TORONTO  — The Travel Agent Next Door’s Top Achievers are celebrating a ‘Big 5’ win following a trip to South Africa with by G Adventures. 

The trip, which also included an African safari, included 40 of TTAND’s top travel advisors and was escorted by David Green, G Adventures’ Managing Director, TTAND’s CEO Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND’s VP Rhonda Stanley, TTAND’s VP Agent Experience Penny Martin, and Larissa Bureau, Special Projects at TTAND. Representatives from several suppliers like Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Globus, Regent Seven Seas and AmaWaterways also attended.

“This was an absolutely amazing trip for our top achievers,” said Friisdahl, who also noted TTAND’s 10th anniversary this year. “G Adventures pulled out all the stops for this one and it was a truly unique experience for our TTAND agents.”

The group travelled to Johannesburg for an overnight before continuing to Kruger National Park where they were able to spot the Big 5 – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo – while on safari. They also visited Soweto for a heritage tour and a visit to the Nelson Mandela House, had lunch at a local community café where they were greeted by local kids, and embarked on a walking tour with one of the last remaining survivors from Robben Island and a former prisoner who was jailed as a teen for protesting for student rights.

Other highlights included a cable car to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, where the group also enjoyed a Chef’s Table experience and visits to several wineries, Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. The final days were spent at Victoria Falls, an optional extra that half the group signed up for. 

“Thank you to The Travel Agent Next Door for choosing G Adventures to celebrate your Top Achievers in South Africa during your special 10th anniversary year celebrations,” said Green. “For many, this was a bucket list experience, their first safari, their first visit to Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world and a new continent to explore. 

“The emotions were running high as we experienced community tourism in action, learning through the eyes of our local CEOs and guides who told their stories with passion and joy. One hundred percent of the costs associated with the tour stayed in the local communities that we visited, and it’s fair to say that we all came back enriched from the experience. Thank you TTAND for your continued support, and we look forward to celebrating with you all in Jordan for your 10th anniversary conference.”