Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1016288
• • DURBAN • • Durban is a sophisticated cosmo- politan city, a fusion of East, West and African culture - offering cultural diver- sity and multi-cultural traditions, sophistication and style, an enticing destination that invites exploration. It's alluring and fascinating, with a wealth of influences to entertain and enthrall with traditional warrior dancers, mystic fi re-walkers and colonial heritage. Sample the unique vibrancy of town- ship life, the finest curries outside India and a calendar filled with thrilling, spec- tacular events. A shopper's paradise with a number of upmarket shopping centers offering brand name shops as well as quirky boutiques and flea mar- kets. Durban is perfectly located as the gateway to KwaZulu-Natal, and it takes a mere few hours drive to a choice of two World Heritage sites - the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, game reserves, coral reefs and historic bat- tlefields, all ideal destinations for pre- and post conference tours. The Signature Life Docklands Hotel located on Durban's Point Waterfront is a trendy hotel with three large con- ference venues able to host smallish groups to large conferences and ban- quets able to seat up to 600 delegates and guests. Durban International Airport (former- ly Louis Botha Airport) was the interna- tional airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, 37 mi to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban. • • KRUGER NATIONAL PARK • • When the meetings are over, be sure to block out enough time to see nature at it's best. A safari in Kruger National Park, and a stay at one of the park's rustic yet luxurious lodges is a must. Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It cov- ers an area of 7,523 sq. mi. in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 220 mi from north to south and 40 mi from east to west. The adminis- trative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926. Two accommodation possibilities are Singita Lebombo and Sweni Lodges, in the southeastern reaches of the Kruger National Park, on South Africa's border with Mozambique. Situated on 33,000 acres, Singita's concession is an isolated piece of pristine wilderness where a unique wildlife population thrives across four distinct ecological-zones. To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? South African Tourism New York Office (212) 730-2929 Departures concourse at King Shaka International Airport Elephant in Kruger National Park - Credit S.H B M & T ••• July/August 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 41 AREA GUIDES Photo Credit: Kieron Thwaites - Wikimedia Photo Credit: S.H Photo Credit: S.H