Concept
Through adventure tourism education, experiential training and sustainable employment through structured business opportunities we hope to return dignity and prosperity to the people living along the Wild Coast. In turn we hope that this will result in adventure tourism in a safe, risk free environment, whilst simultaneously instilling a sound foundation for responsible consideration of the Wild Coast as a natural adventure destination – by local communities and our government.
Vision
Our vision is to establish one of the most sought after, must visit, adventure tourism attractions in South Africa. Simultaneously the Wild Coast will become a safe, well managed adventure tourism destination – owned and run by the people of the region – where the conservation of the region in its natural state is an integral part of the course of action and final result.
Our primary objective is the sustainable upliftment of local communities; from an environmental perspective our objective is to build a future where people live in harmony with nature. On Track Club believes the first step in attaining this objective to be the eradication of poverty – from the minute the first adventure activity is presented the primary benefactors will be the community!
Concept overview
The key to the success of this project is that it’s vision and objectives are underpinned by an indisputable desire for it to be a community project by the community. A vision that is holistic in every respect and one that forms part of Eastern Cape’s vision into the future. There are a number of key components to this project: (All of which will be interwoven with the cultural heritage and history that is uniquely the Wild Coast – the Wild Coast will endure into the future without forsaking its past!)
Adventure tourism development
This project takes South Africa’s biggest renewable resource, adventure tourism, and links it to South Africa’
s biggest socio economic challenge, unemployment, and thereby improves the quality of life of local communities and beyond. This is a structured, sustainable adventure tourism/sports development project that will achieve these objectives through education and the development of our youth in rural communities. The end result is employment and the real growth of Tourism along the Wild Coast and ultimately for South Africa.
Adventure sports development
The short-term results and immediate goals are as valuable as our final objectives. Thousands of youngsters and the unemployed will be attracted to the activities. This project immediately employs a casual work force for which this may be the only income they will receive the entire year. Those that participate have an experience that will live with them forever, whether they are chosen for ongoing training this time around or not. The sports development aspect of this project will be accommodated as part of the ongoing training at the adventure sports development nodes as they become established.
Community development
There is already established, basic infrastructure at each of the proposed development nodes which provide a solid foundation for this project. Also, and as important, is the fact that there are a number of resorts and lodges along this coast line that have already, whole-heartedly, pledged their support this project. Simplistically, these lodges and resorts have committed themselves to subcontracting their adventure excursions to the adventure development squads. The resorts at the proposed development nodes PLUS the lodges in region provide an exceptional youth development, adventure training, employment and formal accreditation opportunity.
Sustainability
This project needs to stand on its feet as a financially viable concern from the outset. Once the initial investment has been made to establish components of this project each attraction presented from these adventure development nodes must contribute to the overall sustainability of the project as a financially viable entity in its own right.
Activities
The activities are intended as the “must-see, must-do” adventure tourism destinations in South Africa. There is no other region in South Africa that can match the adventures we are able to offer along the Wild Coast – those that differ with this opinion do so in ignorance and I would be more than pleased to enlighten them.
In a heartbeat the Wild Coast can become the Wild Coast Adventure Route of South Africa. At the risk of sounding facetious the Garden Route would pale in comparison, as would the attraction of the annual flowers of the West Coast. I believe that the activities on offer along the Wild Coast could become the equivalent of the attraction provided by the wildlife in the Kruger National Park.
Youth leadership courses
School Leadership Programmes can immediately be accommodated and become part of the sustainability of this project. These leadership programmes apply to local, national and international school groups. In the same way as Lapalala Leadership school (Limpopo Province) is based around wildlife and conservation, the development nodes as part of the Wild Coast Adventure Route can provide a leadership course based on nature, adventure and Xhosa culture. The activities on offer are perfect for these purposes.
Team Building
Once basic facilities and activities and are in place they can be packaged as to accommodate national and international corporate team building. This single component of the activities on offer can provide the revenue streams to make this a financially viable undertaking. The adventure development squads at each of these development nodes are assured of incoming, lucrative business on an ongoing basis. The resorts and lodges will benefit from the resulting accommodation requirements; the communities, through ownership of the adventure activities; will enjoy the lion’s share!
Tour packages
The Wild Coast boasts some of this countries biggest rivers, the most magnificent coastline in southern Africa, wetlands, indigenous fauna and flora and a hospitable people – these added to mid-blowing Tyrolean Traverses, massive abseils, unsurpassed mountain biking along cattle tracks, 4x4 routes along controlled routes, deep sea fishing, surfing, kayaking, overnight horse trails, parasailing, hang gliding should result in one of the best adventure escapes in South Africa. Tour operators will do anything to be included in the allocation of the resulting concessions.
Adventure Events
On Track Club’s Morgan’s Run has already tested and proved the viability of an annual adventure event along the Wild Coast. Morgan’s Run has the potential to generate millions in international and national income for the region. Results and a detailed business plan for Morgan’s Run are available on request. The annual Imana Wild Ride has been a fully subscribed mountain biking event for the past three consecutive years.
Get involved, email info@ontrackclub.com