A Tribe on the Move
Welcoming our American friends to Cape Town in South Africa was another highlight of our year. On our recent agent educational trip, we made sure that they got to see the very best of the Mother City. After all, we’ve found that showing agents some of what our home nation offers is the very best way of ensuring that every guest that travels here gets to experience an unforgettable vacation.
With so many must-dos in Cape Town, South Africa, we were careful to cherry pick experiences that would leave the team wanting more. You could spend a lifetime discovering the city and its surrounds, but we drew on our local knowledge and network of contacts to curate an incredible sequence of moments.
Exploring the best city in South Africa… and beyond
If we could only have one dinner in Cape Town, we’d be really torn between choosing the ultra-modern feel (and breathtaking views) at The Granary at The Silo overlooking the V&A Waterfront, or the rustic yet contemporary feel of Kloof Street House. Then of course there’s Waterside (also at the V&A Waterfront) – in other words, come hungry!
The location of Cape Town makes it the perfect launchpad for day trips and excursions, and as part of our tribe on the move experience, we took full advantage of this fact. One epic day saw us visit the gorgeous La Residence country estate in the Franschhoek Valley, with a stop at Babylonstoren. Our Winelands tour also took in Tokara and Delaire Graff wine estates, before returning to La Residence for more wine tasting and an incomparable dinner.
The perfect host
Throughout our educational trip, we were escorted by none other than Edward Morton. He’s the Brand Ambassador for The Royal Portfolio and definitely counts as a larger-than-life character. Edward is immensely knowledgeable about the luxury properties he represents, and can unlock the doors to so many memorable experiences. In combination with our exceptional guide Conrad at Royal Malewane, he took our experience to a whole new level.
Into the wild
After the serenity of La Residence, Royal Malewane (The Royal Portfolio’s bushveld destination) provided a full-throttle contrast. We got to experience African nature at its most vital and compelling, with a pride of lions taking down a buffalo after a thrilling hunt.
Royal Malewane places a genuine emphasis on conservation efforts, and that includes a focus on anti-poaching patrols. A real highlight of our trip was interacting with the rangers and dogs that make up the K9 Unit – by combining their skills and natural attributes, they’ve created a fearsome crime-fighting force that is helping to ensure the integrity of the ecosystem and protect the most at-risk species.
Every safari is different
The Kruger National Park is the centerpiece of a huge swathe of protected wilderness in South Africa, and along with adjacent private reserves like Sabi Sand and Thornybush, it makes up a wildlife sanctuary of global significance.
We also stayed at the iconic Singita Lebombo (which is within the National Park), and the exceptional Cheetah Plains. In this way, we could show the tribe several different facets of conservation and ecotourism in the Rainbow Nation and our hosts truly delivered with an incredible series of experiences which ranged from traditional safari sundowners on the border with Mozambique to learning to cook chakalaka and having our souls soothed by a unique sound bathing treatment.
Attention to detail
The safari lodge offering has been significantly refined over the last few years, and the attention to detail at Cheetah Plains in the heart of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, South Africa was every bit as breathtaking as our encounter with a large bull elephant. From personalized embroidered pillowcases to take home to the latest haircare appliances and a mini hamper filled with treats, no aspect of our experience had been overlooked.
Our time at Cheetah Plains was a chance to engage with the wilderness by using all our senses. Game drives on electric vehicles eliminated the familiar sound of a diesel engine, and made the soundscape of the bush come alive. The inclusion of a daily massage treatment helped to ease our tired muscles after such a full itinerary, while the pajama party with which we surprised our friends on the last evening was a fun way to unwind and prepare for the return journey to Johannesburg (for the Journey Beyond team) and the USA.
To learn more about the sheer diversity and quality of experiences on offer in South Africa, contact Journey Beyond today.