Rwanda and Tanzania - an award-winning incentive combination

Iconic is an important word for any incentive planner. An iconic destination is a great base from which to design the incentive campaign - it drives and motivates the delegates to achieve their goals and sales targets in order to be able attend the event.

From L-R: Kevin M. Hinton: SITE, USA (Chief Excellence Officer, SITE); Rhonda Brewer: Maritz Travel Company, Fenton MO, United States (Current SITE President); Clinton Els: Dragonfly Africa, Director: Incentives & Travel; Carina Bauer: IMEX Group, Hove, United Kingdom (IMEX Group are a major sponsor for SITE)

Thinking safari, what often comes to mind are the movies, Out of Africa or Lion King, where the grassy plains, covered with herds of animals, stretch to the horizon. This is the Serengeti, Tanzania! The ultimate safari experience. With the Four Seasons Lodge Serengeti in full operation, you can now combine this journey with a hotel brand synonomous with absolute style and service excellence. The Serengeti is not the only safari region in Tanzania, in fact we highly recommend combining this with Ngorongoro Crater, another fantastic location. The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is ideally located - perched on the edge of the volcanic crater overlooking the plains below. Groups can conveniently air charter between the two lodges.

As if these two destinations are not enough, we suggest adding a third excitement into the mix - Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda. Whenever this is mentioned, "a once-in-a-lifetime-experience" usually accompanies it. Gorilla Trekking requires a degree of fitness to complete and there are a limited number of permits issued on a daily basis. For our recent event, the client decided to offer Gorilla Trekking as an optional add-on for those who wanted to do it. There are direct flights from Kilimanjaro to Kigali, Rwanda. We recommend spending one night in Kigali and then two nights in the Volcanoes Park for the actual full day Gorilla Trekking experience.

WOW and UNIQUE ENHANCEMENTS

Gorilla Trekking:

• A visit to a local women's project in the Muko village. The village, formerly known as Ruhengeri, is home to a group of local women who show travellers how baskets are woven. The association was started by local women, mostly genocide survivors, with the help of the local authorities.

Serengeti, Tanzania:

• A group welcome by local Maasai warriors at the lodge where delegates are each presented with African friendship beads.
  
• Out of Africa movie night under the African skies at the lodge. A screen is set up outside, next to the pool with lounges. Guests snuggle in with blankets and watch the Out of Africa movie. Special ice cream is arranged for the group and waiters are on standby to serve hot and cold drinks throughout.
  
• Serengeti Balloon Safari - everyone loves the balloon safari followed by a private English breakfast in the middle of the bush. Great animal sightings from the balloon include elephant, lion, zebra and wildebeest.
  
• Private lion talk with field researcher, Daniel Rosengren.
  
• Private Bush Dinner - beautiful setup in the middle of the bush under a big tree filled with lanterns. Great buffet selection and grill station where chefs cook a selection of meat in front of the guests.

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania:

• A welcome function held at sunset on the lawns of the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge North Camp, overlooking the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Guests are surprised with a Maasai Guard of Honour - an amazing experience as the Maasai warriors line up along a pathway with flaming torches escorting them down to the South Camp Lawns where the warriors perform their chanting and jumping ritual for the group.
  
• A daily personalised "wake-up tray" delivered to guests' rooms by personal butlers. The tray has a varying African treat and an early morning cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
  
• A private picnic lunch in the crater floor under the trees consisting of a beautiful setup in black and red with red roses on tables. A delicious buffet with a grilling station, all in an unforgettable location!
  
• Visit to a local Maasai Village where the group meets the chief who walks them through the village showing them the inside of their huts and telling them about their culture. Local Maasai men welcome the group with jumping and singing - inviting the group to jump with them.

For those groups who wish to add a beach element, exotic Zanzibar, the Spice Island is just a short flight away.