19 - 21 September 2011

Companion Outings

We have not forgotten the companions who are accompanying delegates to the conference. A varied and exciting companion’s programme has been put together. The following daily outings are offered to registered companions during the three days of the conference. Companions will be picked up from their hotels each morning. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Pre-booking of day excursions is urged, but bookings may be made on arrival at the conference (subject to availability). A minimum of two people per tour is required for the tour to take place.

Monday, 19 September 2011 – Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

Situated 30 minutes northwest of Johannesburg within the beautiful Kromdraai Conservancy and the Cradle of Humankind, the Rhino and Lion Game Park is a privately owned game reserve, covering approximately 1600 hectares of typical Highveld grassland. It was founded in 1985 with the introduction of a pair of white rhinoceros. Today the game park houses over 700 head of game from 25 different species, including lion, white lion, cheetah, wild dog, hippopotamus, warthog, buffalo, wildebeest, crocodile and ostrich. The antelope species include springbok, waterbuck, red hartebeest, blesbok and eland. There are also 200 species of birds. A "vulture feeding station" has been opened in the reserve, often catering for as many as 200 of these endangered birds. The tour includes the Lion and Predator Camp, which is home to cheetah, lion and the endangered wild dog. There is also a crocodile pool. Visitors can stroke animals and have their photographs taken with them at the unique Animal Creche. These include lion and tiger cubs and zebra foals, subject to availability at the time of the visit.

Duration: This is a half day tour - 5 hours
Pick-up time: 08h00
Entrance Fees: Included for the reserve only. Entrance to the Animal Creche is an optional extra to be settled direct by the guests
Notes: Game Drives are conducted in an air conditioned vehicle and not an open safari vehicle
Rate: R750 per person (based on 3 – 7 people in a 7 Seater vehicle)


Tuesday, 20 September 2011 – Apartheid Museum & Soweto Tour

This tour provides insight into South Africa’s turbulent past. We travel first to the southern suburbs of Johannesburg to visit the Apartheid Museum. The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 and is a superb example of design, space and landscape, offering visitors a uniquely South African experience. A series of 22 different exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells the story of a state-sanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny. The tour of the museum lasts approximately two hours. We then continue to Soweto (SOuth WEstern TOwnship), largest and most vibrant black residential area in South Africa. Soweto is increasingly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Soweto was pivotal to the struggle for freedom, and is now full of sites of significant historical importance. Gain a fascinating glimpse of bustling neighbourhood life in this sprawling township, home to approximately 2-million people. In addition to visiting market places, taverns and community development projects, we will see the mammoth Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Baragwanath taxi rank, Freedom Square, Hector Pieterson Memorial and Nelson Mandela’s former home.

Duration: This is a half day tour – 5 hours
Pick up time: 09h30
Entrance Fees: Included for Apartheid Museum only
Rate: R600 per person (based on 3 – 7 people in a 7 Seater vehicle)


Wednesday, 21 September 2011 – Lesedi Cultural Experience

Lesedi is a multi-cultural African village, less than an hour's drive from Johannesburg. Lesedi is an authentic showcase of the traditional cultures of some of the well known South African tribes. Representatives of these tribes facilitated the design of the cultural villages to ensure a historically representative portrayal of the cultures, highlighting aspects of the traditional way of life. One of Lesedi’s many differentiating factors is the village’s natural and tasteful incorporation into the surrounding Bushveld and rocky hills, with five traditional tribal homesteads including Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. Members of these historic communities live permanently in each of these five homesteads and continue to breathe life into their fascinating cultures. Visitors to Lesedi experience a traditional African welcome upon arrival, a guided cultural walkabout through two of the five homesteads, a traditional song and dance display and a sumptuous African lunch.

Duration: 5 hours
Pick up time: 10:30
Meals: Lunch is included, but all beverages are excluded
Rate: R950 per person (based on 3 – 7 people in a 7 Seater vehicle)