New tourism route for Western Cape

THE Overberg Blue Crane Route in Caledon, Western Cape, was officially opened over the weekend.
The route is the brainchild of the Open Africa Initiative and sponsored by fuel giant, Engen.
Engen's southern region business unit manager, Hennie Roux, donated a 4x4 vehicle to the route's field officer and said that the launch of the route was another step in the realisation of what has become known as the African Dream Project. The project aims to establish tourist routes across the continent by encouraging communities to focus on their resources, brand their products under the route umbrella and provide them with a platform for efficient and effective marketing.
"With eco-tourism now the fastest growing segment of the tourism market, Africa is in the right place at the right time, but needs the assistance of business and local communities," said Roux.
The Blue Crane Route has some 15 participants including local farmers and members of the Overberg Crane Group, Cape Nature Conservation, representatives of Overberg and Caledon Tourism, the local museum, a restaurant, wine farm as well as numerous guesthouses and tour groups from as far afield as Hermanus, Bot River and Greyton.
Starting in Caledon, the aim is to extend the route to other regions such as Bredasdorp, Swellendam and the Swartland, where blue cranes also occur.

Information Courtesy of www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/new-tourism-route-western-cape