Adventure tourism gets a boost with 32 new signs for peaks

GEORGE NEWS - Mountain peaks in the George area now have brand new signs sponsored by Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) which will help to keep the trails safe, clear and accessible for all.

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo (GR&KK) is world-renowned for its breathtaking hiking, trail-running and mountain biking trails, offering adventure seekers routes that traverse peaks reaching up to 1,578 meters (Cradock Peak) above sea level in the George area.

During an informal handover ceremony, GRDM Mayor Andrew Stroebel met with members from the Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT), the Garden Route Trail Running community-based running group and a Conquer Together community enthusiast.

Stroebel said the GRDM is proud to donate 32 new signs to rebrand key mountain peaks in support of enhancing these trails for local and international visitors. "These new signs will replace the current faded ones, ensuring a refreshed experience for hikers and trail runners," he said.

Each sign will prominently feature the GR&KK logo, a QR code and a few other brands, which offer a gateway to valuable resources such as links to Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism website, Garden Route Trail Running and Opportunities to Donate to Trail Maintenance.

The signage and trail maintenance in George have long been carried out by the dedicated members of the Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) group, who fund these efforts independently. Recognising their hard work and commitment, GRDM’s contribution aims to alleviate some of the financial pressure on the group, helping to ensure these trails remain safe, clear and accessible for all.

The handover ceremony took place at the GRDM Mayor’s Office. Each person held a sign featuring one of the six big peaks in the George area: Vensterberg, Losberg, George Peak, Cradock Peak, Tierkop and Groenkop. From left are Jacques Mouton (FKT & GTR), Herman Pieters (GRDM Communication Manager), Andrew Stroebel (GRDM Mayor), Clare Mouton (FKT & GTR), Zane Schmal (MUT), and Attie Bedeker (Conquer Together).