SANParks opens bookings for summer season
BOOKINGS for the December
2014 to January 2015 period
in various national parks under
SANParks’ management opened in
the middle of last month.
SANParks gm: sales and
marketing, Bheki Zwane, says the
reason for opening both months
at the same time was to make it
easy to book accommodation and
activities well in advance and allow
people to plan their itinerary into
the new year with just one booking.
This is unlike previous years, where
they had to book separately for
December and January.
Bheki says accommodation
bookings in various national parks
are always in demand during this
peak period. He adds that inventory
will be made available on a firstcome,
first-served basis.
According to Bheki visitors will be
required to make the first deposit
of 50% 30 days after the booking
has been made. The second
payment of 50% must be paid 60
days before arrival.
Ficksburg Steam Heritage Festival – dates announced
THE annual Stars of Sandstone Steam
Heritage Festival is set take place in
Ficksburg from April 12-21, with steam
enthusiasts from around the globe
expected to descend on the area.
The festival takes place at Sandstone
Estates and showcases many restored
steam-driven vehicles and machines
from days gone by. Military vehicles, old
tractors, steam lorries, traction engines,
locomotives, old buses and cars will
take centre stage.
How feasible is a Drakensberg cableway?
PLANS to build a cable car in the
Drakensberg to increase KwaZulu
Natal’s tourism offering have
received little support from the trade,
with concerns raised including the
feasibility of the cableway and the
state of the R74 road.
In a column published on IOL, KZN
MEC for Economic Development
and Tourism, Michael Mabuyakhulu,
argues that the cable car will boost
tourism to the province. He says
the cable car is one of six projects
that have been identified to unlock
potential tourism in the province.
He says a feasibility study
commissioned by the department
found that the Busingatha site in
Mount Amery was a suitable site
for the development, making the
mountains accessible to more
visitors, including people with
disabilities, adding to the tourism
bed nights sold in the province and
attracting more visitors.
Meanwhile, a report in The Times
said it would cost a family of four
R1 100 to ride the Drakensberg
cableway, compared with R620 for
the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.
Jean Carte of Montusi Mountain
Lodge said: “Cape Town and other
major cities worldwide have a ready
audience, who, at a whim, might
decide to nip along to the cable car
station for a trip up the mountain.
The Busingatha valley is a very long
way away from anything.”
But Hilton Bedingham of the
Cavern Resort and Spa, hopes the
cableway would improve access to
the area, particularly the R74. “The
Busingatha area can do with a large
investment to help with upliftment,”
he says.
“I think we would be more
interested in having the R74 fixed
so that visitors to our region are
able to travel to and from the
Drakensberg safely,” commented
Julie Walker, marketing manager
Cathedral Peak Hotel.
Taj Cape Town plans conference and banquet venue
TAJ Cape Town has announced plans
to open a conference and banquet
venue in March in the African Banking
Corporation building, following extensive
renovations. The venue will offer 330
sqm on the ground floor, catering for
business and social requirements.
Underneath the grand banking hall, a
basement level offers a multi-function
space suitable for intimate banquets,
unique corporate events and art
installations.
“This proud heritage building exudes
a sense of style and permanence that
is impossible to replicate in modern
times,” said Michael Pownall, gm of Taj
Cape Town. “Given its excellent location
and proximity to Cape Town, it was the
perfect choice for a banqueting and
event venue par excellence.”
