Sunshine, sea and safaris

The beach and bush continue to be South Africa’s top incentive picks. The Incentive Planner explores what these have on offer for incredible itineraries.

WESTERN CAPE

Cape Town and its surrounding winelands, beaches, mountains and nature – all of which extend along the scenic Garden Route – has something for everyone. So much so that according to the Tourism Sentiment Index, four spots made it into the 100 most loved destinations around the world in 2021. They are Knysna (#19), Stellenbosch (#23), Hermanus (#41) and Cape Town (#54).

The region has an abundance of things to do. Marine lovers are spoilt for choice, with options like snorkelling in the kelp forests made famous by the documentary My Octopus Teacher or taking a water-bike ride across the sheltered waters of False Bay. (For the uninitiated, a water-bike glides over the water while you ‘cycle’. It’s a novel way to enjoy the vast scenery and encounter sea life – including surfacing whales if you’re lucky!) And if something more adrenaline-inducing is needed, cage diving with great white sharks in Gansbaai is also an option.

For something more sedate, groups can enjoy cocktails paired with stunning views. There are countless scenic options – such as on Table Mountain, a chartered yacht, or at the Ocular Lounge & Events Space. The latter is perfect for art lovers. Set in the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) at the V&A Waterfront, guests can admire the Ocular Lounge’s sweeping 270-degree view of Cape Town after admiring the museum’s artworks. With over 100 galleries and multiple multifunctional event spaces, it’s the perfect canvas for special events.

Cape Town is also a foodie’s delight, lending itself to gastronomy tours and experiences. Incentive groups can be wined and dined at the top 20 celebrity chef restaurants or make their own meal with an authentic Cape Malay cooking class. The latter can be combined with a cultural tour of the colourful Bo-Kaap quarter, tailormade for the tour group by a local.

Some of the magnificent wine estates around Franschhoek also offer interesting experiences other than ‘the usual’ wine and cheese pairings, such as the ongoing art exhibitions at La Motte Wine Estate displaying works by famous and upcoming South African artists. The Franschhoek Motor Museum on L’Ormarins Wine Estate has a classic motor museum that showcases over 100 years of automotive history and more than 220 vehicles. Meanwhile, Babylonstoren is an undiscovered gem of Cape history, with its gardens almost rivalling Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens’ range of plants.

Of course, a trip to South Africa isn’t complete without gaining some insights into the nation’s history. Robben Island, a Unesco World Heritage site, offers walking tours with guides who are fully conversant and knowledgeable about the island’s multilayered 500-year-old history. No one walks away unmoved. There’s a huge range of accommodation options in the Cape and its surrounding winelands, from five-star luxury hotels to boutique lodges with exclusive beach access, private fully equipped apartments and more. Cape Town International Airport has been adding direct flights from key source markets overseas, making it more accessible – and therefore even more appealing.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Nothing quite beats a sunrise over the African bush, as you take in the sights and sounds of the wild rousing itself for another day. South Africa’s flagship safari destination is the worldrenowned Kruger National Park. Covering nearly 2 million hectares (or 20 000 km²), the bush is teeming with wildlife. All of Africa’s iconic safari species (including the big five) live here in abundance. It’s also a twitcher’s paradise, with over 500 varieties of birds.

Game drive options include night drives, where prowling nocturnal predators can be sighted, or off-road game viewing to reach remote and isolated regions of the park. For a more immersive experience, there are on-foot bush walks and game tracking with expert guides, as well as horseback rides, mountain biking and hiking. Or, for a bird’s-eye view, groups can peacefully drift above the scrub in hot air balloons.

The Kruger’s entertainment isn’t only about the wildlife. Helicopter rides, fishing, golf, swimming, tennis, community visits, yoga, spa treatments and wine tastings are all available. And to end off the day, a gourmet dinner under a Bedouin-style tent followed by an astronomy lecture and gazing at the unobstructed night skies in all their brilliance might be just the ticket before hitting the proverbial sack – which, in reality, is a contemporary take on luxury safari living.

There are a fantastic range of accommodation options to choose from,

whether guests are staying in one of the allinclusive private game lodges within the park’s boundaries, or at one of the park’s own lodges or opulent tented camps.

Beyond Kruger’s borders are additional, exciting itinerary add-ons, including rhino dehorning conservation safaris or community upliftment projects. These kinds of experiences can have a huge personal impact on incentive travellers and help to leave a positive legacy behind when they return home. This is something incentive groups are increasingly requesting.

The most convenient ways for groups to reach the Kruger National Park is by taking a flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, which is an hour’s drive from the park, or flying directly from Johannesburg to Skukuza. Alternatively, Johannesburg is a six-hour drive away.

PILANESBERG & SUN CITY

Pilanesberg National Park fills a volcano crater that erupted 1 300 million years ago. This geographical phenomenon spans an area of 550 km², is the fourth largest park in South Africa and home to over 7 000 animals, including the big five.

Pilanesberg has several luxury lodges and three exclusive-use lodges. All of these meet the same excellent luxury safari standard and offer groups memorable experiences such as cooling off in a splash pool overlooking a savanna sunset and lantern-lit dining in the bush. Other benefits to visiting Pilanesberg are that it is a malaria-free zone, and it’s accessible from O.R. Tambo International Airport 220 km away or the Pilanesberg International Airport inside the park. Plus, a mere 40-minute drive away is Sun City – the entertainment mecca developed by hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. This means that after the bush, guests can dress up for a glamorous gala dinner at Sun CityAnd in the morning, there are even more activities to choose from.

Sun City Waterworld boasts an array of water activities, while the Zip 2000 is a 2 km zipline that reaches an average speed of 120 km/h. Groups can wander the Maze of the Lost City, the largest permanent maze in the southern hemisphere, which is available for private events. Or they can relax at the Valley of Waves, a man-made beach complete with waves lapping against its soft sands. The Valley of Waves also makes a spectacular venue for private events, with 16 event spaces to choose from, the largest of which can cater for up to 1 000 guests.

Should your incentive tour require conferencing facilities, the Sun City Convention Centre has a selection of premium venues for intimate or large-scale events, with 27 upgraded Sun City conference rooms, three convention centres and two auditoriums.

Sun City also prides itself on unsurpassed fivestar luxury accommodation at the Palace of the Lost City and the Cascades hotel. There’s also the four-star Sun City Hotel and Casino, and the contemporary Cabanas.