DESTINATIONS: LET’S GO WILD

Brian Jackman wrote, “Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all.” Meetings looks at some top bush safari destinations – plus a forest, river and sea safari option – in Southern Africa, which could be just the choice to get your MICE clients coming back for more.

Anantara Bazaruto

anantara.com/en/bazaruto-island azura-retreats.com/benguerra-introduction If you’re seeking sea safaris and isolated islands for your next MICE event, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique holds a strong allure. Comprising five small islands covering 143 000 hectares, the protected area is both beautiful and biologically diverse.

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The islands of Bazaruto are covered in coastal forest, wetlands and savannas. Birders and divers from around the world come to this national park for the huge array of exotic bird and sea life, including the opportunity to glimpse the region’s last viable population of dugongs. VENUES AND ACCOMMODATION

Natalie Tenzer-Silva, director of Dana Tours, recommends two venues for MICE events: “Anantara resort can cater for up to 114 guests and can cater for most upmarket MICE events. Azura Benguerra, being smaller, is a magnificent incentive getaway. Both properties offer a variety of water activities, private beach picnics, game fishing (tag and release), snorkelling, diving and dhow safaris.”

Anantara on Bazaruto island has 44 villas, some with more than one bedroom, allowing them to sleep a total of 114 guests. The conference facilities can accommodate a maximum of 60 delegates, while a range of incentive activities and excursions, a spa, gym and several luxury dining options (including signature private dining) are available. Azura Benguerra resort offers 20 beachfront villas, each with a private eternity pool, and friendly Mozambiquan butler-hosts to look after guests’ every need. In addition to providing several activities, it has a Padi five-star dive centre, a spa and a cellar stocked with an impressive collection of imported French wines – the perfect accompaniment for a private beach dinner. The resort is eco-friendly and can claim to be Africa’s first Tesla-powered solar hotel, and has an optional carbon offset programme for guests.

GETTING THERE

The easiest way to reach Bazaruto is to fly to Vilanculos International Airport (a 1 hour 30 minute flight from Johannesburg). From there,

Azura Benguerra

helicopter transfers are available to both hotels, or guests can transfer by boat after a short road transfer.

South Africans do not need to apply for visas if their stay in Mozambique does not exceed 30 days.

chobenationalpark.co.za zqcollection.com/zambezi-queen

A boat safari on the Chobe River is a favoured small group safari destination for Sean Kritzinger, executive chairman at the Giltedge Group. Venturing out on tenders (small 10-seater boats) allows guests a unique opportunity to get close to the abundant wildlife in the 117 000 hectare Chobe National Park that are drawn to the water to drink, bathe and play.

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Sean says, “Giltedge recommends MICE with a difference and Zambezi Queen on the Chobe River has 14 cabins that can accommodate up to 28 guests. Zambezi Queen is a luxury floating hotel offering superb water-based game viewing and spectacular scenery. This remote, intimate setting is great for MICE travel, with wonderful activities such as fishing, birding, water-based safaris and cultural tours.”

ACCOMMODATION

The Zambezi Queen has 14 suites, all with outer decks and uninterrupted views, while a comfortable dining room, bar and lounge area encourage guests to kick back and relax.

GETTING THERE

Kasane International Airport is a 1 hour 45 minute flight from Johannesburg. From there, road and boat transfers to and from the Zambezi Queen are included in the rate. Alternatively, shared or private road transfers are available at an additional cost from Victoria Falls International Airport, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (formerly Livingstone Airport) and Katima Mulilo Airport.

South Africans can obtain a visa on arrival in Botswana.

kapama.com Another of Sean’s top picks is Kapama, which spans 15 000 hectares of pristine savannah and riverine forest in the greater Kruger region. Here, visitors are regularly treated to sightings of vast herds of buffalo, elephant and antelope, with the opportunity to tick the big five off their bucket list.

CCCC Chobe - Zambezi Queen

Kapama River Lodge

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Sean explains, “The luxurious Kapama Game Reserve is great for groups, with many options, as they have a number of camps. They offer excellent game viewing, bush dinners and other experiences such as bush walks and a spa and wellness centre.”

Other activities include a visit to a cultural village or centre for endangered animals, hot-air balloon rides, bush dinners and team-building activities such as The Kapama Amazing Race and Game Capture Participation – the latter being an opportunity to take part in treating wounds of

Ravintsara Wellness Hotel

Andilana Beach Hotel sick or injured animals, as well as attaching antipoaching tracking devices and relocating animals.

ACCOMMODATION & VENUES

The largest of the Kapama Private Game Reserve camps is the luxury five-star River Lodge, with 62 rooms (seven standard rooms, 33 deluxe, 16 spa suites, two royal suites and four spa family suites). It also offers conferencing facilities that can seat up to 200 delegates, while its Xitsumbeni dining facility can be closed off to accommodate 60 delegates.

Smaller conferences can be held at Kapama Southern Camp (maximum 30 pax in schoolroom style). The Southern Camp has 25 rooms (15 standard suites, seven villas and three family villas), while Karula Lodge has 12 villas. All three camps are located a short drive from each other, enabling larger groups to be split between them.

GETTING THERE

Kapama is next to Eastgate Airport (Hoedspruit Airport), which is an hour’s flight from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Alternatively, Kapama Air’s eight-seater aircraft is available on request, connecting guests to several local and international destinations.

andilanaresort.com/en ravintsarahotelmadagascar.it home-the-residence.com/en

Lokobe is located on the island of Nosy Be, just off northern Madagascar. This 740 hectare national park is home to the last remaining original Sambirano forest on the island, as well as the black lemur and the beautiful Nosy Be panther chameleon.

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Daryl Keywood, MD of Walthers DBS, singles out Lokobe as a favourite wild place for incentive groups, a choice he explains when he says, “Madagascar is pretty wild, with some challenging logistics; however, once you arrive, opportunities abound. Taking an incentive group paddling in local outrigger fishing canoes, from Ambatozavary to Lokobe Reserve, followed by a trek during which one encounters several types of lemurs, boa constrictors and chameleons in their natural forest environment is truly once in a lifetime. It ranks right up there with gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, which are also exhilarating and humbling experiences we offer our clients.”

ACCOMMODATION

On Nosy Be, there are several hotel options suitable for incentive groups. Daryl suggests, “The large, all-inclusive Andilana Beach Hotel is a win for a younger crowd, with restaurant options and nightclubs; however, smaller groups might prefer the garden atmosphere and huge rooms offered at the authentic Ravintsara Wellness Hotel, or the more intimate The Residence. All are on the ocean and accessible by boat, which makes water transfers an easy option.”

GETTING THERE

Previously, Airlink offered direct 3 hour 30 minute flights from Johannesburg to Nosy Be’s

international airport, Fascene Airport; however, Madagascar has indefinitely banned South African airlines from entering the country, which means travellers from South Africa will need to fly via another country and airline such as Mauritius and Ethiopia. Daryl shares that the industry is optimistic that the ban will be overturned soon.

South African passport holders can obtain a 90-day visa on arrival.

northwestparks.org.za taugamelodge.co.za rhulani.com

Madikwe is the fifth largest game reserve in the country, spanning 75 000 hectares and offering visitors the chance to see the big five as well as three hunting packs of the highly endangered wild dog. Despite its impressive offering, it’s not as well known as other parks and therefore somewhat of a hidden gem. And since day visitors are not permitted, it presents an exclusive and uncrowded bush experience.

Being located against the south-east border of Botswana and close to the Kalahari, it’s also in a malaria-free area.

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Madikwe is another favoured MICE destination for Daryl because of its rhino conservation activities. He says, “Madikwe is a prime location, where incentive clients can provide much needed funding that enables conservation professionals to dart rhinos, usually from a helicopter, and then once safe the participants assist veterinarians conducting research, identification and these days horn removal.

“We are fortunate to have had our clients participate in 12 rhino conservation activities. In every case it has been the highlight of the incentive trip. There are additional conservation activities involving elephant, wild dog and other endangered wildlife.”

ACCOMMODATION & VENUES

Boasting 11 luxury and seven ultra-luxury lodges, as well as an eco-bush camp, Madikwe has a range of well-appointed accommodation options to choose from.

Tau Game Lodge has 30 chalets and state-of-the-art conference facilities that can accommodate up to 60 delegates, all overlooking a large waterhole.

For smaller corporate groups, Rhulani Safari Lodge’s ‘leisure room’ can accommodate up to 10 delegates for a private event or board meeting. With seven luxury chalets, the whole

Rhulani Safari Lodge

Sabi Sands - Ulusaba

lodge can be booked out exclusively, with additional five-star accommodation available at a neighbouring lodge should there be overflow.

GETTING THERE

Flights from Johannesburg to an airstrip inside the reserve operate on a daily basis and are highly recommended. Alternatively, the nearest airports are Gaborone Airport (28 km away) and O.R. Tambo International Airport (369 km away).

sabi-sands.com Sabi Sands covers 65 000 hectares and shares an unfenced 50 km boundary with the Kruger National Park, allowing animals to roam freely between these spaces. The name Sabi Sands comes from the two rivers running through the game reserve – the Sabi and Sand rivers – which attract a high density of big game, including frequent leopard sightings.

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Stephanie Moss, director of the Solutions Group Events, says, “Game lodges and experiences are bucket list trips for international guests and South Africans alike. In my mind, the Sabi Sands complex offers the best and most memorable experiences for game viewing and the lodges are sublime – give me Ulusaba, some of the camps at Sabi Sabi or Singita any day – big budget ticket items though!” Day visitors and self-drive safaris are not allowed, which makes for exclusive game drive or bush walk experiences.

ACCOMMODATION & VENUES

Sabi Sands boasts a huge range of accommodation options. Some are ultraluxurious, and some are quite affordable. Most include meals and safari activities.

Extra indulgences at some of the premium lodges include a tennis court, gym, wine cellar and stargazing from the bush observatory at Ulusaba Safari Lodge (owned by Sir Richard Branson); a library, underground wine cellar, Zen Garden and Amani Spa at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge; on-site wine tasting at Singita Ebony Lodge; and mountain biking and archery at Singita Boulders Lodge.

GETTING THERE

The quickest and most convenient way to reach Sabi Sands is by air. Flights are available from Johannesburg and Cape Town to three nearby airports: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Hoedspruit Airport and Skukuza Airport.

tswalu.com For small incentive groups seeking a truly exclusive experience, here it is. Tswalu Kalahari is South Africa’s largest private game reserve, yet limits access to a maximum of 40 guests at a time. This ratio of guests to wilderness (the lowest in the country) ensures those staying at Tswalu have an incredible opportunity to freely explore its 114 000 hectares. In doing so, they are also supporting the reserve’s

Sabi Sands - Ulusaba

ambitious conservation efforts for its wildlife as well as the local community (the positive impact of which has been measured and publicly published).

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Aside from game drives entirely suited to guests’ schedules and preferences, a range of activities are available and include habituated meerkat encounters, nature walks, tracking, horse riding, stargazing, star-bed experiences, and meeting visiting scientific researchers and resident artists.

Over 80 species of mammal reside in Tswalu, including the black-maned Kalahari lion, desert black rhino, oryx, and other rarities such as brown hyena, aardvark and ground pangolin.

For foodies, another big attraction is Restaurant Klein JAN, an internationally acclaimed eatery conceived by Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. Set in a century-old farmhouse overlooking the expanse of the Kalahari, diners are treated to incredible flavours and food authentic to the Northern Cape and its heritage, all sustainably sourced and served.

ACCOMMODATION

Tswalu offers three luxurious safari camps: the Motse, Tarkuni homestead and Loapi tented camp (opening in July 2023). Depending on the camp chosen, the following are available: butlers, private chefs, spa treatments, gyms, photographic studios, boutiques and gourmet snack pantries, in addition to the requisite plunge pools and fire pits.

GETTING THERE

Tswalu’s airstrip operates a daily scheduled service, with both 1 hour 30 minute flights from Johannesburg and 2 hour flights from Cape Town.

anantara.com/en/royal-livingstone Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and offers a thundering wildness that can be enjoyed from the elegant and relaxed ambience of the Royal Livingstone.

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After soaking up the sights and sounds of the majestic falls, many activities are on offer for guests. These include wildlife viewing, river safaris, microlight flights, helicopter rides, horse riding, croquet, swimming and spa treatments. Several dining experiences are also available – from dining on a restored steam locomotive that crosses the Falls, to authentic

African feasts by firelight, traditional high teas and cocktail sundowners overlooking the Zambezi River.

Tarkuni homestead

Restaurant Klein JAN

VENUES & ACCOMMODATION

Sean recommends the Royal Livingstone Hotel Zambia by Anantara, saying, “The Royal Livingstone offers luxury accommodation and is great for group travel. They also offer 50 different adventures to select from, including game viewing, water-based activities and boma dinners around the fire with African dancing.”

Other appealing features include the wildlife that roam the grounds freely, offering unforgettable up-close encounters, and the discreet butler services.

Six meeting rooms are available at the adjoining AVANI Victoria Falls Resort, the largest of which can accommodate 450 delegates in theatre style.

GETTING THERE

Guests have the choice of a 25 minute transfer by car through Livingstone or a 4x4 river safari boat crossing the Zambezi River (alongside hippos, crocodiles and bush elephants) after landing at the nearby and well-connected Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport.

South Africans do not require a visa for Zambia.

The Motse

The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara