From a Red Taxi to the Glamping Expo. My First Taste of Luxury Camping + A Ticket Giveaway! -

I’m not new to the world of glamping. In fact, my love affair with luxury camping started in 2017, completely by chance.

That year, I won a lucky draw at the Africa Travel Indaba. The prize? A glamping weekend at Thula Thula Game Reserve in Empangeni. It was my first proper taste of the tourism world from a guest’s perspective and I was hooked. I still remember the excitement of planning that trip with a close friend from my UKZN PMB days. No car, no credit card, no reliable boyfriend to drop us off and fetch us (true story). Just a wild love for adventure.

We hopped into a red taxi — and let me tell you, to this day, I loathe red taxis. We were packed in like sardines and halfway through, the taxi broke down. Picture two young women standing on the side of the road, bags in hand, waiting for help, determined to get to our glamping weekend no matter what. A total disaster, but also the perfect setup for one of the most magical weekends of my life. That trip opened my eyes to a whole different world. Game reserves. Starry nights. Chic tents. And a deep love for local travel that would shape my career path to this day.

Now, years later, I’m proud to be involved in the upcoming Glamping Expo 2025 through my company, Nduli Media, which is handling media relations for the event. I’ve stayed in many lodges and game reserves since that first trip and I still get that same spark of joy every time.

That’s why this giveaway is so close to my heart.
If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing the glamping lifestyle or simply want to explore all things luxury camping, this is your chance.

We’re giving 10 lucky followers the chance to attend the Glamping Expo 2025 in Johannesburg!

📍 Nasrec, Johannesburg
🗓️ 20–21 June 2025

Expect immersive experiences, inspiration for your next trip, and a chance to network with the best in the glamping and tourism space.

TO ENTER:

✔️ Follow @theglampingexpo and @timelesstrendsmag
✔️ Like the giveaway post
✔️ Tag a friend you’d attend with (1 comment = 1 entry)

🗓️ Winners will be announced on 16 June
🛑 Note: this giveaway is for expo tickets only, not an actual glamping trip

The photos attached are from that very first glamping trip — taken on my iPhone 5s and a tiny Samsung. We’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we? 😂
But the spirit remains the same: go for it, even if it means hopping into a red taxi.