeks ahead of the rains which guarantees great – and often dramatic – game viewing. Contact the reservations team for availability and further information.

You can also find good festive availability at Bomani and Camelthorn in December 2023/January 2024. From Dec 10-22, both lodges have rooms available and then from Dec 31, 2023 to Jan 31, you will also find space! This is a great time for birders as well as photographers. The landscape is lush and green making for beautiful backdrops, and the game viewing in the Ngamo Plains is spectacular. If it’s a good rainy season, your guests might even find themselves canoeing!

New Frontiers has let us know that South Africa still has availability over the festive season and while some dates are already fairly busy there is still space to be found. With several new properties opening between now and the end of the year this is an exciting time in South Africa – have a look at our festive guide to Cape Town which is available on the New Frontiers Tours Agent Zone. New Frontiers Escapes tours is an exceptional way to experience the Western Cape, specifically the Overberg (Explore, Family & Active) tour, which is a great plan to escape the city and avoid the crowds during this busy period. Spontaneity is not key – the festive season is all about planning. Don’t leave anything to the last minute.

Gather Away still has guide availability for festive season so your travelers can get the most out of a visit to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Jackson and Grand Tetons NP. There is still availability for an exclusive stay at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge but it is going quickly! There is also plenty of availability in Jackson (town) accommodations.

In an exciting development, Gather Away is offering a special – Winter Jackson A La Carte Jackson Experiences are 25% commissionable & Winter Yellowstone Extensions are 20% commissionable for festive season bookings, applicable for dates of travel between Dec 15, 2023 – Jan 15, 2024. Bookings must be confirmed by December 1st to qualify. It’s time for your travelers to experience the winter wonderland that is right in our own backyard!

Todos Santos Eco Adventures is there for you if your clients are insisting on the beach for festive season. They still have space for their Glamping the Seas and Sierras of Baja California Sur and the Baja Fabulous Family Fun Adventure Week trips in the Dec 23-January 2 time frame. They’ll be in for blue skies, gorgeous temperatures, swimming with marine life, cooking with Chef Iker, hiking and much, much more! They can also get a taste of what festive season celebrations look like in this charming corner of Mexico. Contact Bryan to secure space!

Tropic wants to welcome travelers to Ecuador and Peru during the festive season with two specials. Travelers can take their pick (or do both!) – enjoy a 10% off discount on a 11D/10N Ecuador highlands & Galapagos program and/or a 10% discount on a 7D/6N program that includes Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

If you don’t see a special or specific availability here for the destination you are seeking, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our other partners. Happy planning!