Thompsons Africa is a DMC supplying meet and greets, transfers, fully escorted and group series tours, seat-in-vehicle tours, open-vehicle safaris, and FIT services in South and Southern Africa. Established more than 36 years, we provide memorable and life changing African holiday experiences and are proud members of the TreadRight Foundation.
THE FACE OF THOMPSONS AFRICA
Our NQF (National Qualifications Framework) and FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) qualified permanent Tour Guides are the very best calibre of staff. Consistently being awarded as winners in various Guiding categories such as Western Cape Guide, Tourist Guiding Excellence and Best Tourist Guide of the Year, many of these passionate staff members hold university degrees in marketing, photography, tourism and education but have chosen to place their focus on realising the dreams of our guests. Join them on one of our exciting Guided Journeys or Tailor-Made packages – you will be completely blown away by their knowledge, excitement and passion! They speak English, German and Spanish, and our wider network of Tour Guides speak most other languages.
All of our Safari Guides have completed additional courses enhancing their skills to ensure the best possible experience for guests. These include the Kruger National Park Orientation Course, a botany course at Skukuza Nursery by a qualified botany expert and some have completed the VPDA Course (Viewing Potential Dangerous Animals).
As one of our Tour Guides said, ‘….tour guides are ambassadors of the country and have to ensure they put the country on the map. Guiding is no longer a hobby but a profession and guides have to be trained to do the job so that they render an excellent service for tourists…’.
Our Guest Services
Welcome to South Africa! We are delighted that you have chosen to visit our beautiful country and we promise that the start of your journey with Thompsons Africa will be a First-Class experience!
Arriving in a foreign country should be a celebration and our star team of Guest Service Officers are at the ready to welcome you. Whether you have been to Southern Africa before or it is your first time, you will feel like you have come home!
SILVER WELCOME, GOLD WELCOME AND PLATINUM WELCOME AIRPORT SERVICES
Airports worldwide can sometimes be daunting, but with Thompsons Africa there are only fantastic memories to be made. Let us take care of getting you from point A to point B while you relax and enjoy the journey!
Choose the level of assistance that best suits your needs. We engage in face-to-face conversations with guests and discuss the journey ahead. Guests feel pampered and secure in the knowledge that they understand their itinerary arrangements, and that any questions or concerns raised, will be promptly addressed.
GUEST SERVICE EMERGENCY SUPPORT
If life’s unexpected mishaps occur, our team are just a call away. We visit guests in hospital or at their hotel to offer comfort and reassurance. No matter the situation, we have the experience to lend a helping hand.
Our Vehicles
OUR VEHICLES
Thompsons Africa uses the latest and finest vehicles on the market, including Toyota Corollas, Toyota Quantums, Mercedes Sprinters, Volare Mini Coaches and specially modified open safari vehicles – all with the requisite permits. We select our vehicles very carefully, against a strict set of criteria, in full knowledge of what our clientele needs and wants. All vehicles are exceptionally comfortable and spacious, with full air-conditioning throughout and good sound quality when the tour director is speaking. With headrests, and ample leg and head room, transfers are comfortable, cool and professional.
WE DO TRANSFERS
Seat in Coach Transfers are done in a three-seater sedan, seven- seater micro-bus, 13 seater Quantum, or 18/22-seater mini coach with a maximum of three pick-ups/drop-offs en route to/from the airport.
Private Transfers are done in either a sedan or micro-bus, for a maximum of three or seven guests respectively, where you are transferred straight to your destination.
Luxury Transfers are done in a luxury sedan, for a maximum of three guests, where you are taken straight to your destination. Please note that with the luxury transfer, there is a luggage restriction of one standard size suitcase per person.
Transfer Tours - a unique product by Thompsons Africa – essentially we turn a simple long distance transfer into an exciting and informative tour.
Vehicle Charter - Thompsons Africa have invested in some of the newest and best vehicles available in Southern Africa. Our fleet of 70 vehicles is made up of the newest VW T5 Combis, Mercedes Vitos, Toyota Quantums and Volare Mini Coaches. All vehicles are available for charter.
Shuttle Services - Thompsons Africa offers a number of pre-booked fixed departure shuttles between key destinations.
Sun City Shuttle - OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) to/from all Sun City Hotels. This shuttle departs four times a day at specific times.
Bioregional South Africa has been supporting the Sisonke (meaning ‘we are together’) Durban Garden behind the Elangeni Hotel, which was founded by men experiencing homelessness during lockdown. Bioregional employed a permaculture mentor for five months to train and mentor those men interested in growing food.
Bioregional has also started a pilot Bokashi composting project using food waste from the hotel to create onsite compost for Sisonke Durban Garden. The aim is to close the loop, with nearby hotels and restaurants buying back the vegetables to create a circular economy. There is an opportunity to grow the Bokashi project to be replicated elsewhere in Durban and also to form a network of urban gardens.
Bioregional has facilitated the collaboration of stakeholders on this project, working with the municipality and the private sector, brokering donations from supporting organisations such as the Durban Botanic Gardens. Most recently, we have formed a relationship with Durban University of Technology's Department of Horticulture, which has placed four students onsite as part of their final year work experience.
Local and sustainable food, equity and local economy, and sustainable water are just some of the One Planet Living principles that are being demonstrated by this project, contributing to the bigger sustainability plan for Durban. Contributions are also being made to the targets of the City’s Integrated Development and Climate Action Plans.
