A Tribe on the Move in South Africa – and some moving moments
As a company specializing in African travel, we enjoy nothing more than introducing international travel agents to the wonders of our home country of South Africa. It’s a great way to promote our Rainbow Nation, to share our local knowledge, and ultimately to ensure that every guest who travels with us enjoys the best possible African vacation.
We recently had the pleasure and privilege of hosting an educational trip for agents from our Brazilian friends and it’s safe to say that South Africa put on quite a show as part of this Tribe on the Move experience.
The bespoke itinerary we created for them reflected not only the best of South Africa, but also included some of the destinations that we have found to appeal most to travelers from Brazil
Hitting the ground running
Despite a delay to their international flight to South Africa, the tribe had awesome energy and attitude from the moment they landed. We immediately set off on a tour of Johannesburg – arguably Africa’s most energetic and vibrant city. Despite only having existed for around 120 years, ‘Jozi’ has a rich history. We visited Constitution Hill and Vilakazi Street in Soweto – the only street in the world able to claim two Nobel Peace Prize laureates as residents (the late President Nelson Mandela and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu).
After getting to grips with the city, we took things up a notch by checking into the Saxon Hotel, one of Johannesburg’s grand old hotels. Dinner at the in-house Qunu Restaurant and a great night’s sleep were the ideal way to recharge before the next morning’s flight into the wilderness.
Makanyi Private Game Lodge
The jewel of the Timbavati Reserve, Makanyi takes hospitality to the next level. This shows in the exceptional food and service, and the fact that every guest’s name is remembered from the moment they arrive.
Our exceptional guide Carl used his many years of experience to share some very special moments, including watching giraffes drinking from the dam in front of the lodge and being surrounded by a curious yet peaceful group of young elephants.
Stunning scenery
Our road transfer to the Sabi Sabi Reserve took us via the spectacular green valley known as the Blyde River canyon, with stop-offs at some of the most famous viewpoints including the aptly named God’s Window and Three Rondavels.
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge is a more family-oriented lodge, and excels in maintaining safari traditions. With 24 rooms, it make up for a slight reduction in intimacy through having a wonderful vibe, and delivering great experiences like boma dinners (with venison on the menu) and plenty of rustic charm.
It also proved to be the perfect launchpad for a series of site inspections, which we had planned so as to show off the diversity of high-end safari properties in the area. From the authentic out-of-Africa aesthetic of Selati to the homely, relaxed feel of Little Bush and the breathtaking contemporary architecture of Earth Lodge, the Mercator tribe had the chance to see how a safari in South Africa can be tailored to the needs and personal style of every kind of guest.
Unforgettable wildlife moments
Our great luck with sightings continued (although of course it wasn’t luck, but more skillful guiding). Highlights including feeling the hairs on the backs of our necks stand on end as lions roared right next to us and marveling as squawking vultures squabbled over scraps. A bush walk gave us the chance to appreciate some of the smaller details of the bushveld, while a breakfast of scrambled ostrich eggs was definitely a new experience for the tribe.
The Mother City
Cape Town is the perfect place to end a South African itinerary, so that’s exactly what we did. The combination of architecture, views, food and wine and culture make Cape Town a richly rewarding city to explore. Then of course there are the possible excursions from the city, including to Cape Point via a rendezvous with the famous penguins of Boulders Beach and a full-day Cape Winelands Tour calling in at some of our favorite estates.
All in all, a wonderful trip – to learn more about how we can create equally amazing itineraries in South Africa and our other destinations for your guests, contact Journey Beyond today.
