Newmarket Holidays has announced the addition of two new safari tours to its Premier Collection, as trade bookings for South Africa safaris have grown by 66% year-on-year.
*All details correct at time of publication (27 August 2026)
The two new tours grow the Premier Collection and introduce the new villa concept, while adding the extra capacity needed to meet appetite for South Africa and Africa more broadly.
On Safari in South Africa – Babanango & Zululand – Premier Collection is a 10-day trip with villa-style accommodation for a maximum of 18 guests.
Activities and excursions include 11 game drives in the ‘Big Five’ Babanango Reserve, plus a bushwalk, a full day at the Anglo-Zulu battlefields (Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift), with a picnic lunch, and an authentic Boma dinner experience. The tour is all-inclusive, malaria-free, and the reserve is proudly community-owned, supporting local development.
On Safari in South Africa – Kingfisher Villa Suites – Premier Collection is another 10-day trip, in a smaller villa for a maximum of 10 guests.
The trip features 11 included game drives in Mabula Game Reserve, plus a bush walk. Guests will also be treated to two wildlife specialist talks, a stargazing experience and a bush breakfast. Again, the tour is all-inclusive with drinks, alongside a daily high tea to enjoy. This tour is also malaria-free.
For agents, alongside the range offered by both new tours, the exclusivity to Newmarket Holidays and all-inclusive aspect will help drive sales.
Additionally, Kingfisher Villa adds daily high tea and malaria-free status, and Babanango & Zululand adds malaria-free status and a sustainability story through the reserve’s community ownership. The small group sizes also suit customers wanting a more intimate trip, or a group of friends travelling together.
Hayley Morris, Head of Trade Sales and Partnerships at Newmarket Holidays, said: “Demand for South Africa has grown fast, with trade bookings up 66% year on year, and these two tours show exactly why.
“Kingfisher and Babanango give travel agents a choice, from a classic ‘Big Five’ safari to one that pairs wildlife with Zulu history, both in an intimate, villa-style setting.
“It means our On Safari range now has a genuine fit for whatever kind of safari a customer’s after, and raises the bar for what an On Safari holiday with us looks like.”
Visit Newmarket Holidays for more information.
