“Initiatives such as Wesgro’s Cape Town Air Access, which has seen the addition of several new direct flights linking Cape Town to a number of countries since the end of last year is making things even better. Direct flights should mean more international visitors, which in turn means more tourism spend for the Western Cape and the rest of the SA economy,” says Mmatšatši Ramawela, chief executive officer, Tourism Business Council of South Africa.
TOMSA and Times Media are partners in the Sunday Times Finders Keepers campaign, where a team of Sunday Times journalists have been driving local awareness of South Africa’s “hidden gems” in a bid to stimulate domestic tourism (and lead readers closer to winning R1 million). The team recently reached the Western Cape, and over the course of a road trip through the province, came across a number of must-do activities to add to the usual highlights of a trip to the Cape, which include Kirstenbosch, the wine farms, Robben Island and Table Mountain - many of which the team found to be in easy reach from their city base at the City Lodge Hotel GrandWest.
Ramawela says, “The Western Cape is prime road trip material, well known for long established favourites such as the Garden Route and Route 62, and spectacular mountain passes.”
During the course of their journey the journalists made several unexpected discoveries, from a man selling beautifully handcrafted miniature doll’s houses in Zoar, to the country’s oldest water mill in the small town of Elim.
In Oudtshoorn, the team tried out an ostrich ride as well as a unique ostrich neck massage during a tour at the Cango Ostrich Show Farm. They then enjoyed a classy sleepover at the famous five star Rosenhof Country House, whose dishes are reputed to be a favourite amongst the locals.
The team also encountered wildlife associated with this region of our country. The team got to grips with snakes at the Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary near Plettenberg Bay, and paid a visit to the sharks with White Shark Projects in Gansbaai. The Cape has no shortage of activities to try out – a Storms River Adventures’ canopy tour also had them zipping through the Tsitsikamma forest on the outskirts of the Eastern Cape province, glimpsing birdlife (and a boomslang) in the treetops, while in Swellendam, the team went river rafting on the splendid Breede River with Felix Unite Adventures, before retiring with aching muscles to the comfort of Aloe Ridge self-catering accommodation.
Their time in Knysna was rather more relaxing, with a sunset estuary cruise, and two nights spent in a luxuriously repurposed old power station, the Turbine Hotel on Knysna's Thesen Island.
With everything the Western Cape has going for it, it’s not difficult to see what makes it one of the world’s most popular destinations. The increase in direct flights should allow plenty more tourists to wing their way south in the near future, while for South Africans, this dream destination is within relatively easy reach – and a spectacular drive away.
