Meyersdal’s Laurelle Williams wins dream getaway with Sasol Mzansi Tour
The media professional and fitness enthusiast explores KwaZulu-Natal’s hidden gems on a road trip celebrating South Africa’s natural beauty and diverse stories.
For Laurelle Williams (42) from Meyersdal, joining the Sasol Mzansi Tour 2.0 was a celebration of South Africa’s natural beauty and wonderful people.
The dedicated runner, gym enthusiast, and media professional returned from her road trip brimming with exciting stories about her experiences and the sights she had seen.
The Sasol Mzansi Tour 2.0 took five Sasol Rewards customers and their plus-ones on a journey along KwaZulu-Natal’s picturesque coastline. Sasol, in partnership with Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, Durban Tourism, PepsiCo, and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, hosted the 2025 tour.
Now in its second year, the tour celebrates SA’s hidden tourism gems. To enter, Williams simply needed to do something she does daily: spend R600 or more on fuel at a participating Sasol Convenience Centre and swipe or scan a Sasol Rewards card.
“I’m a sucker for competitions,” says Laurelle. “I just snapped a picture of my slip and sent it via WhatsApp. I was secretly hoping for the bakkie, but a fully paid holiday? That’s a sweet deal, too. I was stunned when I won and marked my leave on our shared work calendar as ‘Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner’.”
The trip wasn’t Laurelle’s first time in KwaZulu-Natal, but she got to explore parts of the province she’d never seen before.
“The Drakensberg Sun Hotel really left an impression on me, and the scenery was breathtaking. The Oribi Gorge was incredible and reflected a level of beauty only God can create,” Laurelle adds.
“They call Lake Eland a place of peace and tranquillity, and it lives up to that description. We live in such a beautiful country, and our people are so diverse. I just want to keep discovering more. Hopefully, I’ll win a few more competitions to help me explore hidden gems and all that Mzansi has to offer.”
The people Williams shared this once-in-a-lifetime experience with were among the tour’s highlights.
“As a storyteller, hearing the journeys of the other winners was incredible. I was deeply moved by one of our trip companions and his wife’s story, and I was so happy they got to join this adventure,” says Laurelle.
Zanele Hadebe, the vice president of strategic marketing for Sasol Energy Marketing & Sales, says, “At Sasol, we believe travel is about the joy of discovery. Through the Mzansi Tour, we’re rewarding our loyal customers and helping them uncover the heart and soul of SA. Every journey taken is a story waiting to be told, and we’re proud to be part of that experience.”
