WHY IT RATES: Travel agents with clients who love safari adventures will have a new airline consideration to make when booking itineraries.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.

This year, Singita will completely evolve the safari industry by partnership with Federal Airlines and Grumeti Air to provide direct access between guests and the thousands of acres of land and wildlife that Singita promises to protect and preserve for 100 years.

Starting June 1, Federal Airlines will be launching an exclusive new daily jet service for Singita guests, which for the first time will include a selection of new guest services and reduce the flying time from an hour to just over half an hour, from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Singita lodges in the Sabi Sand, providing direct non-stop access.

Federal Airlines will be enhancing its offering by commencing Jet Aircraft Operations with a focus on Light Jet from OR Tambo International Airport. Two aircraft have been selected for this service: the Cessna Citation Excel and the Citation Mustang, a medium-size jet and an ultra-light jet, both decreasing the flying time from OR Tambo to Singita Sabi Sand and increasing the comfort for passengers. Guests flying out to Singita will now be able to reach their final destination in almost half the time and will fly direct without any stops en route.

Additional services that will be exclusive to this jet service and improve guests’ travel experience, will include being met airside from commercial flights in Johannesburg, luxury transfers to the Federal Airlines lounge, personal butler service at the lounge, and private boarding straight from the lounge to the airstrip. The all-inclusive launch price for this service will start from R9995 per person one way, and R18995 per person return applicable for all tickets purchased between April and June.

Singita also announced that its partner airline Grumeti Air in Tanzania will make it quicker, easier and safer than ever to visit the six lodges and camps within Singita Serengeti. With daily flights of just over an hour, directly from Arusha to Singita Sasakwa Lodge via Kilimanjaro, guests avoid the lengthy journey of the past that involved multiple stops along the way. The direct route will open up the best of the Serengeti, and with Lamai just a 15-minute hop away, an exclusively Singita East African itinerary is now much more attainable.

Guests traveling on Grumeti Air will experience the comfort of modern cabins and friendly service, with a team of highly qualified captains and co-pilots retaining over 29 years of combined experience in Tanzania and over 30,000 flying hours. The two Cessna Caravans are also fitted with state-of-the-art safety systems operated by two pilots and real-time ‘flight following’, ensuring every aspect of the journey is safe and the perfect start to a Singita safari.

For more information, reach out to your local travel agent.

SOURCE: Singita press release.