Singapore-based luxury travel company A2A Safaris (A2A) is seeing a strong rebound in safari bookings as affluent Asians increasingly seek wildlife encounters in their holiday plans.
The company reported a 26 per cent increase in bookings last year compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. It anticipates surpassing this growth in 2025 as Asia, traditionally a smaller market for African safaris compared to North America and Europe, gains importance.
Over the past decade, A2A’s business has grown by 142 per cent, having been the first Asia-based tour operator to specialise in planning African safaris for Asian travellers since 2002. A2A co-founder Victor Dizon said Asians are increasingly seeking “money-can’t-buy experiences”, where exclusivity and access to nature outweigh traditional luxuries.
Known for its private luxury safari and nature expeditions, A2A offers customisable itineraries in India featuring exclusive experiences, such as private access to the Taj Mahal, tiger safaris with specialist guides, intimate dining, shopping with local insiders, glamping in the wild, and access to the treasures of the Gem Palace.
Building on this strong growth, A2A has added India and Bhutan to its Wild Asia portfolio, combining the best accommodation, private guides, and exclusive five-star experiences from both countries. The company is also looking to expand its reach to South Korean travellers.
Trips are tailored from a curated portfolio of special interest activities, allowing each client to experience India on their own terms. A2A also offers concierge support, including visa assistance, personalised pre-departure briefings, and restaurant recommendations and reservations.
Dizon explained that the expansion into India responds to clients’ growing desire for safaris offering the same excitement and adventure as those in Africa. He shared that a group of clients who have travelled with them on safaris across Africa are now looking for something equally unique. He added that India offers wildlife such as tigers and snow leopards, and its dense vegetation makes wildlife spotting more challenging compared to Africa’s open savannahs and grasslands.
The Bhutan programme highlights include the National Memorial Chorten, the country’s most prominent religious landmark, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students preserve traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts, and the Buddha Dordenma, one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world, surrounded by 100,000 smaller bronze and gold-gilded statues.
Hiking trails include the Kuensel Phodrang trail – often used by the current king for mountain biking and the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a religious structure built recently for protection of the people of Bhutan.
In addition, Singaporeans are increasingly interested in East Africa, with many hoping to witness the Great Migration’s river crossings before exploring less crowded reserves or visiting the gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda.
Dizon noted that, impacted by the pandemic, travellers now prioritise time with loved ones, choosing to pursue their dreams and explore the world’s wonders. In response, the company has diversified its product offerings to stay adaptable in the uncertain post-pandemic environment.
