In conjunction with South African Airways’ (SAA) entry into the Star Alliance, Southern Africa`s flagship carrier introduced “Visit Southern Africa” (VSA), a program that will promote tourism to countries within  Southern Africa by offering a variety of creative and value added air and land packages. Featured travel packages will include South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia.

Marc Cavaliere, Executive Vice President for South African Airways, North America stated, "The VSA program will promote Southern Africa as one of the most exciting destinations in the world. With the help of our Star Alliance partners, we are excited to introduce our products and services to a new customer base."

These Southern African countries, as a whole, offer a vast spectrum of travel experiences and adventures for the North American visitor, including national and private game reserves teeming with wildlife, unique cultural attractions, plus breathtaking vistas from the beaches and mountains to the spectacular deserts of the Kalahari. World-class sporting venues offer golf, fishing, and white water rafting, as well as a host of adrenaline-pumping adventures.

SAA operates the only nonstop service to South Africa from its Washington, DC gateway and daily wide body departures from New York to Johannesburg, the gateway to Southern Africa. Wherever you live in the USA or Canada, in association with SAA’s Star Alliance partners, Southern Africa is only a day away.

South African Airways has selected Lion World and African Travel, Inc. to be the designers and operators of the “Visit Southern Africa” vacation package program from North America.

Canada-based Lion World Tours headed up by Lucille Sive, President, plus Glendale, CA- based African Travel, Inc. headed by Dave Herbert, Founder & Managing Director, are specialist operators to Southern Africa.

According to Cavaliere, “These two well-respected operators are natural partners for SAA. Together we intend to position southern Africa among the world’s top adventure travel destinations.”