A recipe for success in South Africa

Luxury online operator key2holidays, in conjunction with South African Tourism, has unveiled a tasty new campaign microsite (key2holidays.co.uk/stir) offering each visitor the opportunity to create their own ‘recipe’ for the perfectly seasoned South Africa holiday, tailor-made to their requirements.

Now, more than ever, travellers should be considering South Africa for their next holiday – not only recently voted one of the most Pound friendly destinations in the world, South Africa offers a superb variety of authentic experiences.

To cook up their itinerary, site visitors can design their holiday in a virtual ‘potjie’ (a South African cooking pot) by adding their choice of three key ingredients:-

• a drop of South Africa’s Winelands
• a sprinkle of beach
• a spritz of Cape Town or Sun City
• a pinch of spicy safari
• and a dash of Garden Route

Until 28 February 2009, as well as the three key ingredients, anyone booking a holiday from the site will also be able to choose one special free experience to add extra flavour. Special ‘ingredients’ added to the itinerary include:-

• A choice of wine tour including a gourmet wine tasting and canapés if you select to stay at the Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek
• A private dining experience including the famous Sunday Jazz brunch if you stay at Winchester Mansions in Cape Town
• Or a cooking course including an interactive cooking experience with the lodge’s chef if you stay at Tintswalo Atlantic in Cape Town or a traditional Cape Malay cookery course with the renowned Cass Abrahams during a stay in the Winelands

key2holiday’s team of expert consultants then blend each tailor-made itinerary (or recipe) submitted via the site, add garnishes such as car hire and upgrades if required, and provide the best value quote to satisfy any appetite. For example, a tailor-made itinerary including the three key ‘ingredients’ of:-

• Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Winelands plus a free Hemel en Aarde Wine Tasting tour in Hermanus costs from £1429pp including return flights, VIP welcome, 10 days car hire, 10 nights accommodation (3 nights free saving £250pp) and breakfast daily.

• Luxury Cape Town and Safari at Shamwari Game Reserve and 5* in the Winelands plus a free Cape Malay Cooking Course with renowned chef, Cass Abrahams costs from £1975pp including return flights, VIP welcome, 13 days car hire, 11 nights 5 star accommodation, (3 nights free in the Winelands saving £300pp) and selected meals.

Hundreds of others itineraries can also be generated by adding different combinations to the cooking pot.

To add relish, South Africa offers excellent value in the current climate, as the Rand (ZAR) is currently 14 to the Pound (£).

If tantalising value alone is not enough to encourage bookings, all visitors submitting recipes on the website until 28 February 2009 are automatically entered into a prize draw to win dinner for up to 14 friends. The prize is a South Africa themed gourmet dinner cooked by Cindy Leigh Goosen, Executive Chef of Shamwari, who will visit the UK to cook at the winner’s own home in March 2009.

The random draw will also see 500 lucky entrants win a keepsake mini-cookbook featuring a variety of traditional South African recipes.

The new ‘Create a Stir’ website is the concept behind key2holidays’ winning entry into South Africa Tourism’s first Ubuntu Awards held in November 2008 – more than 20 UK tour operators submitted innovative marketing campaigns to encourage visitors to South Africa.

key2holidays’ winning entry is the brainchild of Kerry-Anne Smith, the operator’s marketing manager. She commented, “The campaign showcases our product range and expert knowledge in a compelling, interactive way. South Africa offers temptations for all tastes, so it is fitting to mix the options up in an authentic ‘virtual’ potjie.”

Lebohang Mokhesi, UK country manager for South African Tourism said, “The ‘Create a Stir’ campaign is a winning recipe to encourage travellers back into booking long haul holidays, and South Africa should be at the top of everyone’s list as the Rand continues to offer amazing value against the pound.”

All bookings made with key2holidays include a contribution to Uthando – a South African charity that helps raise funds from individuals, groups and organisations that have an interest in the region. Money generated supports a broad range of local community based sustainable, innovative and empowerment projects with substantial and enduring value to the beneficiaries.

For these and more tailor-made ideas visit key2holidays.co.uk.