About Us

This is all started in Turkey. Farhat wanted to open a dive centre. So he we to see the world famous Alf and Steve Chappell of the European Dive Centre in Fethiye and did the most rigorous of dive master courses out there. Alf was a coalminer and Steve was a former British commando. After huffing and puffing his way around the waterfront, underwater, hauling out “bodies” and being taught to lead, Farhat was ready. A short instructor course under the guideance of John Weinburg in London followed. Duly endorsed as a scuba diving instructor, Farhat went on to open India’s frist ever private dive centre in the Andaman Islands. That was a ground breaking experience. In fact it was so ground breaking that he moved to Africa and opened a dive centre and beach resort. This too was groundbreaking. He met Francisca in 2001 and together they created an inbound dive and safari company, sellling safaris all over Tanzania and then Kenya and Zambia. This became such a large part of their business that they sold Swahili Divers and the Kervan Saray Beach lodge and moved to Britain to set up the African and Oriental Travel Company. Still successful to this day, this is what they do.

Farhat is Turkish and Turkey had always been in his soul and blood. Two things then happened. Turkish Airlines expanded into Africa and became one of the best airlines on earth. Our clients started asking to stopover in Istanbul. After spending months every year exploring Turkey, they created the Anatolian Travel Company. Whether it be an Istanbul stopover tour en route to your safari holiday, or a tailor made turkey tour with your own Turkish private guide Farhat and Francisca have it covered.