The golf is the hook, but the “plus” is what makes an African golf safari the trip of a lifetime. For your clients, especially those travelling with non-golfing partners, the experiences off the course are what transform a great holiday into an unforgettable one. Moving beyond the standard safari allows you to create truly unique and compelling itineraries. Here are four “Golf Plus” combinations you can sell across the continent.
Golf & Big Five Safari
The African golf safari experience is built on a remarkable foundation, combining golf with unforgettable wildlife adventures across several iconic regions. In South Africa, travelers can enjoy premier courses along the Garden Route paired with a Big Five safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape. In Kenya, a round at the prestigious Vipingo Ridge perfectly complements witnessing the legendary Great Migration in the Maasai Mara. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe and Zambia, a game at Elephant Hills Golf Course is ideally followed by a safari in Hwange or South Luangwa, creating an unmatched combination of sport and nature.
Golf & Victoria Falls
This combination offers a spectacular sense of scale and power. The experience of playing a round in the morning and then feeling the spray of Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke That Thunders,” in the afternoon is a memory that lasts forever. This is the unique domain of Zimbabwe and Zambia and provides an incredible anchor for any Southern African itinerary.
Golf & Desert
For the client who has done it all, the pairing of golf with the surreal landscapes of Namibia is a pioneering choice. After a round at Omeya or Rossmund, your clients can fly to Sossusvlei to climb the world’s highest dunes or explore the hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast. It’s a trip built on awe-inspiring, otherworldly beauty.
Golf & Gorillas
This is the pinnacle of experiential luxury travel. By combining the new, high-end courses in Rwanda or Uganda with a gorilla trekking permit, you are offering something profound. This is for the affluent, conservation-minded traveller who wants a story few can tell: a morning on the fairway, an afternoon in the presence of a gorilla family.
“The art of a world-class African itinerary is weaving these monumental ‘plus’ factors into a seamless journey,” explains Scott Edkins, CEO of Ascot Tours. “You want the non-golf days to be just as spectacular, if not more so, than the golf days. When you pair a round of golf with Victoria Falls or a gorilla trek, you are creating a trip with multiple, unforgettable climaxes.”
The Agent’s Takeaway
Lead with the “Plus.” Start the conversation by asking, “Aside from golf, would you rather see the world’s largest waterfall, track gorillas, or explore ancient deserts?” Their answer is your key to crafting the perfect pan-African journey.
Ready to build a trip around more than just the fairway? Contact Ascot Tours to explore the full potential of a ‘Golf Plus’ itinerary.