Dear customers and industry partners, welcome to our last Blog post for 2015. As the year draws to a close and we reflect on all that has been achieved over the past twelve months it strikes me that we really have a lot to be thankful for. Having a job that enables us to meet interesting new people and regularly travel to amazing places the length and breadth of Southern Africa is certainly something that a lot of people would consider to be a dream job.

A big thank-you is therefore due to the industry partners, customers and staff who have assisted in making my job such a pleasure. The African Hoopoe staff in the accounts, booking and marketing departments as well as our drivers and guides are all invaluable to the successful operation of our business and have been a key factor in us achieving the goals we set at the beginning of the year. Your hard work, diligence and loyalty are greatly appreciated!

Although African Hoopoe Tours is a relatively small operator compared to some of our competitors, we nevertheless pack a big punch. To put this into perspective, our fleet have collectively traveled over 98 000 km in 2015 and we have successfully operated tours all over South Africa as well as Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe for an average of 450 pax per month. Our fleet of vehicles have certainly earned their keep too and with an amount in excess of R250 000 having been spent on sub hire of vehicles, the recent addition of a new Quantum to our fleet was certainly well justified.
We have also made great inroads this year in establishing ourselves as highly capable and sought after operators of tours to Namibia, with several National Namibia Tours already booked for the new year.

Something I would like to touch on briefly in closing is the benefit of Crit Forms. Some guides find the process of asking their group to fill in crit forms disruptive or at the least, embarrassing, however as the business owner it is something that I feel the need to insist upon as the information gathered from our customers is invaluable in ensuring we consistently provide the best possible service and products, as well as being able to address any criticisms, promptly and efficiently to the benefit of all. I would welcome any input or thoughts on how this system could be improved.

African Hoopoe Tours are off to Vakantiebeurs (Utrecht) in January and we would be very happy to have you visit our stand if you are attending the expo. After the expo we will be stopping over in Istanbul to persue potential business.

Thanks again for your support!,… all of us at African Hoopoe Tours wish you and your families a safe and happy festive season and an exciting and prosperous new year in travel.

Please take a look at the slideshow of some of our travel highlights in 2015 and feel free to mail us with any comments and queries.
Happy Travels!

Marius du Plessis
and the
African Hoopoe Team!

Peninsula Harley Tour

Hoopoe visits the Oyster Box

Beautiful Botswana

About the Author

In 1996, Marius du Plessis made a career change and started working at a medium sized tour company in, Cape Town. He qualified as a tour guide and was soon on his way to becoming a top guide. A year later he joined a big tour operator specializing in day tours and charters. It had always been Marius’ dream to run his own business and in 2007 he purchased his first touring vehicle, a Mercedes Vito, while still guiding full time. Renting his vehicle to the movie industry he realised the potential, so in 2010 he went on his own, and African Hoopoe Tours and Charters was born. With the 2010 FIFA World Cup being hosted in Cape Town, timing could not have been better. From these humble beginnings African Hoopoe Tours have grown from strength to strength.