South Africa INDABA
Trip Report May 2008
By: Sarah Fazendin
May 7, 2008 – International Flight OK, so I’m not quite in South Africa yet. On the plane to New York is more like it. One suggestion, as I was sitting on the tarmac in Denver as the flight was running a bit late… may be a good idea, of course if you have the time, is fly to NYC the day before the international flight and have a nice night in the city before heading to South Africa. This would avoid any last minute delays, and therefore stress, at the outset of your trip.
My South African Airways flight departs from JFK airport in New York, and everything was on time (in fact we arrived into Dakar over one hour early!) and efficient. Quite a few passengers got off at Dakar, so I was able to score an empty middle row and get some beauty rest en route to Johannesburg.
As Sawubona, the South African Airways in-flight magazine tells me, INDABA is growing with last year’s INDABA attendance at 12,523 and this year 13,404 attendees expected. The article also has my interest piqued with the mention of the “exotic islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago”… which after a quick Google search is, I learn, is a protected national park area in Mozambique. I’ll have to check that out!
May 8, 2008 – Arrival in Durban Essentially a “lost day”, our international flight arrives in Johannesburg over one hour early. So I do what any self-respecting African travel professional would do and make my way to the bar for a few African beers before the connecting flight to Durban and overnight at the Protea Umhlanga hotel.
May 9, 2008 -- Durban The weather in Durban is quite nice, humid but comfortable in the shade. Our hotel, the Protea Umhlanga, is experiencing some problems with the water, it comes on and off. The manager assures me this is the first time this has ever happened, but I’m skeptical. Breakfast, which is included in the price, is just OK. Tomorrow morning I may try the private café in the courtyard just in front of the hotel.
The beach looks inviting, but I’m told that the waters are full of sharks so it’s not advisable to swim in the ocean.
The Umhlanga area of Durban is nice and quiet, and very different than Durban proper. While one must always remain vigilant, I fee safer in this location, despite the fact that it’s a bit outside of the main town area and the ICC, where the INDABA conference will be taking place.
This evening The Fazendin Portfolio sponsored a dinner event for the APTA delegates participating on a South Africa fam trip and other APTA members in the area. We had about 40 agents for an intimate dinner, and it was great hearing about their African adventure thus far. We had many “first timers” in the group, which was great to see, and as always the APTA group was very professional and enthused about selling the continent of Africa.
May 10 and 11, 2008 -- INDABA The first day of INDABA is full of excitement and energy. We arrive early to claim our badges and have a look through the official exhibitor booklet and plan for the meetings of the day. INDABA usually provides attendees with a lovely bag as well as some great reading materials. To avoid carrying these heavy things around all day, you may want to check in the day before and leave the heavy materials back at the hotel.
The weather cooperates, with warm and only slightly humid temperatures during the show.
It’s advisable to make appointments ahead of time with exhibitors at the INDABA show. This way you can plan your day and both parties can prepare for a more productive meeting ahead of time. Many travel agents I spoke with were disappointed to not have made appointments with the key people they wanted to meet with ahead of time, as it was uncomfortable to wait around while an exhibitor was in another meeting and inefficient to keep coming back to see people you really wanted to. Most of the top exhibitors had full meetings schedules, particularly during the first 2 days of the show.
INDABA is a show that is highly productive from a business perspective, but also highly productive from a social perspective! It’s a fantastic annual event to see old friends and meet new friends. I always leave INDABA feeling energized and excited about my chosen profession in African travel.
May 12, 2008 – Travel Home Despite having book my South African Airlines flights nearly five months out, the connecting flights from Durban to Joburg were very full. Therefore, I had about 7 hours to spend in Joburg at the airport waiting for the international flight back to JFK. I guess the lesson is to book INDABA flights the very day South African Airways releases the INDABA rates.
The Joburg airport is pleasant enough a place to hang out for 7 hours, with fast wireless internet, great shopping (everyone loves the INDABA gifts store!) and plenty to eat and drink. It’s wise to have at least a few hours connection between domestic and international flights because at the moment domestic flights are dropped in one terminal and there is a relatively long walk (and somewhat confusing) to the international terminal in transit.
The international flight was on time and about ¾ full.
May 13, 2008 – Home! I arrive back to the U.S. after only a few days away, with lots of INDABA follow-up to do and renewed energy for all the travel possibilities that abound today in Africa.
