AFRICAN BEAUTY:Take in Sun City and the wildlife (below) as you trail the teams

Cricket, and more cricket. If you can't get enough of it on television, we suggest you book yourself on a flight to South Africa where all the action begins next February. Travel agents and tour operators have begun tantalising the cricket and travel freak with packages that revolve around the matches to be played in World Cup 2003.

Besides booking match tickets, the operators offer sight-seeing of exotic places such as the splendrous Sun City, the cities of Johannesburg and Durban with Port Elizabeth thrown in. The packages include hotel accommo-dations, arranging of air deals, transportation to cricket grounds and back, meals and much more.

The four-day Package A entails watching India play Australia and South Africa meet New Zealand at $1,480 per person. Package B is a nine-day trip to the African continent with the thrill of watching India play arch rivals Pakistan and then England. Cost: $1,890 per person. The Package C is for the semi-finals and the finals with a nine-day itinerary ($2,310).

However, be warned: "If rain delays any match, clients will have to incur their own costs for extension of their stay." The packages, offered by the three official tour operators in the country are not flexible.

For more information and enquiries, log onto www.cricketsafari2003.com to book your cricket holiday online.

TOURISM NEWS
CALLING JEEVES
Iron newspapers, download mails, run a bath, pack/ unpack your suitcase ... get this, and more, done by butlers handpicked and trained by former butlers from the Royal House of the Windsor on the Leela's "All Butler Floor". For royal treatment at no extra cost, head for the Leela, near Sahar Airport, Mumbai. Call (022) 6911234.

VISUAL BLOCKBUSTER

Bollywood blockbuster Dil Chahta Hai's presentation of Goa has salvaged its flagging tourism revenue, hiking domestic tourism by 8 per cent and room revenue by 17 per cent. You could benefit too: take part in www.goatourism.org's contest "Go Goa" and you could be there for free.

HOT DEALS
DESERT ROMANCE

A slice of Rajasthan—forts, havelis, temples, bazaars—has been packed in the seven-day package of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur by the Taj Group of Hotels. Cost: Rs 50,000 (for a couple with a child below 12) Details on: www.tajhotels.com.

DIWALI SPARKLE

A two-day, three-night package with free airport transfers, three meals, complimentary use of its health club and swimming pool, and a sumptuous Diwali spread is yours courtesy Le Meridien, Court Center, Sahar Airport Road, Mumbai. Cost: Rs 8,888 (inclusive of taxes) for a couple and a child below five. Validity: November 1-9. For more information, call the hotel at (022) 8380000/ 8383260.

—Compiled by Nidhi Taparia Rathi