In a town better known as the safari capital of the world – where khaki, camera straps and 4x4s rule the day – a different kind of travel venture has quietly rolled into town. Greater Kruger Travel is setting out to make global travel planning as personal, reliable and polished as the safaris that put Hoedspruit on the map.
For years, locals have had to rely on agencies in distant cities for complex itineraries, corporate trips or overseas holidays. That’s finally changed. With Greater Kruger Travel now open, Hoedspruit has its very own full-service travel agency – right here in the Lowveld.
“People in Hoedspruit travel for all sorts of reasons,” says Carol Maasch, who heads up the agency. “We have families visiting relatives overseas and, now with the new hospital, doctors and medical professionals flying in and out for work and conferences. Our aim is to bring that expertise home so people can plan their trips with confidence.”
Carol knows the business from every angle. She began her career with Wynberg Travel in Cape Town, built an impressive résumé across the industry and remains affiliated with Giltedge Travel Group, one of South Africa’s most respected travel brands. When she’s not coordinating flights and meetings, she runs Bushbaby Tours, which curates’ luxury safaris across southern and east Africa, and Bushbaby Tours and Transfers, that looks after guests across the Greater Kruger region.
Joining her is Shirley Collinson, a seasoned professional with decades of experience – including several years with Club Med. Her background in both leisure and group travel adds real depth to the team, whose services now range from tailor-made holidays and business travel to curated specials and packages.
Together, Carol and Shirley have created a space where expertise meets genuine personal attention – a blend increasingly rare in today’s online-only world. “There’s something about sitting down with someone face-to-face that gives you a better sense of what they need,” Shirley says. “That personal connection makes all the difference when planning a journey.” The recipe is one of keeping things simple, understanding the client and crafting an itinerary that is managed from start to finish.
Greater Kruger Travel handles everything from domestic and international flights to accommodation, corporate arrangements and bespoke itineraries. Even something as simple as a flight to Cape Town can turn into a puzzle of fluctuating fares – but here, that hassle disappears. They also specialise in support for medical safaris, assisting patients and their families who combine treatment at the Hoedspruit Private Hospital with travel to the region’s lodges and reserves.
“Greater Kruger Travel is closely affiliated with the hospital,” Carol explains. “Our offices are right in the Medical Centre North, next to Keystone Café, so it’s easy for people to pop in for a chat and a coffee. And there are a few exciting developments coming soon – watch this space.”
For Carol and Shirley, clients aren’t just email addresses or voices on the phone. “We know most of them personally,” Carol says. “They’re our friends, neighbours and community members who value good service and peace of mind when they travel. That’s what we offer – the reassurance that every detail, big or small, is handled.”
With their combined networks and years of experience, Greater Kruger Travel links Hoedspruit directly to the outside world. The team’s insider knowledge means access to competitive rates and travel insight normally reserved for big-city agencies, all anchored by the same core philosophy: professional planning, transparent pricing and authentic care for the traveller.
“It’s special to live here and help people see the world from here,” Carol smiles. “Our hearts will always be in the bush – but our reach is global.”
For more information, contact Greater Kruger Travel at info@greaterkrugertravel.co.za or +27 76 744 3684 or visit www.greaterkrugertravel.co.za.
