SAGetaways
Launched in 2018 by travel enthusiasts Naledi Molefe and Pieter Botha, SAGetaways is a South African travel platform designed to inspire and guide unforgettable local adventures.
The website offers destination guides, itinerary planners, packing tips, and curated experiences, from Kruger safaris to Cape Winelands tours.
SAGetaways aims to showcase South Africa’s diverse landscapes and cultures, making travel planning seamless for local and international visitors.
By 2024, SAGetaways had become a trusted resource, covering 32 South African destinations and offering 180 travel guides.
The South African tourism industry contributed R628 billion to the economy in 2024, with domestic travel surging post-COVID.
SAGetaways partnered with EcoSEO to capitalize on this growth, achieving a 300% increase in organic traffic.
Below, we detail how we transformed SAGetaways into a leading travel platform.
Lead Time: 10 months
Sector: Travel and Tourism
Target Type: B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
Demographic: Local and international travelers interested in South African adventures, including safari enthusiasts, budget travelers, and cultural explorers
Website Goal: To inspire and guide unforgettable travel experiences in South Africa by providing destination guides, itinerary planners, packing tips, and curated experiences, establishing SAGetaways as a leading travel platform
Services: Long-tail keyword targeting, Schema markup implementation, Backlink Acquisition, SEO-friendly URL optimization, Image SEO and visual content optimization
4X
Organic Traffic in 10 Months
The Challenge
SAGetaways had built a loyal following over six years, but organic traffic stagnated at 2K monthly visits, per Semrush.
Despite rich content, the site struggled to rank for competitive keywords like “South Africa travel itinerary” or “best safari destinations.”
Key challenges included:
- Low visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) for travel-related terms.
- Limited use of technical SEO, such as schema markup, to enhance search listings.
- Few authoritative backlinks to compete in the highly competitive tourism niche.
- Suboptimal URL structures and image optimization, hindering user and search engine navigation.
Naledi and Pieter approached EcoSEO in March 2024 to boost SAGetaways’ visibility and establish it as a go-to resource for South African travel.
Our SEO Strategy
EcoSEO developed a tailored SEO strategy to elevate SAGetaways’ online presence, leveraging competitor insights from South African travel blogs and global tourism sites. Using advanced tools, we implemented five key tactics:
Targeting Long-Tail Keywords for Niche Audiences
Using Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool, we identified long-tail keywords like “3-day Kruger safari itinerary” and “budget Cape Town weekend getaway.” We expanded SAGetaways’ content portfolio from 120 to 600 pages, creating detailed guides tailored to specific traveler intents.
Enhancing SERP Presence with Schema Markup
We analyzed ranking gaps with Semrush and applied schema markup (Place, TravelAgency, Article) using Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to tag destinations, itineraries, and business details.
This enabled rich snippets, such as star ratings and itinerary previews, in SERPs. Google Search Console reported 2.5K keywords triggering enhanced results, boosting click-through rates by 20%.
Strengthening Authority with High-Quality Backlinks
Using Ahrefs’ Link Intersect Tool, we identified backlink opportunities by analyzing competitors like South African tourism boards and travel blogs.
We secured 15 high-quality backlinks from local travel sites, safari operators, and global tourism platforms through guest posts and partnerships.
SEO-Friendly URLs & Image SEO Optimisation
Optimizing Navigation with SEO-Friendly URLs
We audited SAGetaways’ URL structure with Semrush’s Site Audit Tool, identifying complex URLs that confused search engines.
We simplified URLs to descriptive formats incorporating keywords like “South Africa safari.”
Google Search Console showed a 12% uplift in crawl efficiency, enhancing user navigation and search visibility.
Driving Visual Traffic with Image SEO
Recognizing the importance of visuals in travel, we used Ahrefs’ Site Explorer to uncover Google Image search potential.
We optimized travel photos and infographics with keyword-rich alt text via Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool, compressed images with TinyPNG, and submitted image sitemaps through Google Search Console.
Google Analytics reported image search traffic rising from 2% to 10% of total visits.
The Results
In 10 months, EcoSEO’s strategies transformed SAGetaways’ performance:
- Organic Traffic: Monthly visits grew from 2K to 8K, a 300% increase.
- Keyword Rankings: SAGetaways now ranks for 5.6K keywords, with 400 in the top 3 positions.
- Rich Snippets: 2.5K keywords trigger schema-driven snippets, enhancing SERP visibility.
- Backlinks: Domain authority rose from 22 to 30, driven by 15 new high-quality backlinks.
- Engagement: Bounce rate decreased by 18%, per Google Analytics, reflecting improved user experience.
- Image Search: Google Image search now accounts for 10% of total traffic, up from 2%.
SAGetaways’ top-performing guide, “Ultimate Kruger Safari Itinerary,” now drives 1.2K monthly visits, thanks to optimized content and visuals. Social media growth included 3.5K Instagram followers, 5.2K on Facebook, and 2.1K on Twitter, amplifying SAGetaways’ reach.
EcoSEO’s strategy blended technical expertise with SAGetaways’ passion for South African travel. By leveraging Semrush, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console to target niche keywords, enhance SERPs with schema, and build authority through backlinks, we drove exponential growth.
Optimized URLs and visuals further improved user experience, connecting SAGetaways with travelers eager to explore South Africa’s wonders.
Technical Tools:
Semrush, Ahrefs, Google Search Console, Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper, TinyPNG, Google Analytics
SEO Services
Long-tail keyword targeting, Schema markup implementation, Backlink Acquisition, SEO-friendly URL optimization, Image SEO and visual content optimization
What Our Clients Say
Here’s why clients enjoy partnering with us
