Trafalgar will take guests to Africa for the first time.

These new trips have been a long time in the making, according to Gavin Tollman, CEO of Trafalgar, and the first will take place over the holiday season.

“The inaugural Trafalgar Africa portfolio has been a long-held vision of mine, so it’s a privilege and proud moment to now be able to share a highly personal homecoming gift,” said Tollman.

It makes sense for the company to have a robust product on the continent.

“With our family roots in Africa, the strong demand for the destination, and in the year of Madiba, Nelson Mandela’s centenary, now is the time to share our unrivaled expertise, passion for our home, real-life stories and local connections with our global travelers,” Tollman noted. “From the warm hospitality at the boutique Oyster Box Hotel, to the vibrant Becks Safari Camp and traversing the Solio Game Reserve, Africa is a multi-sensory experience. There’s nowhere else in the world that will touch your heart and stir your soul as much as Africa,” says Tollman.”

A new acquisition has streamlined the start of Trafalgar’s Africa offerings.

“Our parent company [The Travel Corporation (TTC)] also recently completed the purchase of Cullinan Holidays Tourism & Leisure, including Thompsons Africa, which will run the ground operations for Trafalgar's sub-Saharan Africa trips, the perfect local brand to acquire to bring our travelers ‘the Good Life,’” said Tollman.

The initial launch includes nine countries, 10 journeys, three trip styles (country explorer, regional explorer, mini stay) and will commence in December 2018 with a Christmas departure for the African Safari Adventure and the Essence of South Africa itineraries.

All of Trafalgar’s Africa trips are intimate and ranging from 12 to 15 guests per trip. Some trips such as those offered in Botswana are only for four individuals.

The Victoria Falls, Botswana, Best of South Africa will roll out in January 2019 and the main season of African Safari Adventure and Essence of South Africa will begin in January 2019.

Starting in mid-June, Trafalgar will offer Namibia. Egypt trips will begin in March and Morocco will start in April 2019.

Some key experiences included in these handcrafted itineraries include connecting with the local De Waal family in Stellenbosch, South Africa, for an exclusive wine-tasting experience; an exclusive visit to the Becks Safari Camp; a visit to the most successful rhino breeding reserve in Kenya, Solio Game Reserve; Fish River Canyon, one of the continent’s greatest natural wonders; a four-wheel-drive excursion over Sani Pass; lunch at the highest pub in Africa; and more.