Are these the things great journeys are made of?
LOCAL NEWS
South Africa shines in top culinary awards
The 5th annual World Culinary Awards has unveiled its list of winners, and South Africa has emerged as a culinary powerhouse, taking centre stage in Africa’s dining scene for 2024. South Africa was crowned Africa’s Best Culinary Destination, while Cape Town claimed the title of Africa’s Best Culinary City Destination. Epice in Franschhoek dazzled as Africa’s Best Restaurant, and Siba The Restaurant at The Table Bay Hotel was honoured as Africa’s Best Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant.
Celebrating the innovative spirit in South Africa’s food scene, Salsify at the Roundhouse in Camps Bay was named Africa’s Best Landmark Restaurant, and Cape Town’s SALON received the title of Africa’s Best New Restaurant. In the unique category of farm-to-table, Babel at Babylonstoren set the standard, while TANG at the V&A Waterfront captured the Best Asian Cuisine award, and The 11th Floor in Bedfordview claimed Africa’s Best Rooftop Restaurant.
This year’s winners were chosen through an extensive global voting process, with culinary professionals and food lovers alike casting their votes. These accolades highlight South Africa’s position as a top culinary destination in Africa and a leader in innovative dining experiences.
MICE
The things shaping incentive travel in 2025
As we look ahead to 2025, incentive travel is set to transform in exciting ways! Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all programmes — here’s where we’re headed:
Culinary delights: More than just great food, clients are craving gourmet experiences that nourish both body and soul. Expect farm-to-table menus, organic dining, and wellness-infused culinary journeys.
Transformative travel: Travel that challenges and inspires personal growth is in high demand. Whether it’s yoga retreats or mindfulness journeys, clients want immersive programs that leave them feeling recharged.
High-tech wellness: Spa treatments are getting a futuristic upgrade with cryotherapy, hyperbaric therapy, and more. Clients are seeking cutting-edge wellness solutions to optimise their health while they travel.
Digital detox: As life gets more digital, the desire to disconnect grows. It’s anticipated that 2025 will see more clients opting for retreats that encourage a total break from technology in serene, eco-conscious settings.
The future of incentive travel is about personalisation, well-being, and unforgettable experiences. Next year is shaping up to be a year where wellness meets adventure, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
LEISURE
Accolades for Tintswalo Boulders
Tintswalo Boulders has been recognised as one of the world’s top 100 hotels by Fodor’s Travel, an authoritative travel resource for over eight decades. The highly selective 2025 Fodor’s Finest Hotels list was curated by 750 seasoned writers and hotel experts from around the globe, narrowing down an initial selection of 700,000 hotels to the final 100, representing the top 0.014% worldwide.
Fodor’s, which began publishing travel guides in 1936, draws on a global network of local writers who provide insights for diverse destinations and budgets across over 7,500 locations. Tintswalo Boulders is ranked among the Top 10 Hotels in Africa, joining other notable hotels such as Belmond Mount Nelson in Cape Town and Cheetah Plains in Sabi Sand, alongside other African entries from Morocco and Kenya.
With sweeping views over Boulders Beach and its renowned African penguin colony, Tintswalo Boulders combines maritime charm with luxurious accommodation. Each of its nine double suites is individually styled, some featuring private balconies, and the property can be booked as a private villa.
DESTINATION FOCUS
Breathtaking Botswana beckons!
Botswana offers captivating safari experiences in legendary wilderness areas that are renowned for their superlative wildlife and beautiful landscapes. In the north, Chobe National Park is famous for its vast elephant herds, lions, buffalo, and rich birdlife along the Chobe River. The Okavango Delta, with its intricate maze of floodplains, lagoons, and islands, provides a unique water-based safari experience, best explored by mokoro canoe to observe rare birds, leopards, and wild dogs.
Meanwhile, the Makgadikgadi Pans present a striking contrast with their stark, salt-encrusted plains that burst to life in the rainy season, attracting migrating zebra, wildebeest, and flocks of flamingos. Together, these regions highlight Botswana’s remarkable ecological diversity and beauty and are the ingredients for a great safari.