As always, Meetings Africa was a whirlwind of meetings! It’s a time to meet with people from across the globe who share a common interest – Africa. The theme for this year’s Meetings Africa was ‘Shared Economies’ and how, through this, we will advance Africa as a global travel destination together.

All in all, we met with 36 agents from USA, Poland, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Italy, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Australia, Mexico and the United Kingdom. We found that these agents were here to truly learn about Africa and more specifically the unique countries within our continent.

Following on from the show Giltedge hosted 5 agents for a FAM trip to Cape Town. With only a 3 day whirlwind we focussed on the “must-see” areas for first time travellers to Cape Town; the Cape Peninsula and the Cape Winelands.

We arrived at Cape Town International Airport late evening on 28th February and exhausted from Meetings Africa, the group enjoyed some free time to relax and explore on their own.

Day 2: 1st March – Cape Peninsula Excursion

Day two’s goal was to see & discover as much as possible! We set off from the hotel and headed for the scenic fishing village of Hout Bay, travelling via Camps Bay and Llandudno, for a morning adrenaline ride to Seal Island on power boats. The boat skipper shared stories of shipwrecks, sea life, and ghost ships, all of which provide much notoriety to the Cape Peninsula history.

After the fun-filled powerboating trip, with windswept hair, the group continued on their scenic journey via Chapmans Peak and Noordhoek to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Here they could explore the point on foot or relax in the funicular for the short ride to the top for a photo at the lighthouse.

Lunchtime called for the ravenous group to indulge in a seafood lunch at Two Oceans Restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

After lunch, we headed for Boulders Beach for an up-close walking experience amongst the resident African penguins. Then onward via Simons Town, home to South Africa’s navy, finally passing the brightly coloured bathing beach houses at Muizenberg for our last stop, a relaxing afternoon with high tea at the Vineyard Hotel.

Dinner that evening was hosted by Belthazar, a Victoria & Alfred Waterfront favourite, known for its tender steaks and flavourful seafood. Dinner was thoroughly enjoyed but the night was still young and so we strolled across to Mitchells Tavern for a local craft beer and a taste of the local live music.

Day 3:  2nd March – A day in the Winelands

When one visits Cape Town, it is a sin not to visit our wonderful winelands! There is a wonderful juxtaposition of old Cape Dutch architecture and contemporary design. Our first wine farm we visited was Delaire Graff Wine Estate, a modern state of the art wine farm which boasts a collection of rare art and garden sculptures. Here the agents were treated to a cellar tour, wine tasting in the wine lounge, and a tour of the estate.

For a contrast, we then visited Boschendal Wine Estate (the second oldest wine farm in South Africa) for a leisurely picnic lunch and wine tasting under the shade of the great oak trees. Here you are confronted by rich history that is steadfast in South Africa’s wine industry and has proven to be one of the most popular estates in the area.

Late afternoon, we returned to Cape Town and the groups 3rd and final hotel. The African Pride 15 on Orange.

We celebrated their last evening at GOLD Restaurant with a fun, interactive drumming experience to get the appetite going. This unique African restaurant is a great experience for those looking to taste traditional African cuisine. Shared platters are brought to the table by gorgeous African staff, face painting & entertainment is included – our agents felt the beat of the African drum and joined soulful voices in song & energetic dancing.

Day 4: 3rd March – Depart

We had so much fun getting to know this wonderful groups of people and look forward to a future of collaboration.

A big thanks to The Table Bay Hotel, The Vineyard Hotel & Spa and African Pride 15 on Orange, Delaire Graff Estate, Boschendal Wine Estate, Adventure Works, Two Oceans Restaurant, and Belthazar Restaurant & Wine Bar for assisting us in making this FAM trip a great success.