The Best of the North West

One of the East Cape Tours team members recently attended a Speed Marketing Event and Familiarity Trip in the North West – a province best known for boasting the renowned Madikwe Game Reserve. This is what he had to say about his trip:

At the beginning of last month, I received a very different email in my inbox. South African Tourism had invited me and a number of other tour operators around the country to a speed marketing session and familiarity trip in the Hartbeespoort area of the North West province. I immediately fired up Google Maps to find out exactly where the Hartbeespoort area was and what I could expect. A quick scroll through Google Images showed me a picturesque dam filled with sailing boats and surrounded by green fields. It looked like something lifted directly from a Garden Route travel brochure. After a 6:00 AM flight and a quick meet and greet with the other 13 members of my tour group, I set off for what promised to be a very interesting, if very different, road trip.

Our first stop was the aha Lesedi Cultural Village, the first of many site inspections. A stone’s throw from the Cradle of Humankind, the village offers an authentic insight into the daily life of Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Ndebele and Basotho people. The indigenous cultures of South Africa are all too often shoehorned into one. As such, it was so refreshing to visit a venue that celebrates the diversity of each one authentically and not just for the sake of ticket sales. We inspected the village’s traditional beehive huts and its dining venue, complete with a mounted elephant skull! That evening, we were even treated to a traditional Zulu rain dance and an informative talk, and this was all before lunchtime.

A culturally rich stay at Lesedi

We then headed to Glen Afric Country Lodge for a sumptuous platter lunch. Close enough to the city but far enough from its hustle and bustle, the lodge offers stellar accommodation in a variety of spaces, from those overlooking a dam to those right next to a horse riding arena. Glen Afric offers the typical safari fare, including game drives and bush walks. Guests can also experience a tour of the sets of Wild at Heart as well as those of comedy classics like Mr Bones and There’s a Zulu on my Stoep. But the lodge’s elephant encounters are definitely the highlight. We were fortunate enough to be treated to a 30-minute session with these beautiful creatures. All in all, the Glen Afric Country Lodge is a lovely destination for safari goers or for travellers who need a picturesque stopover for a night or two.

Up-close and friendly with the elephants

It was then back on the bus for a short drive to Impact Adventures Africa. Located right on the edge of Hartbeespoort Dam, Impact Adventures offer an all-in-one solution for anybody who fancies themselves an adrenaline junkie. Rafting, abseiling, quad-biking and clay pigeon shooting all come together in one beautiful setting. There are also ‘calmer’ activities such as puzzle solving for those who prefer a slower pace.

Just around the bend was a very different experience – a tour of the Van Gaalens Cheese Farm. Guests at Van Gaalens should not expect a traditional cheese and wine experience. Instead, a tour of the farm’s cheese-making facilities shows how varied a visit to the North West can be. Upon arrival, we were treated to an explanation of the farm’s humble roots and were able to look on through glass walls as traditional Dutch cheese was produced right before our eyes. The cheese tasting that followed didn’t hurt either.

Van Gaalens Cheese farm is not going out of stock any time soon

Throughout the morning I had to keep reminding myself that I was traveling for business, and wasn’t actually a tourist. I had seen some of the Hartbeespoort gems, but now it was time to get down to the reason for my trip – the South African Tourism Speed Marketing Session. What followed was an informative two hours of getting to know all of the activities offers in the Hartbeespoort area and those who facilitate them. From balloon safaris to ziplining and everything in between, myself and the other guests were exposed to just how enjoyable a holiday in the area can be.

The day came to a close and we were whisked off to our overnight accommodation at Stirling Guesthouse. By a stroke of luck, I was upgraded to the Presidential Suite. I can safely say that the guest house earned every one of its five stars. An expansive room complete with a queen-size bed, satellite TV, complimentary Wi-Fi and my own private balcony overlooking the Hartbeespoort Dam was my home for the night.

Stunning views over the dam at Stirling Manor

Refreshed and ready, we set out for what promised to be another day full of exciting destinations. After check-out, we were driven to Thaba Legae Guest Lodge, a 4-Star accommodation located an hour’s drive from the Hartbeespoort area. Thabo Legae is not only a top-notch accommodation, but also a fantastic wedding and conference venue, situated right on the border of the Kgaswane Nature Reserve. It is a clean and well-maintained accommodation and ideal for a one- or two-night stop-off. It was here that I enjoyed the second session of speed marketing.

Enjoy a cool-down dip at Thaba Legae

After a hearty lunch we climbed back into our bus for the last of our site inspections, and possibly the most iconic. First up was the Royal Marang Hotel. As part of the Royal Bafokeng Tourism complex, the 5-Star hotel is a short distance from a number of facilities, including the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus. It is here that England’s soccer team stayed during the 2010 FIFA World Cup after all. All the rooms at The Royal Marang are furnished with a king-size bed and their own en-suite bathroom and stand as a testament to North West tourism. The hotel is also a short drive from what would be our final stop, Sun City.

Five-star facilities at Royal Marang

A tour of Sun City’s various conference facilities and its 5-Star Cascades Hotel assured us all that the holiday destination still maintains its high standard of quality and service. After a brief tour of some of its best offerings, we set off for that evening’s dinner. The tour party and I were treated to a Shisa Nyama at Lucky’s Pub Phokeng. A Shisa Nyama brings together good people, good times and lots of good food. It may not be fine dining but it was tasty. We were each given a plate of braai meat to be cooked by one of the pub’s braai masters while we relaxed and chatted after a successful speed marketing session. We would jet off to our respective destinations in the morning.

I returned to Port Elizabeth tired but refreshed. My adventure in the North West was a successful and enjoyable fact-finding mission. On behalf of East Cape Tours, I would like to thank South African Tourism for putting together an eye-opening and enjoyable experience. The region has got plenty to offer and I am excited for what it holds for the future of East Cape Tours, and most importantly, our guests.