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Six Travel Agents have returned from a 12-day famil, hosted by South African Tourism and its partner South African Airways, after winning a trip through the tourism board late last year.

The winners were picked from a pool of 684 travel agents and secured their prize by providing the best answers to the question, ‘Why do you want to ‘Meet South Africa’’.

Highlights from the famil included an encounter with a herd of more than 40 elephants wading through a watering hole and sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards and caracals. The group also took a Cape sidecar tour through Franschhoek and rode tuk-tuk’s through Soweto.

“We loved visiting captivating Cape Town, zip lining in Elgin valley and tasting gourmet wine and food in the winelands. Then game drives and safari lodges in Madikwe Game reserve stepped it up again – seeing African animals up close and enjoying delicious dinners under the stars with lions roaring and elephants trumpeting in the background was completely surreal – this famil was the best ever,” said Travel Agent Alex Lee from Travel & Cruise Bright.

Exploring these small towns in the beautiful country taught the agents of South Africa’s diversity, from its world-renowned wildlife safaris, winelands and food culture to its reputation as an adventure playground.

The Agents also completed a SA Specialist online training course, designed to inspire and educate Australian and New Zealand based travel agents and equip them with the tools and insights to promote South Africa as a top tourism destination.

Following the success of the trip, South African Tourism, along with South African Airways, Taj Hotels, Grotbos Private Nature Reserve and Lion Sands Game Reserve, are once again offering travel agents and wholesalers based in Australia and New Zealand the chance to win one of six spots on an eight-night famil to South Africa.

This trip will see the winners take part in a series of quintessentially South African activities, including seeing the ‘Big 5’ on an iconic wildlife safari, drinking their way through the Cape Winelands and Great White Shark cage diving, if they dare. This prize includes all international and domestic flights and taxes, accommodation, meals and activities.

To enter the competition entrants need to complete the SA Specialist online training course, and in the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s Centenary, answer in 30 words or less which Mandela-inspired tourist attraction they would visit and why.