My name is Claire Roadley and I started Umlingo Travel PR in November 2020, properly launching in April 2021 when international travel to Africa reopened, rising from the ashes of the Covid pandemic.

I have over 25 years of experience in Travel PR - promoting tourism to (mostly) Africa in partnership with travel agents, tour operators, airlines and tourist boards. I have longstanding relationships with the key travel writers, publications and editors and have hosted numerous group press trips to some of Africa’s most exquisite hotels and lodges over the years as well as fam trips for the trade.

I am down-to-earth, hard working - and I’m all about the skills, with less of the frills. I firmly believe its a combination of hard-earned relationships and mutual respect that gets the results.

Current clients include:

Bushtops Safari Camps - A family owned collection of safari camps in East Africa including Mara Bushtops in Kenya and Serengeti Bushtops and Roving Bushtops in Tanzania.

Mashatu Game Reserve - the Land of Giants, located in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Home to Euphorbia Mashatu, Mashatu Lodge, Tuli Safari Lodge, Mashatu Tent Camp as well as two exclusive-use Safari Homes, namely Kolokolo and Shalimpo.

Mosetlha Bush Camp - an authentic off grid, rustic eco lodge in the Big 5 Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa with award winning guides and the warmest of welcomes.

Onguma Safari Camps  - Located on the fringe of Etosha National Park in Namibia, Onguma boasts five fabulous lodges in Onguma including the ultra-exclusive Onguma Camp Kala, with lots of exciting new things coming up. Their Dream Cruiser is a true bucket list experience!

OurAfrica.Travel - I do the PR annually for Africa’s leading digital trade show (next one scheduled for 17 - 21 February 2025). This will be the fourth year running I worked with Storm, Allie and their lovely team.

The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa - beautiful family-friendly resort with spa in the newly proclaimed Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve. Owned and run by the Carte/Bedingfield family over three generations, The Cavern and sister property Sungubala have been offering guests “many happy returns” for over 80 years.

Travel Promoters - I provide PR and social media services for one of the UK’s most dynamic sales representation companies, Travel Promoters, whose portfolio includes Bushtops Safari Camps, The Rare Earth Collection, White Pearl Resorts Mozambique, Madikwe Safari Lodge, Sala Beach House, Babanango, Lalibela Game Reserve, The Zambezi Queen Collection in Namibia, Lanzerac and the Clarendon Collection.

Wilderness Collection Craters Edge - A luxurious tented camp perched on the north-eastern rim of Tanzania’s iconic Ngorongoro Crater, just ten minutes’ drive from all the wildlife action on the crater floor. Comprising 15 beautifully appointed tented suites designed for absolute comfort and immersion in nature, it offers authentic African décor, modern amenities, views to die for - and superlative service.

PAST PROJECTS

Recent projects included:

• Nianova - I worked as a consultant to the Nianova group for 3 years until September 2024,  which included Tswalu, Fireblade Aviation, Niarra Travel, the JAN group. My focus was predominantly on providing marketing and PR support for Weeva, the multiple-award winning sustainability management SaaS platform designed to help hotels and lodges operate more efficiently. Weeva has been acquired by Travalyst, HRH Prince Harry’s non-profit to help scale sustainable tourism globally.

• Tuk South - Umlingo supported Tuk South (pro bono) on a 2-year expedition by tuk tuk from Kenya to Cape Town, raising funds For Rangers and telling sustainability stories as they went.

• Umlingo KZN Collection of lodges in KwaZulu-Natal (Tembe Elephant Park, Isibindi Lodges, Antbear Lodge, Ghost Mountain Inn, Shayamanzi Houseboat and Spionkop Lodge) -I ran a competition for them in lockdown and arranged a couple of media trips for them.

• For Rangers Travel + Adventure, which channels profits into anti-poaching patrols via For Rangers/Save The Rhino International.

• Waltham Place Farm in Berkshire, UK - a 6-month social media project

I also have experience in marketing, copywriting, web design and social media and recently completed an accredited course in Digital Marketing.

Photo taken at Mashatu by Kyle de Nobrega.