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Taking a welcome break from reporting on international travel disruptions and disasters, I started to ponder what, if any, upside there may be to increased flight prices and the potential loss in volume of inbound international travellers. As we eventually came to realise during the COVID-19 pandemic, our local tourism market could hold the key to offsetting some of the losses suffered by high-end tourism offerings, such as game lodges, provided we could convince local travellers that these and other seemingly unaffordable local travel options were, in fact, viable.
Currently, in theory, the growing reluctance among travellers to take international vacations due to rising fuel and air travel costs should lead to increased demand for local bush breaks, which are more affordable than almost any international holiday. The problem we face, however, is the stigma attached to high-end game lodges, which has convinced locals over the years that they are only affordable to foreigners or the super-rich. Admittedly, this has been true to a certain extent, but what we must remember is that game lodges offering all-inclusive packages (and, in tough times, even reduced packages) can work out to be more cost-effective than many other holiday choices when one does the sums.
Vacations in Hotels vs. Game Lodge Packages
Our Bush Breaks MD, Kathy, did some research on this and recently wrote an interesting article comparing a normal vacation with a game lodge package vacation. The important thing to remember when making such a comparison is to take all the cost factors of a vacation into account. These include not only travel to and from the destination, but also expenses incurred during the vacation, such as accommodation, food, and entertainment.
Travel to and from your destination will cost roughly the same for both holidays, but once you arrive at a game lodge, you park your car and spend the rest of your time enjoying fabulous game drives, usually twice a day, which also provide some of the best entertainment in the world. The experience is both relaxing and exhilarating, and you may even have the thrill of encountering all of the “Big Five”. On a standard holiday, there is often a great deal of additional travel, and expense either in your own car or via public transport, while entertainment can also be extremely costly. An ordinary zip-line experience can cost R800 or more, while a sightseeing city tour for a family can easily run into several hundred rand, for example.
Accommodation standards depend on what sort of hotel you book, but accommodation at lodges is always great and often includes little add-ons like a lovely outdoor shower or views of wildlife from your front porch! As for meals, hotels usually just include breakfast, and all other meals are for your own account, which can also be costly. With a lodge package, however, as Kathy’s article puts it, ‘Since there’s no mall around the corner, all meals are included, served at set times in the dining area. Expect plated dishes or a small buffet, high quality, hearty, and tasty. You may even get a chance to sample some venison!’
Other salient points that Kathy’s article raises are the uniqueness of your location in the bush, where it is ’peaceful, remote, and blissfully free of traffic noises.’ and she references the wonderful bush lodge atmosphere ‘’relaxed, warm, personal. No flashy lights. No city buzz. Just you, fresh air, and the symphony of the African bushveld.’’ Also, remember that if you do decide to take the kids along, there is great educational value for children at lodges, including ranger-led activities and exposure to wildlife, which adds to the overall appeal for families. Watch this space for my next article on the value that we all contribute to our conservation efforts and local communities when we choose to take a bush lodge holiday.
Bush lodges – food for the soul!
To ensure a smooth bush lodge experience, especially for first-time visitors, it is important that travellers are aware of lodge-specific logistics, such as conservancy gate times, transfer requirements, meal schedules, and the absence of room service. These are all minor concerns, however, when one considers the sheer magic and tranquillity of a game lodge bush break. While standard holidays can often contain an element of stress, a lodge stay is different. As Kathy muses, “It’s about peace, wildlife encounters, starry skies, slow living, and unforgettable moments. For many people, the bush becomes their ‘happy place’, food for the soul and a peaceful escape they return to again and again.” And the cherry on top? When measured against the cost of many other types of vacation, game lodge packages provide excellent value for money.
Lidia de Olim
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER