Casambo Jam Session – Sunday, 30 June 2019

Sunday the 30 June 2019 saw another incredible installment of the Casambo Jam Session. The festivities were really a marvel to watch and witness. The number of talented artists involved in this latest production was really phenomenal.

The initial purpose of the jam sessions consisted of Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge wanting to provide a wonderful platform for upcoming artists to showcase their talent. Music is an international language, one that doesn't discriminate and bring people together. The ambiance in the air when people are enjoying the sweet sounds of fellow talented artists is unrivaled. Family, friends and loved ones gathered to share an experience of a lifetime that you had to be there to enjoy.

Time and time again the great line-up of live music, good food, drink specials and so much more has proved to be a winning recipe for the Casambo Jam Sessions. It has also upheld the standard of it is a popular way to spend a relaxing afternoon with friends and family. The jam sessions also help city dwellers unwind and rejuvenate from the long hard week.

Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge is an appropriate venue to host this initiative. In addition to the fun experience, the lodge will make sure that your visit and support is never in vain. They believe in the power that is in encouraging talents to make use of platforms to grow and nurture their gifts. The Jam Session is a great example. This is their form of giving back as appreciation to the support they receive from customers.

The Jam session that took place Sunday, 30^th June 2019 to wrap up Youth Month couldn’t have been a better display of the array of talent Mbombela has to offer. Casambo is constantly looking for ways to make sure that they have happy clients. This also extend the heart of their work, they have a love for what they do and so they show it in initiatives such as the Jam Session. It is amazing how Casambo has taken to themselves to really do community work and services in such a manner. Such initiatives build the future of our country, they enlarge closed territories and do some amazing work in encouraging people to expose their gifts and talents. The future is bright because of such initiatives.

Gear up for the Mbombela Jazz Festival

The Mbombela Jazz festival is a must markup on the Mpumalanga entertainment Calendar. The much anticipated 3^rd annual Mbombela jazz festival is drawing to a close and in case you were thinking of planning for it much later, then redirect your thoughts. The festival promises to be a serious turn-up and those in tune are already gearing up for it.

The festival is planned from the 7^{th of} September and will be jam-packed with beautiful music from both local and international artists.  The workshop program will be from the 4^th September and promises to be a cultural feast with topics on fashion and music.

Various artists will be hitting the stage and taking the audience on a beautiful musical journey one of the anticipated performances include Syleena Johnson from the USA who will be performing on the 7^th September. Definitely, something to look forward too.

Mpumalanga is popularly known for its great natural scenery and for the Kruger National Park. Your Mbombela Jazz Festival experience can carry more weight with the overall tour experience of the Province.

Things to consider for a successful experience

1.       Tours and Transfer Agent

2.       Accommodation

3.       Tourist Attractions

Given the above in consideration, you will be able to have a very nice overall experience that will allow you the beauty of the Jazz Festival and Mpumalanga.

Guaranteed that multitudes of people will be making their ways to Mpumalanga for an all-around jazz affair, make sure that your travel is as pleasant as possible. Planning ahead really takes off the urge of unseen circumstances, it really allows you to be present for every moment. Your overall experience is dependent on how well you plan for it.

Take it upon yourself to make sure that you secure yourself a beautiful encounter with the jazz festival but also with Mpumalanga. With a lot of things to explore, make sure you don’t miss any moment. Your trip could be convenient from the pick-up point to your destination point.

Mpumalanga is taking into consideration the influx of people who will be flooding the province during this time and businesses are coming to the party with specials to give you the best experience as a token of appreciation. Be in the lookout and make the right choice.

In Closing

Make your experience the best ever and plan ahead, gear up for a once in a lifetime experience. Make sure that all that needs to be prepared is done, so that you take in everything that Mbombela Jazz festival has to offer. In case you are still planning to be part of the festival, your trip can be simplified with the tour and transfer services.

The festival can you give you more reasons to explore Mpumalanga and take in the beauty that makes it up. Take advantage of the vibe and enjoy more that Mpumalanga has to offer. The festival is such a beautiful excuse to add in more experience and appreciate Mpumalanga. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST TOUR COMPANY FOR YOU

Picking a tour company that fits ‘just right’ is hard. Really hard. For the most part, because it’s impossible to run a tour that pleases all of the people all of the time.

But in the interests of an open discussion, here are some of the things you should consider when choosing a tour company.

1. Group size

The first big decision. When you envision a ‘group tour’, how many people do you see touring alongside you? Five? Ten? Twelve? The phrase ‘small group tour’ can be (and is) used to describe all of the above.

A small group is, on average, about 10 people. But it can range up to 12 or 16 depending on the destination, and go as low as 1 (when the departure has been guaranteed), but 10 is the norm.  There are plenty of big tour operators like Contiki and Trafalgar that prefer the en mass approach. For most, 8-16 is the perfect number to fit into a local bistro, or catch a safari ride, or visit Kruger National Park. To get that local edge.

2. Price

Price is often the first thing people compare when looking at different tour companies, but it can be a little misleading. Because some companies send people on huge tours of 30 or 40 travelers at a time, they can secure bulk rates for their rooms and activities. So you might save some money or so, but it could mean you’re getting a much less bespoke and personal experience. Choosing a ‘cheap’ trip also increases the chance that your experience may not be pleasing or pleasurable.

The thing to look for is value, not just price. Are there lots of included meals? Does the company list the hotel for each night? If so, check it on TripAdvisor. Are there heaps of included activities? Do you get a local guide? If the tour is ticking a lot of those boxes, it’s usually worth paying a bit extra. Like anything else in life, you get what you pay for.

3. Itinerary

A lot of small group tours will share similar itineraries, but there are companies out there that really make an effort to go that extra step.

Generally speaking, you should look for an itinerary that hits all the major highlights but that then includes a couple of left-of-centre stops along the way. Ask anyone that’s done a bunch of small group tours: it’s often the unexpected places, the ones you’d never even heard of before, that end up being the most memorable. It’s just one of those things. Make sure to read the online trip notes thoroughly to help you make an informed decision, and if you have questions…ask! Give the company a call and check about the activities on certain days.

4. Local leaders

The approach of having local leaders has a few advantages. One, you get cool local knowledge on-tap. Two, it keeps money in local pockets and contributes to local employment. Three, the whole experience of travel becomes so much richer.

If local leaders are important to you, do your research. Brands like Inkosi Tours and Transfers use local leaders on all their tours, and they’re specifically trained in first aid and vehicle maintenance. Not all of the industry can say the same. Try to find companies that don’t just employ local leaders, but look after them too. There are too many examples in the industry of local guides being paid poorly and receiving no training, just so a company can slap the word ‘local’ on their marketing material. Not cool.

5. Online reviews

Always a great way to check the value of anything. Read what people are saying as much as possible. A website includes a bunch of reviews on every trip, but if you want to check an external source, try TripAdvisor, to mention a few. You can compare brands, see what people are saying, and make up your own mind. Another excellent source of reviews is social media. 

Check a brand’s hashtag on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter and see what travelers are saying on the ground, in real time. You can get a feel for the style of the trip, the number of people, the standard of accommodation. There’s nothing better than public validation to put your mind at ease.

6. General 'feeling'

Some people like cruise ships and big bus tours. Some travelers prefer seven swimming pools, marble bench tops, and a fully stocked minibar.  You’ve got to find a company that you gel with. 

Whose vibe feels right? The quickest way to work this out? Go on the website. Read the blog. See how the tour company speaks and how they act. Do they have a good responsible travel policy? Is that something you care about? Do they look fun, or a bit boring? Do their itineraries feel generic, or are they pushing boundaries? And you know what, it may take a few tries before you find a small group tour company that fits you ‘just right’. But when you do, it’s a good feeling, and you’ll know the search was worth it.