Baviaans Tourism Newsletter August / September 2010
Liewe Toerisme Vriende
Ek hoop julle almal het die FIFA wêreldbeker sokker net so baie soos ons geniet en dat julle nou uitgerus en reg is vir Augustus; die maand vir ons FIETSRYERS!
Ons spring weg met die 24h Trans Baviaans Bergfiets maraton wat 14-15 Augustus in die Baviaanskloof plaasvind. En kort daarna op Saterdag, 28 Augustus, is dit die Karoo Fietsry Basaar in Steytlerville.
So is die winter ook besig om stadig verby te gaan en vir al die winterliefhebbers, geniet maar die laaste amptelike wintersmaand!
Toerisme Groete
TRANS BAVIAANS
The Trans Baviaans 24hr Mountain Bike Marathon starts in the Main Street of Willowmore in front of the Town Hall (± 700m above sea level). From there the route goes through the beautiful Baviaanskloof Mountains to Patensie and finishes at Kabeljous in Jeffreys Bay, 230km from Willowmore.
The total accumulated climbs for the route is 2540m.
The Trans Baviaans is not only the longest single stage Mountain Bike team event in the world, but also one of South Africa’s premier mountain biking events.
The Trans Baviaans has been taking place since 2004 and with it growing annually, 2010 is guaranteed to be an exciting year with the Trans Baviaans promising to be bigger and better than ever!
The Amazing Karoo Cycling Bazaar
This race was previously known as the Valley of the Flags MTB Race.
Calling all mountain bike enthusiasts, Steytlerville is once again hosting an amazing mountain bike race and fun cycle on the 28th August 2010. Participants have a choice between an 80km, a 40km and a 10km cycle. Medals will be given to all who finish and there are also cash prizes for those finishing first, second and third.
This year sees the event grow into a whole Karoo Festival with many other activities for the cyclists and non-cyclists alike.
Bring your whole family for some fresh Karoo air, country hospitality and a fun-filled day in our beautiful valley.
Activities:
* 80km, 40km, 10km cycling
* 40km, 20km, 10km Horse Outride’s
* Traditional Country Bazaar ( Home-made treats, touch farm, farm produce, white elephant table, sunrise over Karoo breakfast, lamb on spit & Karoo mutton)
* Karoo Lamb – Bid & Buy
* Lucky draw
* Safe, secure kids fun
* Livestock Auction
What’s New?
Town entrances
During the 09/10 financial year, Baviaans Tourism applied for marketing funds from Cacadu district municipality for the beautifying of town entrances. It should be noted that Baviaans Tourism is one of only two municipalities in the Eastern Cape who applied for these funds and successfully received the full amount.
Baviaans Tourism worked along with the Tourism Association of each area and decided to build stone structure entrances for each town and the Baviaanskloof, with signs welcoming visitors to the area.
These structures have been built at both entrances to Steytlerville and Willowmore. The structure at the western entrance of the Baviaanskloof will be completed within the next few weeks.
WILLOWMORE – Upgrade of Baviaans Tourism Office
Eastern Cape Tourism has just about finished renovating the Baviaans Tourism Office in Willowmore. 6 Prominent tourism offices in the Eastern Cape were chosen by ECTB to be upgraded as part of their new branding awareness campaign. The Baviaans Tourism Office in Willowmore was the only tourism office chosen within the district of Cacadu. One of the reasons for this is the perfect location of the office. It is considered to be a gateway to the rest of the Eastern Cape and to the World Heritage site, Baviaanskloof! Another reason is because Baviaans Tourism has definitely proven its worth over the last few years. Well done to the team! We invite all members to visit this new exciting office!
STEYTLERVILLE - Open air implement museum
Each year Baviaans Tourism allocates funds towards the development of tourism products in the each of the three main areas. Together with the Steytlerville Tourism Association and the museum committee, it was decided to upgrade the open air implement museum in Steytlerville. (PE entrance of Steytlerville)
This project is still in progress. Picnic spots were created by planting bougainvilleas, ficus trees and ‘soutbos’ hedges. The implements were repainted and each implement will get a descriptive sign. A beautiful stone wall has been built on top of which information on the valley of flags and the history of the family crests will be displayed. Limestones will show you your route around the museum and the bougainvilleas will lead you to the beautiful Lady de Waal Bridge. The implement museum will definitely be complete and ready to receive visitors over the high season.
Tip of the month…
Why Buy Locally Owned?
There are many well-documented benefits to our communities and to each of us to choosing local, independently owned businesses. We realize it is not always possible to buy what you need locally and so merely ask you to THINK LOCAL FIRST!
Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local
- Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community; these include case studies showing that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.)
- Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive on average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.
- Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust
- Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
- Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.
- Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
- Invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
- Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
- Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
- Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
Member of the Month
Log View B&B and Self Catering
Margaret and Peter Bosman
Tel: 042 283 0314
Cell: 083 2923913
Fax: 086 613 2403
E-mail: info@patensiebnb.co.za
Website: www.patensiebnb.co.za
1. Briefly describe your establishment and the services you offer?
Log View B&B/SC is located in the village of Patensie, close to all amenities offering affordable and comfortable accommodation.
Situated below the main house, the B&B consists of two rooms, both air conditioned, with an adjoining, communal fully equipped kitchen. All lead to a large, partially covered deck. Each room has an en-suite shower with toilet and basin, TV and tea/coffee tray. On the deck there are two tables with chairs as well as other seating if one wishes to eat or just sit and relax and enjoy the view. The splash pool with the Lapa next to it provides for cooling off in the warm summer months. Just off the B&B deck are braai facilities and guests can wander around in the lush garden at their leisure.
2. How long have you been in the area?
We moved from Port Elizabeth to Patensie on 25th April 2007, so it will be 3 years and just over 3 months that we are living in the valley.
3. What is the best part about living here?
Being avid gardeners, and having lived right at the sea in Schoenmakerskop Village which is about 8km outside PE, Peter and I marvel at how well everything grows here in the Gamtoos Valley. We have fabulous views of the valley from virtually every room in the house and never grow tired of looking at the mountains surrounding us.
4. Describe your family living with you.
Peter took early retirement from the NMMU in 2006 and I subsequently resigned from my post in the NMMU Library, and we moved from Port Elizabeth to Patensie end of April 2007, rented a house for six months on the farm Concordia, about 1km outside Patensie, until our house was completed in October 2007. Once we had moved in, Peter decided that we utilize the wasted space under our house by building two rooms to serve as a B&B – not having planned for this in advance we had to utilize what space there was, and in the end we have been pleasantly surprised by the compliments we are receiving from our guests.
We do not have children, but our 3 four legged creatures’ makes up for that. Bollie and Mitsi, the two Yorkshire Terriers and Rotti, our Rottweiler (who sometimes thinks he is as small as the Yorkies when he tries to climb onto my lap) grew up together. I normally introduce Rotti to our guests when they book in and close him off in the backyard should any of our visitors feel uncomfortable around him, but normally he steals the hearts of most of them with his warm and complacent nature. Rotti even featured in an article in a German Newspaper, Die Zeit, published on 22 April 2010. The article was written by a German journalist covering the Soccer World Cup and how safe it is in South Africa, especially in the country. He and his wife and son stayed at Log View B&B one night and the boy told me that it is much nicer to stay at a B&B than a Hotel.
5. What do you hope to achieve in the next 5 years?
We intend to move back to the coast, having bought a plot in Paradise Beach, and will start building our new home there once our house is sold here in Patensie. I will certainly miss all the people we have met during the past two and a half years that I have been running this business. We will however continue with the business until such time as the house is sold.
6. What activities do you offer your guests?
We do not offer any activities as such, other than offering our bicycles to guests and every now and then take a couple up to Poortjies in the Baviaanskloof.
Did u Know?
- The Eastern Cape has a population of 6.9 million people; the majority of the people speak isiXhosa (49%), followed by Afrikaans (45%) and English (6%).
- The Power Station in Willowmore was built in 1938 and was in use up until 29/05/1984, where after Willowmore received electricity form Eskom.
- In the Baviaanskloof, you will find seven of the country’s eight biomes, 1200 different types of plants, and a third of the country’s bird species, some 24 reptile species and eight different types of amphibians.
- Port Elizabeth is known as the Mohair capital of the world as 95% of the world’s mohair passes through its port.
- Draaikrans in Steytlerville is a 60m high rock formation and over a million years old.
Upcoming Events
Trans Baviaans
When: 13 – 15 August
Where: Willowmore to Jeffrey’s Bay (through Baviaanskloof)
Contact: Ecobound Team: 044 871 4455
Permaculture Home Gardening Course in Steytlerville
When: Saturday 21 August & Sunday 22 August 2010
Where: Noorspoort Guest Farm, Steytlerville
Cost:
- R 1990 per person sharing, which includes the two day course, refreshments, all meals, accommodation at Noorspoort Guest Lodge and course materials.
- R 1750 per person sharing, which includes the two day course, refreshments, all meals, accommodation at Reynecke Cottage and course materials.
- R 1500 per person, which includes the two day course, refreshments, all meals, camping and course materials.
- Private room available at R450 extra
Contact: Danie Craven or Frieda Kleynhans at 049 835 0001 or cell 082 55 333 44 or info@noorspoort.co.za
Electronics starter course
When: Friday evening 27 August 2010 (registration) to Sunday 29 August 2010 Where: Noorspoort Guest Farm
Contact: Danie or Frieda at 049 835 001, 082 55 333 44 or 082 482 4245.
Places are limited so please secure your spot before or on 20 August 2010 by contacting Refundable deposit of R1,000 required by Friday 20 August 2010, balance when registering Friday 27 August 2010. Bank particulars: Standard Bank, branch code 050316, Account Name: Noorspoort Guest Farm, Account Number: 283879041.
Course contents
- Electronic components and how to identify them using colour and number codes
- How to read a circuit diagram
- Theory and practical’s on some simple circuits
- Introduction to computer program that will help you to design your first printed circuit board
- Making your own circuit board at home
Cost: The course fee of R1,950 includes all the above, i.e. course material, electronic components, construction tools (soldering iron, millimeters and so on), 3-star accommodation in Noorspoort Guest Farm, meals, refreshments and a bush/game drive on the farm (including a visit to geologically-famous Draaikrans).
The course could open up a whole new world for you as a hobbyist, or even pave the way to a successful professional career!
The Amazing Karoo Cycling Bazaar Steytlerville
When: 28 August 2010
Where: Steytlerville Showground
Time: 06:00 entries (fax, online or @ showground)
Races: 10km, 40km, 80km
Contact: Marli: 049 835 0385 / 072 157 0832
Lucia: 049 833 0026 / 084 513 0232
Corné 049 835 0484 / 084 511 6806
Website: www.ecmtb.co.za (click on races)
Yoga Retreat
When: 1 – 10 October 2010
Where: Cedar Guest House & Retreat Centre in the Baviaanskloof
Cost: Guesthouse pp sharing R7080, single R7500, cottages R7440 pp, Chalets R6090 pp sharing, Camping R5460. This rate is all inclusive of facilitator, accommodation, use of all facilities and meals (excluding breakfast) and is based on staying for the full retreat.
Massages with Jeanne are by appointment and extra (R300 for a full body treatment with aromatherapy oils and colour balance). Please can you give an indication as to whether you are interested?
Contact: Tel: 044 9231751
Cell: 082 8783688
E-mail: jeanne@baviaan.co.za
Web: www.baviaan.co.za
Willowmore Gholf Klub
Foodzone Willowmore
Wanneer: 14 Augustus 2010
Payott Beker Willowmore
Wanneer: 11 September 2010
Bhejane Wildreservaat Borgdag
Wanneer: 18 September 2010
BKB Borgdag
Wanneer: 25 September 2010
Steyn & v.d Vyver Borgdag
Wanneer: 2 Oktober 2010
Engen/Zaayman’s Garage Borgdag
16 Oktober 2010
Klub Kampionskappe
Borge: Kameelstop & Bonanza Bottelstoor
Wanneer: 30 Oktober 2010
Baviaans Laerskool
Wanneer: 13 November 2010
OVK
Wanneer: 20 November 2010
DA Geborgde Gholfdag
Wanneer: 4 Desember 2010
Regular Events
Sunday Lunches
When: Every Sunday (Book in advance)
Where: Royal Hotel Steytlerville
Contact: Marli: 049 835 0385 / 072 157 0832
Steytlerville Follies
When: Every Saturday night. (Book in advance)
Where: Karroo Theatrical Hotel
Cost: R170.00 includes 3 course dinner and show. (Drinks not included.)
Time: 19:00
Contact: Mark on 049 835 0010
