South African Tourism (SAT) has wrapped up its second Mega Lekker Escape, sending 100 Australian and New Zealand travel agents on ten simultaneous famils across South Africa.
The initiative, designed to immerse agents in the country’s rich landscapes, culture and conservation efforts, culminated in a two-day training event at Sun City resort in the Pilanesberg game reserve.
The Mega Lekker Escape came against the backdrop of a large increase in Australian visitors to South Africa.
In 2024, the country welcomed nearly 90 per cent of its pre-pandemic Aussie visitor numbers (111,000 in 2019), including a significant 14.3 per cent rise over 2023. Moreover, New Zealand visitor numbers in 2024 (20,000) were 25 per cent up on pre-COVID figures.
With 100 per cent of Mega Lekker agents first-time visitors to South Africa, SAT says the program plays a key role in breaking misconceptions and building confidence to sell the destination.
And the results speak for themselves, with 90 per cent of last year’s participants booking South African trips within 12 months.
The Mega Lekker Escape continues to grow too, with a 10 per cent increase in participating agents this year. “Lekker,” meaning nice or enjoyable, perfectly describes the experience designed to showcase South Africa’s diverse offerings.
The program emphasised sustainability, conservation, community engagement and cultural diversity. But it also promoted travel beyond traditional tourist hotspots, highlighting hidden gems and supporting 35 small businesses.
Nine Aussie and Kiwi wholesalers – including Adventure World, Bench Africa and MW Tours, among others – arranged and hosted the famils.
Experiences included:
- Rhino rescue missions and visits to endangered species centres
- Zulu village cultural immersions
- Jewellery-making workshops supporting vocational training
- Pack for a Purpose donations for underprivileged schools
- Conservation projects at the Jabulani Elephant Rescue Centre
The Sun City training event provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and networking. The program included one-on-one meetings with South African operators, evening functions with local comedians, and a presentation evening where each group shared highlights from their journey. A farewell lunch aboard the luxurious Rovos Rail train capped off the experience.
“This initiative is critical to our ongoing post-Covid recovery, as the pandemic resulted in a significant turnover of travel agents in the market, and among that we lost agents with destination expertise,” South African Tourism’s Chief Operating Officer Darryl Erasmus said.
“We’ve seen the success of bridging this gap with first-hand experience in terms of sales, however most importantly, the inclusion of SMMEs, sustainable and community-based experiences fulfils our mission as South African Tourism to ensure that tourism grows and contributes to inclusive economic participation and opportunities and is enjoyed by all South Africans as well as those who visit.”
For more information on South Africa Tourism, visit www.southafrica.net/au/en.
