Valid for travel through 2021, the brochure has been extended to 164 pages and focuses exclusively on Somak’s sub-Saharan heartland.
Key destinations include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, which feature in a range of suggested safari and touring itineraries.
Highlights include gorilla and chimp trekking opportunities in Rwanda and Uganda, as well as self-drives and privately-guided tours, and luxury getaways in South Africa.
The operator also offers Indian Ocean beach extensions in Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles, and three years ago launched in India and Sri Lanka.
As a majority trade operator (94%), Somak chief executive Ash Sofar this week reiterated to TTG the operator’s commitment to the trade with the launch of Africa 2019/21.
“Agents trust us,” he said. “We’re very happy with our relationship with the trade. Too many tour operators think they can do lots of direct business too. We know how to support the trade and why it is important to our business.”
Central to Somak’s trade relations is its focus on personal contact, said Sofar. “We like hosting functions, dinners and lunches,” he said. “We have great presence on the road too. We always want to do more than just send out emails. We know most of our key agents in person.”
Somak hosted four fams this year but is finalising dates and details for six next year - two to Kenya with the rest split across South Africa, Botswana, India and Sri Lanka.
While priority is reserved for key partners, Sofar urged any agents or homeworkers wishing to work more closely with Somak - and potentially earn a place on a fam - to simply get in touch.
