translation services, while our hotels are trained to
better understand the dietary habits of Chinese guests
and provide the kind of itineraries that cater for
Chinese MICE visitors. At large shopping malls and
airports in Cape Town, Johannesburg and other major
cities, Union Pay is on offer too.”
Johannesburg (Joburg) is the country’s main
business destination and has hosted Africa’s largest
meetings and incentives expo, Meetings Africa, since
its inception in 2005. Though relatively small compared
with expos in Europe or North America, it’s the only
comprehensive showcase for planners who want to tap
into the continent’s conference and incentive offerings.
This year it welcomed 58 exhibitors from 15
African countries and some 250 hosted buyers at
Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre, where it
was revealed that a majority of incentives and venues
remain in and around Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best group activities
and venue options in these locales.
JOBURG BY OPEN-TOP BUS
City sightseeing buses are a familiar sight in major
cities thanks to their glaring red paint jobs and open
rooftops. This is one of the best ways to see Joburg’s
CBD, offering delegates the chance to hop on and off
at will (accompanied by a guide at all times). Plugged
into earphones, passengers receive a real-time and
informative explanation of the city’s prominent
monuments, famous streets and districts as the bus
passes them, offering a poignant insight into the
troubled history of South Africa’s largest city.
LILLIESLEAF FARM
Located in Joburg’s Rivonia suburb, Lilliesleaf is the
former stronghold of the anti-apartheid liberation
movement. A place of refuge for the movement’s
leaders including Nelson Mandela, the farm was
bought by the Communist Party in the 1960s for use as
an HQ. On July 11, 1964, a police raid took place
at Lilliesleaf that led to the unearthing of liberation
struggle documents and the subsequent incarceration
of many of the movement’s key players. Today,
Lilliesleaf is a World Heritage site, and groups can
tour the farm’s buildings, which contain artefacts and
interactive digital experiences.
SOWETO TOUR
Home to the FNB football stadium made famous
by the Fifa 2010 World Cup, Soweto is one of the
country’s largest townships, housing close to five
million inhabitants. Soweto is massive, but minivan
tours are a great way of navigating the area, guided
by locals who know the area inside out. Stop off at
Nelson Mandela’s former home for a quick tour, get
delegates bungee jumping from the graffitied Orlando
Twin Towers, shop for local trinkets at street stalls and
Clockwise from
left:FNB Stadium;
white rhinos; Sport
Helicopters; and
Cavalli Wine and
Stud FarmJUNE (^2016) businesstraveller.asia
50 IMeet in...South Africa
take a photo outside thecurrent home of Archbishop
Desmond Tutu. Lunch at a local outdoor eatery is
included in the tour.
SUN CITY AND BALLOON SAFARI
South Africa’s answer to an integrated resort (in
the vein of those in Macau and Las Vegas), Sun City
incorporates four hotels, two championship golf
courses, gambling, a man-made beach and waterpark,
wildlife viewing and hot-air ballooning, to name just a
few attractions.
The resort is extremely popular with Chinese tourists
year-round, says Nokuthula Nkosi, media relations
officer at Sun City.“Our biggest market comes from
Asia – China predominantly. Our Chinese market is so
huge that we’ve even incorporated Chinese New Year
into our events calendar.
“Gambling is obviously a draw for the large groups
that come,”she adds,“but we are happy to be able
to offer game tours to see the ‘big five’ at Pilanesberg
National Park, which is malaria-free so requires
no vaccinations.”
The big five refers to the African lion, elephant,
cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros (white or black),
which can be seen on drives across Pilanesberg’s
1,500-acre (607-hectare) reserve, and from the
awesome vantage point of a hot-air balloon. Rides
can be organised through Sun City; pick-up from the
hotel is at 4.30am for an early morning game drive
before a 6am balloon flight.