CapeNature & Wesgro encourages visitors to virtually plan their next holiday during alert Level 3

Sponsored Content

BUSINESS NEWS - CapeNature welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Tourism to lift national lockdown regulations under Alert Level 3 to permit hiking and fishing activity.

While we are eager to open up access to our 27 nature reserves across the Western Cape to provide some much needed relief for our struggling tourism sector, we would much rather approach this safely and at the appropriate time, for our staff and visitors.

We are working diligently to get our properties compliant and visitor ready. Our efforts include finding digital solutions to issuing permits, procuring the necessary PPE materials and training our teams on the ground to manage reserve and trail capacities under COVID-19 guidelines.

For the time being, all of our nature reserves currently remain closed. Members of the public will be notified of any changes as visitor safety is our top priority.

Useful Links:

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the travel and tourism sector severely. CapeNature reserves remained closed during the national Alert Level 4 and will continue to remain closed as the country transitions to Alert Level 3.

The entity stands in solidarity with the Western Cape’s official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Wesgro, who has encouraged locals to continue dreaming of returning to nature across the Western Cape, post the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Wesgro launched the innovative “One Day” campaign to virtually showcase our beautiful province to those currently in lockdown in South Africa, and around the world, reminding them that one day, Cape Town and the Western Cape will again be open for them to explore and experience.

Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro, says, “This campaign was derived to keep Cape Town and the Western Cape as a prime destination, to find new avenues for tourism amid an unprecedented crisis, and to support local guides, many of whom are out of work right now. There is also a desire for people who want to get back to nature, and who want to bring the outdoors, indoors while they’re in lockdown.

"The “One Day” campaign enables us all to dream of the day when we’ll be exploring our most beloved places with our loved ones again.”

Dr Omar adds CapeNature reserves are ideal for families in search of supporting local affordable getaways that encourage social distancing.

One of the ways CapeNature will be supporting this initiative is by digitally displaying reserves and encouraging visitors to book now for later dates. Post-lockdown, visitors will be spoilt for choice to get back into nature at any one of the many reserves in the CapeNature stable.

While all tourism activities are currently prohibited at CapeNature reserves, essential services are still active. This includes the CapeNature customer call centre, which is available during office hours on one of the following remote contact numbers: 061 871 2539, 074 936 2139, 062 318 2987 or 061 855 4066.

Friendly agents are on standby to engage and assist the public at large with booking their next holiday.

CapeNature’s popular destinations and trails including Cederberg, Grootvadersbosch, Robberg, De Hoop (Whale Trail), Gamkaberg, Kogelberg, Stony Point, Anysberg and Jonkershoek nature reserves can be viewed on Google 360-degree Street View Maps. Navigate to discoverafrica.com/trailfinder and enter CapeNature into the search box.

CapeNature CEO, Dr Razeena Omar looks forward to welcoming visitors back onto the reserves in the future:

“We encourage the public to stay home and stay safe, while taking this time to reminisce and plan for the next CapeNature experience. Our teams on the ground are working diligently to put in place measures to ensure visitors return to a safe and trusted environment.”

CapeNature’s popular destinations and trails include Cederberg, Grootvadersbosch, Robberg, De Hoop (Whale Trail), Gamkaberg, Kogelberg, Stony Point, Anysberg and Jonkershoek nature reserves.