Save the Date for OurAfrica.Travel 2025: 17 - 21 Feb 2025

21 August 2024

The countdown has begun for the sixth edition of the OurAfrica.Travel virtual trade show, set to take place from 17th to 21st February 2025.

The previous edition, hosted in February 2024, facilitated 8,510 one-to-one meetings across various time zones, connecting 479 buyers and 23 journalists from around the globe with 222 exhibitors from Africa and her Indian Ocean islands. Participants praised the event for its seamless organization and valuable networking opportunities, generating over 10,000 profile views and countless meaningful connections.

“The feedback from participants, both buyers and exhibitors, is always phenomenal,” confirmed Storm Napier.  “Set up out of necessity during Covid to support the industry, Storm and I are delighted that the show still holds so much relevance and affection for the industry and remains a valued event on the tourism calendar”, said Allie Hunt.

As in previous years, participation remains completely free for travel agents, tour operators, media, and travel buyers, ensuring accessibility for all. Exhibitor costs will also be kept affordable, promoting inclusivity within the industry. As with every year, the show will continue its commitment to making a positive impact on conservation and community initiatives, with donation recipients for 2024 including With My Own Two Hands which runs agricultural and water projects in East Africa and the HERD Elephant orphanage in South Africa.

 Join us in making the sixth OurAfrica.Travel virtual trade show another landmark event for the travel industry, kicking off the trade show season in style! Please register your interest on  https://ourafrica.travel/

CONTACTS: Storm Napier on exhibitors@ourafrica.travel or Allie Hunt on buyers@ourafrica.travel
For any media enquiries email Claire Roadley on claire@umlingo.co.uk

Key Highlights of OurAfrica.Travel 2025:

• One-on-One Meetings: Engage in 20-minute virtual meetings.

• Networking: Connect using the chat function and share live news on the feed, building valuable relationships without the need, cost or carbon footprint of travel.

• Awareness:  News stories are shared on the website and then distributed to the trade press

• Impact: Donations are made to support both a conservation and community project every show.

• Accommodation Prizes: Rewarding the most engaged, active participants.

New Client Announcement: Umlingo meets the “magic” of Mashatu

1 August 2024.

Following an incredibly successful media trip last week, Umlingo Travel PR is delighted to announce its  newest client ... Mashatu Game Reserve, located in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in  Botswana.

Watch a short video of the trip on Instagram for a taster.
📽 Danita de Canha

Meaning the "Land of Giants," Mashatu offers unparalleled wildlife experiences away from the crowds, including encounters with the largest herds of elephants on private land in Africa and some of the best big cat sightings you will find anywhere.

Why is it called the Land of Giants?

Mashatu is home to Africa’s 7 Giants:
🐘 Largest land mammal, the  elephant
🦒 Tallest mammal, the giraffe
🦁 Largest cat, the lion
🦌 Largest antelope, the eland
🥚 Largest bird, the ostrich
⚖ Heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard
🌳 Largest trees – the iconic Baobab’s which tower over the dramatic Northern Tuli landscapes

For me it is also the vast landscapes that stretch as far as they eye can see -  and the endless skies, which, thanks to the combination of dust and beautiful light, put on a show of the most magnificent sunsets imaginable.

Mashatu is all about adventure – whether you are exploring on one of their “Hold on Tight” game drives (where you navigate sheer riverbeds like they are molehills!), on guided walking safaris, by mountain bike or on horseback - not to mention their photographic safaris where you can while away the hours in the award-winning underground Matebole photo hide. In just 3 hours last week we saw more than 200 elephants come down to drink, and a plethora of other wildlife and birds! Simply magical (Umlingo means magic - and there really is no better description, so our partnership seems to have been aligned by the stars!).

Mashatu offers a choice of six properties including the ultra-exclusive Euphorbia Mashatu, family-friendly Mashatu Lodge and  Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu, the more rustic Mashatu Tent Camp, the  exclusive-use, luxury Kolokolo Safari Home and the self-catering Shalimpo Safari Home.

Having visited Mashatu eight years ago with my Dad, this visit felt like a homecoming, with most of the original staff, trackers and guides still there – who all remembered me straight away! And it’s these passionate, warm and highly experienced people who truly set Mashatu aside.

It was also a huge honour to spend time on the press trip with owners Stephen Lansdown CBE and his wife Maggie, and Managing Director, Mark Kelly.

Thanks to the lovely journalists who joined us last week Emma Gregg, Andrew Dent, Ian Packham and Tessa Buhrmann.

OurAfrica.Travel 2024 ends on a high

25 February 2024.
Umlingo Travel PR was proud to handle the PR for the show again in 2024.

As part of the event we shared over 30 news stories from the exhibitors - which you are welcome to enjoy and share.

The SHOW IN NUMBERS

The fifth instalment of the popular OurAfrica.Travel digital trade show took place from 5th – 9th February 2024, showcasing 222 exhibitors and facilitating meetings with 479 buyers and 23 media from around the globe. An impressive 8,510 meetings took place on the platform over the five days (nearly 2000 more than the previous year!), with over 10,000 profile views and 44,291 messages were exchanged on the networking chat.

Over 30 news stories were also shared from the exhibitors. Feedback from participants has been very encouraging, starting the trade events season in style - with this growth in numbers across the board reinforcing the need and value of a virtual show.

This year’s show continued with the format of five days of meetings, with the important additional networking opportunities either side of the show.  Once again, a week of agent destination training ahead of the show, was hosted by The Africa Hub.  Other industry partners for this year included Wetu, ATTA®, Africa’s Eden, Nightsbridge and Umlingo Travel PR.  Key sponsors included Destination Africa, We Are Africa, Bahia Mar and Tourplan.

This spirit of collaboration and ubuntu is what makes this virtual show such a success – keeping it affordable, inclusive and accessible to all – not to mention the bonus of its carbon neutral footprint.

POSITIVE IMPACT

OurAfrica.Travel is committed to driving sustainable tourism and giving back to both community and conservation projects.  Participants were invited to nominate their favourite charities and grassroots projects – resulting in 32 worthy causes being showcased during the show.  A shortlist was voted for by exhibitors and buyers on the event feed and across social media platforms.  A final poll was held to pick the two winners, who will each receive a R12,000 donation on behalf of the show.  Organisers Storm Napier and Allie Hunt are delighted to announce the winners as:

• Community cause – With My Own Two Hands towards providing sustainable clean water and agriculture solutions in East Africa to generate socio-economic opportunities and a more equitable world.

• Conservation cause -  HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) towards caring for orphaned and displaced elephants, including little Phabeni whose video stole all our hearts this year. 

PRIZES FOR AFRICA!

A whopping 36 accommodation prizes were donated by incredibly generous exhibitors to reward and thank some the most active, engaged buyers. Buyers earned points for participating and the top 150 on the leader board went into a luck draw to win stays for two people sharing staying at some of Africa’s most renowned hotels and lodges. Congratulations to all the worthy winners, which have all been showcased on Instagram,

Dagmar Jacisinova from Village Travel in Massachusetts, United States was the winner of the “Sharing a meeting photo” competition, winning herself a US$75 gift voucher for her lovely shot of her meeting with Edwin Steyn from Anderson and Harvey Luxury Safari Outfitters.

Botswana WTM event and Downloadable News Bytes - November 2023

Umlingo Travel PR was proud to collaborate with Tsessabe Travel Marketing and the Storrington Collective on a networking event during World Travel Market for Botswana Tourism, handling the media side of things.

As part of the event we collated some of the latest news stories we could find from Botswana, including recently opened properties and some new ones coming in 2024 and beyond - which you are welcome to catch up on and share. Download the PDF of Botswana’s News Bytes.

OurAfrica.Travel returns 5 - 9 February 2024

Umlingo Travel PR is proud to be working with Storm, Allie and the OAT team for the third year running…

OurAfrica.Travel, the leading virtual trade show for the African and Indian Ocean tourism industry, has announced that its 2024 edition will take place from 5 -9 February.  The 2023 show facilitated over 6 500 meetings, 44 192 networking chats, and received over 85 000 profile views globally. The show is always preceded by a week of agent destination training in partnership with The Africa Hub, so if you’re a travel agent or tour operator who wants to extend your African product knowledge, meet new suppliers and reconnect with industry colleagues, save the date and register your free place via ourafrica.travel.  The show is also free to attend for travel writers and trade press.

See you in February!

Mosetlha Bush Camp and Eco Lodge - Bush Telegraph 2022

Open to read and /or download the PDF version with links

OurAfrica.Travel Returns in February 2023

14 September 2022

Dates for the fourth OurAfrica.Travel virtual trade show have been announced as 20 - 24 February 2023.  Whilst in-person trade shows are thankfully back in full-force, the reality is that there is still a place for online alternatives which are affordable, accessible and inclusive to all - especially whilst the market is still in recovery.  Watch the Save The Date video here.

 The third OurAfrica.Travel which ran from 22 March to 1 April 2022 clocked up an impressive 9,794 one-to-one meetings across various time zones over two weeks - as well as over 51,000 networking chats and 128, 000 profile visits.  The show connected over 500 buyers from around the globe with 240 exhibitors based in Africa and the Indian Ocean islands - and feedback from participants was phenomenal. You can watch the “wrap video” here.

“We have been seeing a welcome surge of interest in Africa from the market and tour operators are reporting an increase in enquiries and bookings for 2023. A lot of travel companies have been and continue to recruit staff again, so OurAfrica.Travel will be a great way to kick off 2023 on the right foot with strategic partnerships firmly in place to meet that demand” says co-organiser Storm Napier. 

 As in previous years, there will again be no cost for travel agents, tour operators, media or travel buyers to participate - and the costs for exhibitors will be kept affordable and therefore accessible. The show is also focussed on making a positive impact on conservation and community, with some of the proceeds donated to two nominated charities. The recipients for 2022 were For Rangers which raises funds for anti-poaching rangers across Africa and the Mukambi Community School in Zambia’s Kafue National Park.  The team will also again arrange prizes for the agents and operators who attend and engage.

“We have taken on board some of the feedback from the last show, and because teams are still stretched post-pandemic, we have decided to condense the show to one week for 2023 so that buyers can better focus their time and attention on having productive meetings for themselves as they choose whom they want to meet ” confirmed co-organiser Allie Hunt.

Fore more information visit ourafrica.travel

13 July 2022

Ever felt a little wistful of those intrepid adventurers who go off on expeditions – sleeping wild under the stars - or in a tent on the roof of their landy?

Well, Onguma in Namibia makes this dream a reality! They have custom built a “Dream Cruiser” with a romantic upper deck featuring a beautiful four-poster bed and lounge area – with an incredible bathroom downstairs complete with shower, flush toilet and basin.

Couples are dropped off at a beautiful spot overlooking a waterhole in the Onguma Nature Reserve, bordering Etosha just before sunset to enjoy sundowners on the upper deck. The chef delivers a decadent picnic dinner to linger over as darkness slowly falls.

The comfy bed, beautifully draped in nets, must surely be the perfect spot to watch for shooting stars and admire the endless Milky Way thanks to no light pollution … surrounded by the thrilling night sounds of the bush.

There is hot coffee and homemade rusks and biscuits to look forward to in the morning as the sun rises - before returning to whichever of the five Onguma lodges they are staying at, for a hearty Onguma-style breakfast.

To allay any concerns, there is an canopy over the bed in case the weather changes - and a ranger is on call via a two-way radio should anyone lose their nerve in the night – but this is an incredibly special and romantic way to be completely alone in the Namibian wilderness!

Onguma Nature Reserve is located on the eastern border of Etosha National Park and is a 5 ½ hour drive from Windhoek.

The Dream Cruiser is a real bucket list experience - and will combine perfectly with a stay at the new high-end Onguma Camp Kala which opens in November 2022.

It costs N$ 7,000.00 for the vehicle per night for two people.

For more information visit https://onguma.com/
#OngumaDreamCruiser #OngumaCampKala #Onguma #Namibia

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir

“Onguma Camp Kala‘s design has been inspired by the termite mounds so prolific in this part of Namibia as well as the textures and tones of Etosha Pan to ensure an authentic sense of place.  We have brought in some of the best architects and interior designers to ensure the new camp is truly exceptional, has a light footprint on the earth and celebrates our incredible location” says Onguma Managing Partner Fritz Vorster.

21 March 2022

November 2022 will see a new high-end lodge opening on the eastern border of the famous Etosha National Park called Onguma Camp Kala. With its conical, mud plastered central tower resembling a termite mound and the whole camp elevated on wooden stilts - it is set to raise the benchmark to a whole new level - in more ways than one!

The thatched camp will offer front row seats to all the wildlife action at the floodlit waterhole below - with numerous vantage points to take it all in – be it the comfortable lounge, the intimate cocktail bar or the beautiful deck - shaded by day and warmed by a fire pit at night.

The dining area has an interactive “show” kitchen and all-day pantry to ensure everyone feels right at home. Guests can while away the hours in absolute comfort in the water-level photographic hide. There is a fully equipped gym and spa treatment room with a quiet yoga deck to enjoy between game drives and bush walks.

Onguma Camp Kala was designed by Nicholas Plewman Architects whose portfolio includes some of Africa’s most iconic lodges.  True to their vision of ecological responsibility, Camp Kala will blend seamlessly into its landscape and incorporate sustainable resources wherever possible.  Interiors will be by Fox Browne Creative, renowned for their work for the likes for African Bush Camps and &Beyond. 

It doesn’t get much more exclusive than this.  Camp Kala comprises of just four guest Suites, linked by raised walkways. Spacious and private, the open-plan Guest Suites have sumptuous twin or king-sized beds with a state-of-the-art air-cooling system. The comfortable seating area is equipped with a fully stocked personal bar. A hand stitched curtain separates the beautiful bathroom with bespoke double vanities, full-size bathtubs and generous shower from the bed areas. Each Suite has its own deck with an outdoor shower, wood-fired hot tub (burning invasive tree species), loungers and a seating area with a fire pit. A walkway leads to a private, shaded sala with a king-size outdoor day bed.

Rates will start from N$13,000-00 (about £660) per person sharing per night on an All-Inclusive basis.  No under 12’s are allowed unless the whole camp is booked for exclusive use. When booked for exclusive use the camp can accommodate up to 12 guests. Guests can fly-in directly to Onguma’s private airfield.  Access is also great by road and Onguma is an easy, five-and-a-half hour self-drive from Windhoek.

For more information visit https://onguma.com/
#OngumaCampKala #Onguma #Namibia

To register your interest in attending please email:

EXHIBITORS:

Storm on exhibitors@ourafrica.travel

TRAVEL AGENTS/TOUR OPERATORS/BUYERS

Allie on buyers@ourafrica.travel.

MEDIA

Claire on claire@umlingo.co.uk.

Follow us on social media… just search for
#ourafricatravel #strongertogether.

OurAfrica.Travel is back!

1 February 2022

The travel trade collectively sighed in relief when Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands were removed, yet again, from the red list – but the reality is that many of us are still navigating our way out of the shrapnel of our beloved tourism industry.

Operators and agents are nervously calling back staff and even recruiting - praying that we can all return to normality.  And whilst the green shoots of optimism are definitely pushing through, we could probably all do with something to reignite our Africa-selling MOJO.                                                             

That much-needed spark could very well be OurAfrica.Travel which will run between 21 March and 1 April 2022.  This popular trade show, in its third year, will again be fully virtual to keep costs affordable, especially whilst the market is still in recovery. There will be some changes to the format – including lengthening the meeting times from 15 to 20 minutes as this is a key time for negotiating rates and contracting as the first show of the year – as well as inviting exhibitors from the Middle East to participate.

‘We’re all longing to travel and reconnect in person - but one of the undeniable positives that has come from the pandemic is how accessible, affordable and inclusive these online networking platforms are for smaller hotels, lodges and products – as well as bigger suppliers watching their budgets carefully still” , says OurAfrica.Travel co-organiser Allie Hunt.

OurAfrica.Travel 2021 held in March last year was an overwhelming success, clocking up almost 24,000 15-minute one-to-one meetings, across various zones, over two weeks - connecting over 1100 buyers from around the globe to 340 exhibitors based in Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Regular exhibitors include New Frontiers, Wilderness Safaris, Singita, Red Carnation Hotels, Jamala Madikwe, Onguma Nature Reserve, Chiwani Safari Camps and Rovos Rail.

As in previous years, there will again be no cost for buyers to participate - and the costs to exhibitors are still very affordable, despite the upgraded platform, which now makes it easier to book your meetings in your own time zone. Not only is the show low impact, but some of the proceeds are also donated by way of a draw to nominated charities.  The team will also again arrange numerous prizes for the agents and operators who attend.

‘This year we hope to get even more exhibitors involved and potentially add in more media opportunities too as travel steps back into the limelight – for all the right reasons!  Many of our loyal travel writers are itching to get back out to explore some of the incredible attractions Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands and The Middle East have to offer, says co-organiser Storm Napier. 

Africa is Open for Business!

15 October 2021

The announcement on 7 October that most countries in Africa were coming off the UK’s dreaded “red list” has been welcomed with much excitement and jubilation. Tour Operators and travel agents have seen a big jump in enquiries, airlines have put their prices up by around 150% due to increased demand - and social media channels are buzzing with frantic questions about travel insurance, Covid-19 testing both ends and paperwork! Many people have not seen family and friends for nearly 3 years and are itching to reunite - and wiggle their toes in African soil again! I’m desperate for my dose of safari too!

My own family is heading off to Mallorca (fingers crossed we are 3rd-time lucky!) for the October half-term and I have to admit, getting my head around all the various boxes that need to be ticked and by when - before, during and after our trip are a little daunting.
… And that’s just for a short haul break.

I am on many, many South African expat groups and the flurry of questions are the same on all of them - so I thought I’d collate some of the answers I have found in my own research in an easy document. It might not be 100% - but hopefully gives the basics to fact check yourself!

Tuk Tuk South For Rangers

10 September 2021

Africa is bleeding without its tourists. The impact of 18 months of lockdown has been devastating. Revenue from tourism is central to the conservation of some of the planet’s most important habitats and wildlife; without it, many of these are in trouble. Poaching, bushmeat, illegal logging and the exploitation of natural resources have all risen dramatically. Those charged with preventing this, wildlife rangers, have seen an increase in their workload, despite many having their funding and salaries slashed. Rangers need help.

With this in mind, Jasper, Josh, Ivo and Robbie, four conservation minded adventurers living in Kenya, decided to embark on a daring and bone rattling expedition to raise both awareness and money for rangers on the frontline – by driving from Kenya to Cape Town in Tuk Tuks! 

The Tuk South team is in the process of transforming its two 8HP Piaggio Tuk Tuks into machines capable of surviving 7000 kms of famously bumpy roads. Installing everything from skid plates and roll cages to solar panels and fold out kitchens (the progress of which you can follow online), their Tuk Tuk’s safari capabilities are slowly being realised. 

As they journey from the equator to the southernmost tip of Africa, they will be crossing nearly 35⁰ of latitude and travelling through 7 countries, elephants, jungles, mountains, savanna and the ever hospitable Kalahari desert. The thrills and spills of their journey will be shared on social media as they go. Tuk South (@joshporters) has over 155,000 followers on TikTok, clocking up an impressive 15 million views, with many of their followers sharing their passion for sustainability, adventure and conservation. They will be putting their video-making skills to good use - visiting many conservancies, parks and reserves on the way down and telling their ranger’s stories. These stories will form the backbone of a documentary they aim to make on Covids impact on conservation (trailer below). Their content will also cover a healthy dose of adventure and the stories of the grassroot sustainability projects, conservation initiatives and community projects they search out along the way.  

Be sure to watch their Documentary trailer 

There are a number of ways you can show support via their website:

• Sponsor their expedition ($500 gets your logo sticker on their Tuk Tuk - or they offer corporate packages for a sticker and a mention of thanks/quick company synopsis in one of their videos)

• Donate to help them raise $10,000 for the charity “For Rangers”

• Subscribe to their YouTube channel or follow them on TikTok - and ‘share’ their posts.
  
  #TikTok #tuktuk #TukSouth #tuktuktales #conservation #sustainability #SustainableTourism #CSR #SDGs #TravelBetter #COP26 #ForRangers

Belsentiero’s Cool New Pool … Under the Tuscan Sun

25 June 2021

Delighted to share the first photos of the brand new infinity pool at Belsentiero - with its fantastic views from its lookout on the slopes of Monte Amiata over Tuscany’s rolling hills and valleys.

We love options - and this is an incredible alternative to the equally lush hot tub! It’s the perfect spot to cool off and watch the sun set after a busy day exploring the one of Italy’s most special places - so beautiful in fact that the Val d’Orcia is an official World Heritage area.

Discover the countless charming hilltop towns, cafes and restaurants, wineries, and thermal spas … or just relax on the veranda sipping an Aperol Spritz or glass of Prosecco! Owners Jan and Renzo know all the best spots for an authentic Italian experience and are happy to share their insider knowledge with their guests. They offer a range of packages to suit all interests. I’m also told South African born Jan is a wizz on the barbeque/braai - and I cannot wait to experience this myself!

The intimate villa Bed and Breakfast sleeps just 8 guests - ensuring an exclusive experience and is ideally located near Pienza - roughly half-way between Rome and Florence.