Ditching the Tradition of the Year End Function

Blog by Leah Mangoanatala - African Specialist: KMP Media

Aaah yes, the formalities of the Year End function…you know – queue the Die-Hard movie scenes of office obscurity – okay maybe not quite as bloody (one should hope!). The phenomenon of this ritual usually starts with months of prior planning followed by eventual execution of said event - whatever nature it might be. Typically, a corporate end year function would entail hiring out a venue, entertainment and catering. If it’s not properly planned, it can be an administrative nightmare!?

The novel idea to the best of intention is to recognize employees and the work they’ve done throughout the year in a rewarding manner which should encourage them to be more productive in the year/s to come. It’s also an opportunity to get to know everyone and meet people in other departments you might not engage with regularly.?

KMP Media Group are different! We are a small, diverse company and we are not known for conventional things, for our end of year celebration we took a Shot Left! For starters, our directors are the type of bosses who encourage “thinking outside the box” workwise and otherwise; which, were evident when it came to celebrations or fun office activities. So, we should have expected nothing less than an extraordinary end year function…?

What we embarked on wasn’t a typical scenario of ending a good year. We were summoned to packing our bags a few days before and the disclosure were made that we’d go on a safari expedition. All roads lead to Limpopo at Safari Plains - let’s go glamping darling! One could tell this was going to be an unforgettable experience, there were so much anticipation and excitement in the office leading up to our first adventure together as a team. Naturally, campaigns and scheduling continued through the printed itineraries, wrapping paper and festive cheer of planning our trip. There was a sense of positive morale and pride in the office.?

“What are you going to wear” became a popular topic amongst the female colleagues in the office. From coordinating campaigns to now coordinating outfits and themes - gosh we make a great team! Let’s debrief in our morning meetings - shall we - to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. We are all counting down to the 08th of December, there is a holiday mood setting in and make sure to not miss the “magic” bus at 08H00 sharp! We are all familiar with that nightmare the night before an exciting trip where suddenly you wake up and the bus or your flight has left you behind. LOL - that’s the fear of missing out settling in - it even haunts you! The best strategy to beat this nightmare is to be well prepared the night before, pack all you need and go to bed at your regular time. If not, you might find yourself chasing the dream (AHEM) bus!?

It’s D-day let’s head out! The minibus arrives and like a typical football team of 15 we flog our luggage in the trailer and pick out our seats. It’s like herding cats as our trigger-happy members were still snapping pictures in front of the minibus and posting #AllRoadsLeadToLimpopo on the socials and then there’s that ONE guy – always late! Fast-forward two and a half hours; we arrive at Safari Plains to a warm welcome and ice-cold drinks. The Limpopo weather called for a cold one! We are in the Northern Province after all, and being this close to the African border, it’s known for being extremely hot.?

One thing about this trip is that we ATE! Like Bruce Bogtrotter in 1996's hit movie Matilda. Shortly after, our luggage was whisked away and put into our rooms while we all settled down by the pool for an afternoon dip to cool down before a three-course lunch. Our first safari quickly crept up on us, after our three-course meal they set up a lavish afternoon high-tea and everyone understood what needed to happen when it came to our dress- code. There were two safari vehicles waiting for us outside the entrance. All aboard! We’re on our way into the bush!

We returned from our sunset Safari to be welcomed back with a gin tasting experience after which we headed off to have an African buffet dinner, yet again starters, mains and desserts. After an exquisite dinner the KMP team huddled around a nicely set up bonfire sharing stories and reminiscing about fond memories in the office. We were lucky to get to experience Pedi dancers performing their traditional dance around the bonfire, some of us were chosen to join in on the dancing.?

The following day we had an early wake up call for our morning safari, very eager to spot some lions – we were not disappointed! The day ended too soon as we headed back to Head Office after a delightful breakfast. The standard and benchmark has been set at an all-time high in terms of the traditional Year End rendezvous. The KMP Media Team is more than ready (and rested) for 2023!?