MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER. Dear Partners in Travel,

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1 MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER Dear Partners in Travel, It s May and Autumn is on its way. The change of colours in the trees and clear light blue skies over Johannesburg somehow manages to make you a bit more pensive that is during that one moment you actually have time to look out the window as our peak season from India has just started. And for those who don t know it can be a very last minute (and thus a little stressful) market. So I m back at that 5 minute pensive moment. During the last 2 months we ve hosted a number of agents from around the globe on familiarization trips. This allowed both Pieter and myself to spend quality time with key accounts (or potential business partners); review product we ve not visited in a while but also touch base and get more in depth feel of the destination travel trends each of the markets hold unique. Our diverse array of source markets keep us on our toes but it is also intensely stimulating to experience how each evolve and grow. Relationships with our agents and clients thus remain integral and important. Personal contact is essential to keep our finger on the pulse of changing requirements, travel trends and market conditions in our various source markets. Similarly our relationships with our supplier partners are critical. Just like we see our relationships with key accounts as partnerships, we view our relationships with our key suppliers in similar fashion. This approach has been key in our success and growth over the last 15 years. We will continue to follow the same ethos into the next 15 years while building strong partnerships with similar minded companies that build their business on principles of integrity, mutual respect, mutual benefits and shared visions. I look forward to a continued and long relationship with our key partners. As usual we ve included some feedback on the product seen in the familiarization trips mentioned Best regards until our next newsletter. Johan

2 SITE INSPECTIONS: GROOTBOS Grootbos is one of those superb properties that most people adore once they ve visited. It is however not the easiest product to explain to most people. It has a typical lodge style set up as you would get in safari reserves but then they have no Big Five animal experience Grootbos is a marine and nature reserve located close to Gansbaai in the Hermanus area. The focus is thus on nature experiences that concentrate on the unique Fynbos floral kingdom of the Western Cape (nature drives, guided walks & horse-back excursions); their social responsibility projects (community projects such as their Green Futures & Growing the Future ) and of course their marine focused excursions (seasonal whale-watching; shark cage diving, marine cruises and beach trips.) We stayed in their modern Forest Lodge contemporary design with the most magnificent vistas across Walker Bay. Ideal for honeymoon couples, independent travellers or small groups. The food was sublime including dinner in their fairytale forest boma and the experiences truly memorable (sundowner drinks on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay with a school of dolphins playing in the waves; an invigorating morning horse-back trip into the hills and also a visit to their inspiring social responsibility projects). The staff was genuinely hospitable in a friendly and caring way and immediately made you feel at home with everpresents smiles. We also had the opportunity to visit the Garden Lodge. Their family friendly lodge recently underwent a refurbishment of the public areas and gardens and is currently undergoing additional refurbishments on the rooms. Newly invigorated, Garden Lodge doesn t have to stand back an inch for the more modern Forest Lodge. For those with a particular botanical interest, it is literally a modern-day Garden of Eden. The Villa at Grootbos is a short drive from Garden Lodge and will take anybody s breath away. The Villa comprises 6 suites with mesmerizing 180 views of Walker Bay. The Villa can only be booked on exclusive use basis and comes with a private butler, chef and guide. Describing the Villa in words won t do it justice watching the faces (mouths open in awe!) of the agents from the Nordics on the trip was enough. Grootbos is a truly unique and inspiring product which would be worth the expense and extra planning. DEVON VALLEY The 4 star Devon Valley Hotel sits perched hillside amongst the vineyards in the Devon Valley just outside Stellenbosch. Unpretentious and comfortable, the hotel offers accommodation in a variety of room categories and in styles that covers classic and more contemporary décor thus able to accommodate a broad spectrum of clients with varying tastes. Our dining experience at their Flavours Restaurant definitely impressed confirming the numerous awards the restaurant and property received. For those with a taste for good single malt their Cedarwood Lounge and Bar is home to one of the most definitive collections in South Africa. Devon Valley is the perfect place to quench your malt thirst - in the wine country. 54 ON BATH The delightful boutique hotel in the heart of Rosebank in Johannesburg has certainly made an impression since opening in July Stylish and contemporary, the hotel yet perfectly blends with the historic ambience and character of the building it occupies. Tones of grey, silver and a refreshing light blue (baby nearly!) is surprisingly comforting and warm. The classic and elegant Level Four restaurant; their eclectic Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar and their mouth-watering afternoon High Tea selection is already the talk of the town for both foodies and the celebrity set. For those who need to stay connected the hotel has probably one of the best and fastest Wi- Fi services of any hotel in South Africa. PROTEA KRUGER GATE Located at the edge of the Kruger National Park at its Kruger Gate entrance, this hotel is one of the few hotels in the Mpumalanga area that perfectly blend the hotel concept with a lodge style ambience. Although fairly large (nearly 100 rooms) the design allows for lots of individual space and many private areas on their extensive grounds, making it also suitable for families and individual travellers. The hotel (4 star) started an extensive refurbishment in 2012 (the last rooms should be finished by May this year). The new design and style in the rooms are both practical and stylishly comfortable. Natural fabrics and bushgreen tones compliment the safari lodge look and feel. The Dinner and Breakfast buffet experience is also an excellent standard (quality, variety and presentation). Top marks for a combination of location, value-for-money and overall experience.

3 CASTERBRIDGE HOLLOW Casterbridge Hollow is located in a small retail development on the outskirts of White River and close to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP). The hotel is a modern boutique property with a central courtyard with a beautiful pool. The rooms overlook the courtyard. The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated in an understated luxury style. This property is an ideal base to explore the Kruger Park and the scenic attractions of the Lowveld. It also makes for a perfect stop-over for clients that might fly into MQP late afternoon and therefore can t enter the Kruger Park due to gate closure times. PERRY S BRIDGE HOLLOW This is the sister property to Casterbridge Hollow and located in the town of Hazyview on the border of the Kruger Park. The hotel is spread out and feels like a holiday resort. The rooms are very similar to Casterbridge and follows the same design language, luxurious yet simplistic and not over the top. The hotel forms part of the Perry s Bridge Trading Post which is a popular retail village with a number of restaurants, unique shops and artist showrooms. SABI RIVER SUN The hotel is located on a golf course in Hazyview and the drive from the gate to the hotel is really beautiful as the course is in superb condition. Once at the hotel you immediately sense the holiday resort nature of the property (there is time share units on the property as well) and the hotel s main facilities are very welcoming and family friendly. The hotel is ideal for tour groups or family groups looking for a well located property from where they can explore the Kruger Park and surrounding attractions. LEOPARD HILLS Located in the renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Leopard Hills is one of the flagship properties in the Seasons in Africa portfolio. The property is superb and it deserves to be considered up there with the top lodges in the Sabi Sand. It ticks all the boxes: breath-taking location, luxurious accommodation and fantastic food. The re-furbished rooms with their new soft color tones add to the calming atmosphere of the lodge. Our game ranger & tracker team did an excellent job and we had some terrific sightings including mating leopards! Leopard Hills is a property that you can send your discerning guests to with the knowledge that they will be treated like royalty and enjoy a superb safari experience. KINGS CAMP I haven t been to the Timbavati in years and visiting Kings Camp reminded me again of why I really love the reserve. There is a special old world charm to the Timbavati and King s Camp portrays this just perfectly with its colonial safari style. What really impressed me was the level of personalised service at the camp and how we were all made to feel part of the family at Kings Camp. For example the welcome note in the room provided all the staff members names which was excellent as it made it so much easier to remember and recognize people. We had a good safari experience and I was really glad that we got to see how a ranger and tracker team work together to find animals. Kings Camp also offers an exclusive property called Waterbuck Lodge which they only sell as a unit offering a family the exclusivity of a home in the bush thus fitting in with our Villa Concept programs. TINGA NARINA LODGE The Tinga concession in the Kruger National Park has recently undergone a change in line with its association with Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands Reserve and will in future be known as Lion Sands Kruger Park Tinga Lodge. Located a short distance from the Kruger Gate entrance to the Kruger National Park the lodge offers a private game lodge experience yet within the boundaries of the renowned Kruger National Park. Perched amongst a canopy of gigantic trees the style is that of a tree house, with main public areas linked to the 9 suites via raised wooden walkways. Public areas are contemporary chic with lots of natural wood and fabric incorporating robust yet trendy design. Natural bush colors with splashes of lime and white blends seamlessly with the environment. Each of the 9 large suites has its own private plunge pool and deck overlooking the Sabi River. The rooms are still decorated in a more classic colonial style but are due for a refresher and upgrade later in the year. As would be expected, our safari experience was superb and the food tasty, fresh and delectable. We managed to visit their Sleep out option at the Tinyeleti Treehouse as part of our sundowner experience. The Sleep out at Tinyeleti Treehouse can be arranged at an additional charge for those who d like to experience a night under the stars in the bush. The Treehouse is perched high above ground in order to provide safety from predators and other animals (a 2-way radio is provided that guests can keep contact with the lodge during the

4 night). A comfortable bed (real mattress with proper linen) is made under mosquito netting. The sky will be your roof and amazing vistas your walls for you to enjoy your memorable experience. Basic toilet and wash basin facilities are built in on a level below your treehouse just in case nature calls during the night! This is your opportunity to add a wild night to your clients itineraries. We also visited sister properties Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge. Both properties have undergone soft refurbishments since my last visit and, with a rejuvenated and refreshed look, back on our recommended list of properties. Detailed feedback is available on request. LUKIMBI SAFARI LODGE This lodge is located in a concession close to the southern border of the Kruger National Park and the Malelane gate also had a soft refurb since my last visit. Although the lodge is still decorated in an eclectic and Afro-ethnic style the background colors is in a neutral tone accentuated with splashes of bright green, yellow, oranges and reds. We often recommend the lodge for families due to its child-friendly and child-focused attitude. This doesn t mean the lodge isn t suitable for honeymooners or individual travellers the privacy that each of the 16 suites with private verandas affords its guests allows for that. The highlight of our visit was however the genuine hospitality we received our ranger was one of the best I ve had in recent years: friendly, knowledgeable with a superb ability to convey this to guest in a non-lecturing and down-to-earth way; genuinely enthusiastic and excited about the bush while infusing guests with the same spirit. His ability to lift an ordinary game drive into an unforgettable experience will ensure guests leave Lukimbi filled with warm-hearted satisfaction. We were also delighted by an unpretentious menu that delivered and surprised in taste, freshness and flavor their recipe of simple perfection and scrumptious delight is a tasty winner. During a variety of visits since the last newsletter, my team and I have managed to experience the following properties not mentioned in the site inspection report: The Table Bay, One & Only Cape Town, Southern Sun Cape Sun, Southern Sun Waterfront, Southern Sun The Cullinan, Le Franschhoek, Babylonstoren, The Palace the Lost City, Lion Sands River Lodge, Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, Hippo Hollow, Elephant Whispers Hazyview, Protea Knysna Quays, Fancourt Golf Resort & Spa; Hyatt Regency Oubaai and Conrad Pezula. Please don t hesitate to contact us should you wish to receive a personal update on any of the above. PRODUCT NEWS & UPDATES: LE QUARTIER FRANCAIS in Franschhoek will be closed for renovations from 20 Jun 12 Jul ELLERMAN HOUSE in Cape Town is busy with construction on Ellerman House Villa 2. It promises to push the envelope of industrial design and the wine experience for guests. The new villa will be ready to welcome guests from 1 December Ellerman House has also recently done some extensive refurbishments. For more information, please contact our office. THE PLETTENBERG in Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route will be closed for renovations 01 May 30 Sep Peermont is bringing guests of EMPERORS PALACE in Johannesburg the Mystic India World Tour from 7-26 May The extravagant dance and music Bollywood spectacular show will be showing Tuesday Sunday and tickets can be bought with your consultant. RANI RESORTS has announced that MATEMO ISLAND in Mozambique will be closing down. Should you have clients booked here our reservations team will contact you and make the necessary arrangements for your clients. WILDERNESS SAFARIS will be adding a new camp in the Jao concession named Little Tubu (max 6 pax). THE CAPE GRACE in Cape Town has advised that due to unforeseen flood damage the Bascule Whisky Bar will be closed until mid-may VIEWS BOUTIQUE HOTEL in Wilderness on the Garden Route will be closed for renovations 09 Jun 24 Jun 2013.

5 SPECIAL OFFERS: Please note that all special offers are subject to specific terms and conditions which are available on request. AFRICAN ELITE PROPERTIES in Cape Town are offering a Stay 4, Pay 3 special at their apartments in Cape Town which is valid for travel between 1 April and 30 September THE DEVON VALLEY HOTEL in Stellenbosch are offering a Stay 3, Pay 2 special which is valid for travel between 1 May and 30 September KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE in the Eastern Cape are offering a Stay 4, Pay 3 special which is valid for travel until 31 Dec BABYLONSTOREN in the Cape Winelands are offering guests a choice of either a dinner or a spa treatment for stays on Monday to Thursday. They are also offering a Stay 4, Pay 3 special which is available for travel all year until 15 December LAWHILL LUXURY APARTMENTS in Cape Town is offering a Stay 4, Pay 3 special in the 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom apartments which is valid for travel between 15 April and 30 September WINCHESTER MANSIONS in Cape Town are offering a Stay 4, Pay 3 special as well as the following special value adds (which cannot be combined with the pay stay deals). Both offers are valid for travel between 1 May and 30 September o Stay 4 Nights R150 Food Credit per room per stay o Stay 5 Nights R200 Food Credit per room per stay o Stay 6 Nights Complimentary Upgrade to the next room type* o Stay 7 Nights Complimentary Upgrade to the next room type with Sea View* THE PEPPER CLUB in Cape Town are offering a Stay 4, Pay 3 special valid for travel between 1 April and 30 September They are also offering the following value added offers. For families: o Two & Three Bedroom Suites able to accommodate up to 6-8 people o Kids stay free under 16 yrs valid from 01 Apr Sep 13 o Complimentary shuttle to the V&A Waterfront & Camps Bay o Complimentary access to Beach Club facilities on site at Pepper Club on the Beach, Camps Bay o Kiddies goodie bags on arrival o Game Boards on request at reception o 24 hr room service o Access to DVD Library and cinema subject to availability For honeymooners: o Welcome drink on arrival o Sparkling wine & Chocolate dipped strawberries on check-in in room o Turn down service o A candle lit dinner in room - on request. For groups: o Welcome drinks on arrival o The option of Hot / Cold towels on arrival o Welcome Desk for duration of group stay - on request o Complimentary wireless throughout the hotel ELLERMAN HOUSE in Cape Town is offering the following combination packages: ELLERMAN HOUSE & DELAIRE GRAFF in the Cape Winelands is offering 3 nights at each property with additional includes. Valid 01 May 15 Dec ELLERMAN HOUSE AND SINGITA in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is offering 3 nights at each property and with the 4 th night free at both properties. Valid 01 Mar 15 Dec L AVENIR COUNTRY LODGE in the Cape Winelands is offering a Stay 3, Pay special valid for travel between April and September OUDE WERF HOTEL in Stellenbosch are offering a Stay 2, Pay 1 special in deluxe rooms, valid for travel between 1 April and 30 September SEASONS IN AFRICA are offering a Madikwe and Cape Town Combo. Book 2 nights at TUNINGI SAFARI LODGE in Madikwe and get 3 free nights at the CAPE TOWN HOLLOW HOTEL in Cape Town. This offer is valid for travel between April and august 2013.

6 DID YOU KNOW? The Cape Grace in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town has been named 2nd Best Hotel in the World in the 2013 Tripadvisor Traveler s Choice Awards Table Mountain was inaugurated as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in Cape Town International is the best airport in Africa, according to the World Airport Awards O R Tambo International was 2nd and King Shaka International came 3rd. They were ranked 27th, 31st and 35th respectively in the world. 27 South African beaches were awarded Blue Flags, an international indicator of high environmental standards for recreational beaches in South Africa s wine tourism has been rated the best-developed in the world by International Wine Review in 2012, one of the world s most influential opinion formers on wine South Africa is the only country to house an entire floral kingdom (Fynbos), one of only 6 on the planet. As always please contact us should you have any questions or if you need more information. Yours in Tourism, Johan Groenewald Managing Director Royal African Discoveries Tel: / Fax: Website: Physical address: 83 Van Riebeeck Road, Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1630 Postal address: PO Box 12095, Aston Manor, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1630 Unsubscribe in the subject line to: newsletter@royalafrica.co.za..