Fam trip report – South Africa March 2012
April 24, 2012 : General Team Building
Having recently visited South Africa on a fam trip, which included an exhibition hosted by Meetings Africa, I have seen first hand what this beautiful country has to offer the meetings and incentive market as well as seeing the sun for the first time in several months!
Regular overnight flights from the UK to all major airports with only an hour or two time difference makes South Africa very accessible and ensures that there is no time lost through jet lag. There is also the great climate ranging from minimum of 18C to 26C throughout the year with the odd month experiencing more rain than others – oh, and all budgets can be accommodated, always a good starting point!
From a meetings point of view, the major cities such as Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban are all very well set up to accommodate group sizes from 15 – 1500 with a number of different options of where to stay, where to carry out the business side of your trip and what experiences can enhance your stay.
In Jo’burg, your group could stay and meet at the Melrose Arch Hotel, or for larger groups the Sandton Conference Centre would work with plenty of hotel options on their doorstep. From an experience point of view, your group could enjoy a tour of the township Soweto visiting Nelson Mandela’s orginal residence and finish off the evening with dinner in the home of some locals.
In Durban your group could stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel or slightly further out of town at the Zimbali Lodge. From an experience point of view, you could visit the Moses Mabhida stadium where your group could enjoy some heart stopping experiences! If you had time post-meeting there is always the option to take the group out of the city and experience another aspect of South Africa, the most popular being safari but if the thought of seeing those animals up close and personal sends shivers down your spine then how about experiencing a vineyard?
For the incentive market I would suggest spending 2 days in the City and 2 days on safari to give your guests a truly memorable African experience. There are plenty of hotels and venues for you to choose across the country suitable for staying in and for eating out at. There are also a number of unique experiences that your guests can take part in such as cycling guided tours, hot air balloon safaris, shark diving, white water rafting, wine tasting, lunch in a 1920s rail dining car…to name a few!
Safari game reserves are dotted about the country and can be reached by road or via a short flight, some landing directly into the game reserve which really adds to the wow factor! Sighting of animals is not guaranteed but it’s very rare that you leave the game reserve not having seen any of the big five.
With all of the above plus the fantastic welcome and service you receive from the South Africa people, it would ensure that your event is truly one to remember.
If you are interested in hosting an event in SA then please do get in touch – we would be delighted to introduce you to this fantastic country. Call us on 0845 901 1980 or send us an enquiry.
Maximillion designs Reward and Incentive programmes which aim to enhance performance through a well designed, structured and communicated campaign, culminating in a fabulous travel experience at home or overseas. Learn more here…