As part of its continuous efforts at sustaining and increasing steady flow of Nigerian tourists to South Africa, the South African Tourism, Regional Office in West Africa covering Ghana and Nigeria, has organized Familiarization Trip for its 2019 Specialist Trainees Class to the rainbow nation.
The week-long trip has trained specialists from major cities across West African countries of Ghana and Nigeria. In total, there were 9 trainees from Nigeria and 6 from Ghana. Also on the tour were two media from Nigeria and one from Ghana.
The city break-down are; Lagos has 4, Abuja 3, Port Harcourt 2, Accra 3 and Kumasi 3.
The tour began from Johannesburg, one of the four [4] South African Capitals, and from the commercial capital of the rainbow nation to the region of Limpopo.
In Limpopo, the group spent two unforgettable nights at the famous Zebula Golf Estate and Spa.
The first morning, the group participated in light Volley Ball Game between the Ghanaian and Nigerian Team, and later between the women and men, of which incredibly, the ladies won.
Just like every visit to Zebula won’t be complete without game viewing, every visitor was given the opportunity to ride an off-road bike to see some animals in their real natural habitat.
At the luxurious golf estate and spa, impalas, zebras, monkeys among others are common sight going about their normal activities uninterrupted.
For the group, some of them are travelling out of their countries for the very first time; it was a lifetime experience of luxury and excitement.
The second day at the estate saw every member of the group took their turn in the spa, which lasted almost two hours and handled by well-trained professionals in an exquisite environment.
As for Limpopo, one thing that would last forever in the minds of the participants was the early morning Hot Air Balloon Flight. The group took off in two different air balloon flights, across the green and forest that enables all passengers to see as far as 3 to 4 kilometres away at an altitude of 24, 000 feet.
After about 45 minutes in the sky, the two pilots successfully landed the balloons on the Runway of Zebula Air Strip inside the Estate and Spa. On completion of that memorable experience and breakfast, the group departed for Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg to the sunny city of Durban in Kwazulu Natal Province.
On touch down at King Shaka International at about 4 pm South African time, the group made the 35 kilometres journey to the Sun Coast Hotel where they all spent the night.
By day 5 in the morning after breakfast, the group was set for the long-anticipated 2 hours trip to the famous Shakaland Village, where a film with the same title was shot years ago that has over the years become a must-visit for many tourists.
On day 6, the group enmeshed and indulged itself on several activities in Durban from city tour to dining in some of the wonderful restaurants in town.
Again, a visit to Durban will not be complete without a trip to the beach, where visitors can savour the beauty of the India Ocean. Just by the beach are also the famous Durban Natural Science Museum, Port Natal Maritime Museum and the Ushaka Marine World where Dolphins entertain visitors.
Day 7 was emotional to the group because of the wonderful experience in Durban. By 9 am, the group departed for King Shaka International Airport, where they all bid Kwazulu Natal Province, bye.
Upon arriving Johannesburg, the group under the stewardship of Mohammed Tanko Kwajaffa, Trade Relations Manager with the South African Tourism Regional Office in Lagos, headed straight to Soweto, where the group visited 8119, Vilakazi Street, the most famous street in South Africa where President Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie Mandela once lived.
Addressing the specialists on the eve of their return home on Day 8, Thekiso Rakolojane, South African Tourism Regional Head for West Africa, praised the group for the orderly manner and professionalism with which they conducted themselves throughout the trip.
Thekiso noted that this relationship would not just be a one-way thing, but a symbiotic relation of which the specialists are also placed in good stead to sell Nigeria and Ghana to South African tourists.
On day 9, the group returned to their respective countries without any incident.
Apart from the specialists, three media personalities were also on the trip, which includes 2 from Nigeria and 1 from Ghana
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