Sensational South Africa
Back in February, I was lucky enough to enjoy an unforgettable trip to discover the delights of South Africa. I was invited by Pearl Representation, an independent destination management company (DMC), along with nine other UK events agents.
We flew from London Heathrow with South African Airways to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, a flight of around 11 hours 45 minutes. On arrival, we were met by Johan Venter from Urban Ginga, the South African DMC and whisked off to the 5-star Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa for a sumptuous leisurely breakfast, which was just the tonic we needed after our long flight.
From here, we travelled to Sun City, where we checked into The Palace of the Lost City for a two-night stay. An enchanting resort inspired by the myth of a lost African Kingdom, The Palace is set on the highest grounds in Sun City, surrounded by lush botanical gardens. Everywhere I looked, there were beautifully finished mosaics, frescoes and fountains, and the luxury suites were just divine – the perfect place for a weary traveller to relax and unwind.
With no time to waste, we set to exploring this beautiful country with a safari to nearby Pilanesberg National Park. With an area of 550km², the park is the fourth largest in South Africa and provides the perfect add-on to a trip to Sun City. Home to the big 5 (and malaria-free!), we were lucky enough to see rhinos, giraffe, elephants, impalas, zebras and lions. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat was a real treat.
With no time to waste, we set to exploring this beautiful country with a safari to nearby Pilanesberg National Park. With an area of 550km², the park is the fourth largest in South Africa and provides the perfect add-on to a trip to Sun City. Home to the big 5 (and malaria-free!), we were lucky enough to see rhinos, giraffe, elephants, impalas, zebras and lions. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat was a real treat.
"We watched the sun rise as we gazed at the breath-taking views and enjoyed a nice glass of chilled fizz.”
We stopped in at The Wallow in the picturesque Letsatsing Game Reserve, which borders Pilanesberg, for a traditional warm African welcome and a delicious braai (that’s BBQ to you and me!)
Our second day in this amazing country started early! A total surprise to us all, we were whisked back to Pilanesberg National Park where a hot air balloon was waiting to show us the delights of the African plains from the air. We watched the sun rise as we gazed at the breath-taking views and enjoyed a nice glass of chilled fizz.
The afternoon was the perfect time to tour Sun City and see what this premium destination has to offer. There’s a choice of accommodation to suit every taste and budget, while the Valley of the Waves waterpark is the perfect day out for families and thrill seekers. Then there’s golf, shopping, a casino, restaurants and entertainment, plus plenty of nightlife.
We enjoyed dinner at chic a la carte restaurant, Plume, which is situated in The Palace Hotel, and were joined by the hotel’s General Manager, who was only too pleased to tell us more about this fabulous resort.
Our second day in this amazing country started early! A total surprise to us all, we were whisked back to Pilanesberg National Park where a hot air balloon was waiting to show us the delights of the African plains from the air. We watched the sun rise as we gazed at the breath-taking views and enjoyed a nice glass of chilled fizz.
The afternoon was the perfect time to tour Sun City and see what this premium destination has to offer. There’s a choice of accommodation to suit every taste and budget, while the Valley of the Waves waterpark is the perfect day out for families and thrill seekers. Then there’s golf, shopping, a casino, restaurants and entertainment, plus plenty of nightlife.
We enjoyed dinner at chic a la carte restaurant, Plume, which is situated in The Palace Hotel, and were joined by the hotel’s General Manager, who was only too pleased to tell us more about this fabulous resort.
On our third day, we left Sun City behind and headed to Lesedi Cultural Village located in the heart of the African bushveld. The village is the ideal place to discover more about the culture and traditions of the people of Africa. We watched a fascinating show which explained about the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes, before feasting on an exotic buffet, with meat delicacies ranging from ostrich to crocodile.
From here, we travelled on to the Sandton Business District in Johannesburg and checked into the Sandton Sun Hotel. The hotel is connected to the Sandton Convention Centre, where the Meetings Africa event was taking place. I had 10 pre-arranged meetings booked for the next two days, with a variety of hotels and accommodation providers, conference centres, transportation companies and event management specialists to find out more about what South Africa had to offer. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about this beautiful country.
Late afternoon of day five, we travelled back to O.R. Tambo International Airport for a flight to Cape Town, a flight time of a little over two hours. We checked into the iconic five-star Radisson Blu V&A Waterfront Hotel, which boasts stunning views across the hotel’s private marina to the Atlantic Ocean. After a tour of the hotel’s rooms and event facilities, we enjoyed drinks and canapes on the Tobago Terrace.
From here, we travelled on to the Sandton Business District in Johannesburg and checked into the Sandton Sun Hotel. The hotel is connected to the Sandton Convention Centre, where the Meetings Africa event was taking place. I had 10 pre-arranged meetings booked for the next two days, with a variety of hotels and accommodation providers, conference centres, transportation companies and event management specialists to find out more about what South Africa had to offer. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about this beautiful country.
Late afternoon of day five, we travelled back to O.R. Tambo International Airport for a flight to Cape Town, a flight time of a little over two hours. We checked into the iconic five-star Radisson Blu V&A Waterfront Hotel, which boasts stunning views across the hotel’s private marina to the Atlantic Ocean. After a tour of the hotel’s rooms and event facilities, we enjoyed drinks and canapes on the Tobago Terrace.
Day six was certainly action-packed and really gave us a good flavour of the variety of activities on offer in Cape Town! A stream of Harley Davidsons roared into the hotel entrance to whisk us away for a scenic tour along the Atlantic Seaboard. Also known as ‘The Riviera’, the Seaboard stretches from the Victoria and Alfred waterfront to the west side of the cape peninsula at Hout Bay. With the glistening Atlantic Ocean on one side and the magnificent slope of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles on the other, it was hard to know where to look!
At Hout Bay, we were taken on a thrilling speed boat ride out to Seal Island; 3.5 miles off the coast and home to 64,000 cape fur seals. We were able to get up close and watch the seals lazily rolling around on the rocks, before sliding clumsily off to cool down in the sea.
Once back on dry land, we hopped into jeeps for the journey along Chapman’s Peak Drive – one of the world’s most scenic drives - to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering 200m above the sea provide a spectacular backdrop for the Reserve’s rich biodiversity. There’s the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the viewing point below the old lighthouse, shops and the Two Oceans Restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.
From here, we travelled to Boulders Beach to witness the large colony of Jackass Penguins. It was so nice to watch these cute little birds waddling about on the sand.
At Hout Bay, we were taken on a thrilling speed boat ride out to Seal Island; 3.5 miles off the coast and home to 64,000 cape fur seals. We were able to get up close and watch the seals lazily rolling around on the rocks, before sliding clumsily off to cool down in the sea.
Once back on dry land, we hopped into jeeps for the journey along Chapman’s Peak Drive – one of the world’s most scenic drives - to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering 200m above the sea provide a spectacular backdrop for the Reserve’s rich biodiversity. There’s the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the viewing point below the old lighthouse, shops and the Two Oceans Restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.
From here, we travelled to Boulders Beach to witness the large colony of Jackass Penguins. It was so nice to watch these cute little birds waddling about on the sand.
Dinner was at GOLD Restaurant in Cape Town, where we enjoyed a pre-dinner Djembe Drummong before settling down to a 14-dish Taste Safari, paired with traditional Mali puppets and storytelling. It really is an immersive experience and a great way to learn about Africa.
After a superb day, we checked into the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Cape Town, for the night. The following morning, we were given a site visit of the public areas and meeting spaces in this stylish and modern hotel, which is set in the city’s Business District.
A one-hour transfer away, our next stop was the Spier Wine Farm, where we enjoyed a sneak peek at the facilities before taking a tour around the vineyards on Segways.
From here, we travelled on to Boschendal Wine Estate in Franschhoek to sample a selection of their classic fruity wines and champagnes. Delicious picnic hampers with locally sourced and homemade foods was the perfect accompaniment.
Urban Ginga had another fantastic surprise up their sleeve for us all… helicopters collected us from the grounds of Boschendal for a breath-taking flight along the stunning coastline back to the V&A Waterfront.
After a superb day, we checked into the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Cape Town, for the night. The following morning, we were given a site visit of the public areas and meeting spaces in this stylish and modern hotel, which is set in the city’s Business District.
A one-hour transfer away, our next stop was the Spier Wine Farm, where we enjoyed a sneak peek at the facilities before taking a tour around the vineyards on Segways.
From here, we travelled on to Boschendal Wine Estate in Franschhoek to sample a selection of their classic fruity wines and champagnes. Delicious picnic hampers with locally sourced and homemade foods was the perfect accompaniment.
Urban Ginga had another fantastic surprise up their sleeve for us all… helicopters collected us from the grounds of Boschendal for a breath-taking flight along the stunning coastline back to the V&A Waterfront.
Here we checked into the Radisson RED hotel, set on the beautiful waterfront. Our last night in South Africa began with Sundowner cocktails on the RED Roof, a popular venue among locals and visitors alike, before heading out for a farewell dinner.
An assortment of classic cars was waiting outside the hotel to whisk us to the Taj Cape Town, an elegant building in the city centre, adjacent to the St George’s Cathedral. Pre-dinner drinks were held in the luxurious Presidential Suite, which has a wrap-around terrace providing uninterrupted views of Table Mountain and the city. Dinner was served in the Bombay Brasserie; an Indian feast accompanied by delicious wines.
Our final day in South Africa provided ideal weather for a trip up Table Mountain. A must-do when in Cape Town, we travelled up via cable car, a 765m long trip that takes about 4-5 minutes. The view from the top certainly did not disappoint! We wandered about soaking up the amazing views of Cape Town, Table Bay, Lion’s Head and Robben Island to the north and the Atlantic Seaboard to the west and south. We enjoyed a bubbly brunch before heading back down to the hotel. It was time to travel back home to the UK.
I can honestly say this really was the trip of a lifetime and one I will never forget; Urban Ginga really pulled out all the stops to show us what South Africa has to offer the events world, so a huge thank you to them.
If you’d like to find out more about South Africa, please get in touch with one of the team. We’d love to tell you more.
An assortment of classic cars was waiting outside the hotel to whisk us to the Taj Cape Town, an elegant building in the city centre, adjacent to the St George’s Cathedral. Pre-dinner drinks were held in the luxurious Presidential Suite, which has a wrap-around terrace providing uninterrupted views of Table Mountain and the city. Dinner was served in the Bombay Brasserie; an Indian feast accompanied by delicious wines.
Our final day in South Africa provided ideal weather for a trip up Table Mountain. A must-do when in Cape Town, we travelled up via cable car, a 765m long trip that takes about 4-5 minutes. The view from the top certainly did not disappoint! We wandered about soaking up the amazing views of Cape Town, Table Bay, Lion’s Head and Robben Island to the north and the Atlantic Seaboard to the west and south. We enjoyed a bubbly brunch before heading back down to the hotel. It was time to travel back home to the UK.
I can honestly say this really was the trip of a lifetime and one I will never forget; Urban Ginga really pulled out all the stops to show us what South Africa has to offer the events world, so a huge thank you to them.
If you’d like to find out more about South Africa, please get in touch with one of the team. We’d love to tell you more.