Johannesburg – affectionately known as Jozi – was our next stop, with a two-night stay at Sanctuary Mandela. Yes, that Mandela.
The boutique hotel is built around Nelson Mandela’s former private residence in Houghton and from the moment you arrive, there’s a quiet reverence balanced with contemporary elegance.
Sanctuary Mandela feels less like a hotel and more like living history. Curated artwork, soft lighting and warm, intuitive staff – who welcome guests as “family” – create an immediate sense of calm.
Madiba’s legacy lingers, but lightly. The space feels gracious, generous and forward-looking.
Beyond those tranquil walls, however, Jozi pulses with energy and to truly understand it, you head south.
A tuk-tuk tour of Soweto (South West Township) with Lobo’s Tours proved the perfect introduction: part history lesson, part neighbourhood immersion.
We zipped down Vilakazi Street – the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners – and paused outside modest homes that tell stories of resistance and resilience.
Children waved, music drifted from a local shebeen (illegal tavern) and before long we were inside, singing and dancing with locals. There may have been a drink involved…. When in Soweto…
Lobo’s guides are deeply rooted in the community, blending candid storytelling with humour, heart and great passion.
We learned all about the Soweto rebellion 50 years ago and visited the memorial of Hector Pieterson, the schoolboy shot and killed at the age of 12 when the police opened fire on black students who were protesting at the governments ruling that they would be taught in Afrikaans (a predominantly white language).
We ended the tour with a traditional outdoor braai. Boerewors, lamb chops, steak and pap (South Africa staple made from maize – a bit like polenta). It was simple, delicious and unmistakably South African.
Back in the inner city, Newtown offered a different perspective. A graffiti walking tour revealed Johannesburg’s contemporary voice – bold, political and unapologetic.
Towering murals transform warehouse walls into an open-air gallery. Between artworks, we popped into small cafés and design studios where young entrepreneurs are reshaping the city’s narrative.
We even stumbled across a group of wildly dressed “swenkas” – Zulu working-class men competing in flamboyant, choreographed fashion displays. Only in Jozi.
Two nights is barely enough to scratch the surface, but it’s enough to understand this: Johannesburg rewards curiosity. Misconceptions were challenged, confidence grew, and the visiting agents left inspired and reassured.
While it does have a high crime rate and there are areas to avoid, if you have a guide or on a tour you are very safe. I think they will be adding Jozi to their South African itineraries.
Then it was on to Sun City and the legendary Palace of the Lost City.
Set on the edge of the Pilanesberg National Park, the Palace delivers a true wow moment on arrival.
Elephant-lined entrances, dramatic domes and intricate mosaics create a theatrical sense of occasion. Inside, hand-painted ceilings, chandeliers and lush gardens transport you into fantasy, yet the atmosphere remains welcoming and warm.
With a championship Gary Player golf course, the famous Valley of Waves and easy access to safari experiences in Pilanesberg, Sun City offers the full spectrum: adventure, resort fun and five-star glamour.
The final two days transformed the Mega Lekker Escape into a powerful trade platform. Around 200 delegates gathered for one-to-one meetings, strengthening ties between Australian and New Zealand wholesalers and South African partners.
In a first, nine SMMEs, including the pioneering Black Mambas, the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit, joined speed marketing sessions, adding depth and purpose.
Closing celebrations featured a spirited Trivia Night, group highlight videos, a final “Ferrari safari” and a farewell lunch aboard Rovos Rail, one of the world’s most luxurious trains.
The perfect finale to a truly Mega Lekker journey where we all found our South African JOY!
Special thanks go to South African Tourism and Above and Beyond holidays for putting this incredible itinerary together for the Honeybadgers!
