We will be offering tours from early June until day before match day, which is 11th June and then again from 20th July.

13 – 14 days or parts of this itinerary  – 4 nights Cape Town, 3 nights Garden Route, 2 nights Safari, another 2 nights in Garden Route area then a night back in Cape Town or Hermanus for big 6 – Whale watching, then home.

You can see the itineraries on my website – www.flamingotours.co.za

As each tour is personalised to your requirements, we do not have schedule tours or listed prices, each tour is designed to suit your interests and ability. so contact us and we can arrange this JUST FOR YOU! 

Tours for the deaf and hard of hearing are part of the portfolio and travelers are accommodated with sign language.

As personal attention is important, the package includes pre-tour briefings to ensure that attention is given to personal interests, needs, age group and physical ability.

How time flies, I can hardly believe the end of February is upon us – so soon. I have hardly got over the Festive Season. The weather here is hot,33°C yesterday, but the downside is that the Western Cape, being a winter rainfall area is experiencing bush fires everywhere and often more than a dozen at one time, stretching our fire fighters to their limits. Recently the newspaper headlines read – 90 fires in one day. So our sympathy goes out to those who have lost family, friends animals and their properties, especially in OZ. I know I have family there that I have never met, as my great grandfather Robert Stephens went to Oz as a child from the UK and ended up in SA many years later, when the captain of the ship they were travelling on, put him and his family off in Cape Town due to illness on board the ship. So they never went back and my grandfather Sydney Stephens was born here the youngest of 7 children back in 1904. So we are what I call international people, with family connections in UK & OZ. So if you know any people with the surname Stephens (like the Ink) let me know. I want to start a family tree. From fires to family trees Oh! today Friday the 13th, my mind wonders…. Hope none of you are tridecaphobic!

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ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

During this world recession, how can we think out of the box? As everyone is in the same box, we need to be ahead of the pack and therefore, being pioneers in our field in South Africa, just gone 14 years in business, we have always strived to do things differently and have our customer care our very top priority. We therefore do not have scheduled tours and also do not have printed brochures with set dates, so our guests always have the freedom to choose their time of travel and destination and design their own tour, which is all part of the excitement around going on holiday, the anticipation leading up to the journey is always very exciting and everyone is eager and wonder what it will be like. So for the guests who are anticipating a holiday this year or early next year, plan now for your land travel. I went on cruise with family to Luderitz Namibia last week and the ship was half full, must tell you that with cruise ships, wait until the last moment to book, if you have the freedom to take a break at will, as we paid more for an inner cabin booking early, than my family – brother-in-law and cousin and their spouses, whom I booked late did and they had outer cabins with large portholes, also I did not receive any comm from their bookings!!! I asked for an upgrade, the ship being half full and an agent and was told by their management in Johannesburg, that I could not get the upgrade I wanted, so my advise about cruises is – if you are thinking of going on one – wait for the specials, as they have schedules to keep, you will save a good R1000+. This was not very good managerial skills in my book, but then I think laterally and not like most tour operators or agents, as I feel my type of service does not fall within the mainstream thinking of the general theme of travel. So, in this time of having to be different to stay ahead, I will remain schedule(less) and brochures (less) and keep my private personalised itineraries to suit my guests and their interests and “ability”. We will overcome this if we all work together and have the guests interests at heart and not the $$$ in mind.

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2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP – SOUTH AFRICA 11 JUNE – 11 JULY 2010

I would please like some feedback from anyone who receives this newsletter on your feelings regarding this “show” next year and if you have any interest in watching any games, being part of a tour just being here during this “excitement” or are you wanting to keep well away from the madding crowd and travel at another time. Let’s hear from you!

Why I am asking this is that accommodation is already at a premium and ticket sales for matches have opened. For this one I think it is get in sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

I also need to know if I should take FLAMINGO TOURS & DISABLED VENTURES on holiday, in other words close for a month or wait around in case there is a demand for our unique services.

There is the Lions Rugby this June – so for any Rugby fans – contact me NOW!

Well, from Jeff and myself we wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow and for those who are unhappy that we going to have another Friday 13th next month and in November – chill – tomorrow the 14th comes all too soon!

BIG HUGS, PEACE & LOVE from a stunning day in Cape Town – the most beautiful city in the world and on the new World Monopoly!

PAM

PS! For our cruise pics go to my FACEBOOK site!

So for the guests who are anticipating a holiday this year or early next year, plan now for your land travel. I went on cruise with family to Luderitz Namibia last week and the ship was half full, must tell you that with cruise ships, wait until the last moment to book, if you have the freedom to take a break at will, as we paid more for an inner cabin booking early, than my family – brother-in-law and cousin and their spouses, whom I booked late did and they had outer cabins with large portholes, also I did not receive any comm from their bookings!!! I asked for an upgrade, the ship being half full and an agent and was told by their management in Johannesburg, that I could not get the upgrade I wanted, so my advise about cruises is – if you are thinking of going on one – wait for the specials, as they have schedules to keep, you will save a good R1000+.

This was not very good managerial skills in my book, but then I think laterally and not like most tour operators or agents, as I feel my type of service does not fall within the mainstream thinking of the general theme of travel. So, in this time of having to be different to stay ahead, I will remain schedule(less) and brochures (less) and keep my private personalised itineraries to suit my guests and their interests and “ability”. We will overcome this if we all work together and have the guests interests at heart and not the $$$ in mind.

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Please contact us for a quote.
Accessible /acceptable accommodation is limited
Itinerary’s will be arranged to suit requirements/ special needs.
Hints for Travellers!
We call our tours “adventures” as we take every care in making your holiday an exciting and happy experience in South Africa, where fully accessible accommodation is limited. The beautiful diverse countryside and friendly people await you. Remember to bring a smile, a good sense of humour, a fun spirit of adventure and the camera as well. You will then leave your heart in our part of Africa!

Private Itineraries
We personally escort you on your tour or arrange self-drive option.

Please contact us for your very personal itinerary.

CAPE TOWN

DAY 1.
Collect from Cape Town airport and transfer to V&A Waterfront hotel or hotel of your choice. Rest of day at leisure.

DAY 2.

The next couple of days are run according to weather conditions
Take the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain, this epic icon of the Mother City – Cape Town.
Enjoy the 360 degree breathtaking views from the top of Robben Island, city, harbour and down the Peninsula. Later we continue with a drive through the city pointing out places of historical, cultural and architectural interest. We visit the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where an optional lunch can be enjoyed with more views of the mountain. We also visit Hout Bay with an optional boat trip to Duiker Island to view Cape Fur Seals. Return to hotel around 17h00. Evening at leisure.

DAY 3.
We have an exciting days planned with more stunning coastal and mountain scapes. We visit the Boulder Beach Penguin Colony, then head along the False Bay coastline to Cape of Good Hope Reserve, where we ride the funicular to the Old Lighthouse for more breathtaking views. Lunch in area of own account. We return via the Western seaboard over Chapman’s Peak drive (if open) and arrive back at hotel around 17h30/18h00. Evening at leisure.

DAY 4.
Our famous winelands of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl on the list to visit today. We start with a wine and cheese tasting in the Paarl area and then continue to Franschhoek for a further tasting and lunch in area for own account. In the afternoon we visit Stellenbosch, this very picturesque village with many national monument buildings. We either do another wine tasting or visit the local museum with its 4 styles of Period Houses. Return to hotel around 17/18h00. Evening at leisure.

GARDEN ROUTE

DAY 5.
Today we start down the Garden Route with our first night in the Klein Karoo. We drive via the Huguenot Tunnel into the Breede River Valley and stop for a wine stating en-route (not on Sunday). We then continue along the longest wine route in the world – R62 to lunch in Barrydale and overnight in Calitzdorp on a D,B&B basis.

DAY 6.
A very special day is planned and we endeavour to make sure you see as many of the endangered animals in the Wildlife Ranch as possible, in order to have a very memorable experience.
We see the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Plus the cute, the cuddly and the furry creatures they look after. We also visit an Ostrich farm for a tour and lunch to find out more about these fascinating flightless birds. WE then head to the coastal area of the Garden Route and overnight in Knysna area on B&B basis for 2 nights. Evening at leisure.

DAY 7.
A free morning to explore the Knysna Waterfront  and local area on your own. This town has a Royal history and  many interesting characters, so if shopping is not your game, people watch from one of the many sidewalk café’s, followed by a leisurely cruise on the Knysna lagoon, with optional lunch on board. Then we head out in to the countryside to feed the Gentle Giants of Africa. This experience is one that will linger in your memory forever and be imprinted in your soul. Evening at leisure.

GAME VIEWING – MALARIA-FREE

DAY 8.
We drive to the malaria-free area of the Eastern Cape to the award winning Shamwari 5 star, Private Game Reserve for 2 nights on full board basis. Lunch at reserve followed later by a 3 hour game drive, followed by dinner.
They have the BIG 5!

DAY 9.
On the reserves programme where they will endeavour to find as many of the big 5 as possible on this prized reserve for an epic journey of a lifetime.

DAY 10
After another early morning game drive and breakfast we head back down the Garden Route to either Plettenberg Bay or back to Knysna area for a further night on B&B basis. We stop en-route at interesting spots, as well as Port Elizabeth. We drive via the Old Passes road to our destination.

DAY 11.
Mossel Bay houses the Maritime Museum with a replica Caravel ship used for the 500 year re-enactment of the famous voyage of Bartholomew Dias who sailed around the Cape in 1488 trying to find the way to the East, wanting to open up the Spice Route. We can stop for optional lunch in area and then continue to a Guest Farm in the Heidelberg District for overnight on D,B&B basis.

DAY 12
After a tour around the farm if so desired, we head back to Cape Town via the historical town of Swellendam, stopping for a Berry Liquor tasting and lunch in area for own account.
We overnight at same hotel on B&B basis. Evening at leisure.

DAY 13.
Check out of hotel at 10-11h00. You will be collected from hotel 4 hours prior to flight departure time.
End of Services. Thank You!

FOR INFORMATION OF INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS PLEASE CONTACT US.

COSTS FROM – R22 000.00 Per person sharing for 6 people travelling together.