Essence of Africa

Essence of Africa is the continent’s leading meetings-driven forum, designed to connect pre-qualified international buyers with Africa’s top tourism businesses. We unlock Africa’s tourism potential, delivering high-value, pre-scheduled meetings, strategic discussions, curated networking moments, and opportunities to build long-term partnerships across the continent.

Our inaugural edition in Nairobi in 2024 presented the cool, funky side of the capital city, welcoming 130 top-producing buyers and 125 African exhibitors. Building on this strong foundation, the 2025 edition in Malindi explored Kenya’s coastal charm raising the bar even further with 158 buyers from 39 countries, 150 African exhibiting companies, and over 5,600 buyer-seller meetings. The 2025 event amplified Africa’s shift toward diverse, value-driven, sustainable travel.

Curated by On Show Solutions and ATTA® Events, Essence of Africa is a private sector-led initiative committed to driving meaningful tourism growth for Africa. With the support of an esteemed advisory panel of industry leaders, the forum benefits from decades of collective expertise, ensuring a dynamic results-driven platform for both buyers and suppliers.

Essence of Africa is intentionally hosted in different African regions each year, featuring the uniqueness of destinations across our continent. The 2026 edition will continue this commitment as the event moves to a new East African destination.

Join us as we continue to build partnerships that drive growth and shape the future of African tourism.

https://essenceofafrica.travel/