OurAfrica.Travel 2025 is officially live, and there has been a flurry of activity on the platform ever since. Buyers and exhibitors are networking and pre-scheduling their meetings for the show from 17 - 21 February 2025.

We are delighted to introduce an exciting new addition to the show with the launch of a Story Series, starting on Tuesday 11th February until 14th February. One of the topics is a celebration of some of our tourism industry's heroes making a difference. These will be hosted by industry legend Colin Bell and will be accompanied by live webinars. Colin will be discussing some of the key topics and challenges in the industry today that will hopefully resonate with most of us.

Colin Bell started his working life as a safari guide in Botswana in the 1970s. Over the years his travels took him to many far corners of Africa, witnessing first-hand some of the best wildernesses and some of very worst conservation catastrophes. Those coal face experiences led him to become one of the early initiators of the 'Green Safari' tourism model – long before it became a fashionable “thing”.  Over the years he co-founded market leaders including Wilderness Safaris, Great Plains Conservation and now Natural Selection Safaris.

“Story Series started off as a simple idea to create a platform to dive a little deeper into showcasing some trade suppliers who make a difference.   Jonathan Robinson from Bean There Coffee Company and Emma Borg from Painted Wolf Wines sprung to mind! One conversation with Colin Bell later and we had a Story Series concept.  Shortly thereafter, Colin had a line-up of 10 people to interview!” said Co-Founder Allie Hunt.

Some of the guests who will be chatting all things conservation and tourism impact with Colin on the prerecorded podcast include Dave Wilson from African Parks, Dr Andrew Baxter, Dr Ross Harvey, Craig Spencer of Transfrontier Africa (who started the Black Mambas) and Dr Colleen Begg from Woman for the Environment in Africa, based at the Nyassa Lion Project in Northern Mozambique.

Rod Cassidy will also join us from probably the most remote camp in all of Africa, Sangha Lodge in Central African Republic as well as Simon Byron from Beagle Expeditions in Botswana. Jackson Lusiya, a well-known Maasai guide, camp owner, and former co-host of the popular wildlife television series Big Cat Diary will also be talking Overtourism vs Fair Tourism.

The Story Series will also include live webinars about harnessing the power of AI in tourism from David Ryan, CEO & founder of Rhino Africa  and Natalia Rosa, founder of Big Ambitions.  Sammy Kelly, Head of Product Development will also offer a daily Grand Tour of The Travel Hub Collection. 

Registration for this Story Series is for show participants only, but registrations for buyers and media are still open until 14 February via the OurAfrica.Travel's website.