Adventure activities on offer at Mbotyi, Magwa Falls & Fraser Falls
As part of their missions was to finalise adventure packages that had been identified on previous exploratory expeditions. The following packages are ready to go! Spread the word!!!! Better still make your next holiday a true adventure - On Track Club guarantees you an experience that will live with you for the rest of your life
Magwa Falls
1. A return Tyrolean Traverse: This spectacular, adrenalin pumping activity has already been tried and tested on a number of occasions. There is no doubt that this will be a major and unique attraction to the region – it will also provide visitors to the Lodge and Camp Site with an unforgettable memory of Mbotyi
2. A four-hour circular hike: This hike will include either an abseil down or a climb up the cliff face; starting and finishing at the marshalling point of the Tyrolean Traverse
3. An overnight hike to the River Lodge: After an adrenalin pumping abseil down the falls we have planned a guided tour back to Mbotyi with an overnight stop en route. This overnight stop will be at one of the homesteads; this will result in income for that family and a unique cultural experience for you.
Fraser Falls
Fraser Falls has similar activities to those planned for Magwa Falls; the difference is that the activities at Fraser Falls are presented on a scale that is bigger than life!
1. An abseil down Fraser Falls: This is now the biggest commercially operated abseil in South Africa – followed by the abseil off Table Mountain.
2. A circular 5 hour hike: From the base of Fraser Falls (After a mind-blowing abseil down the double falls) back to the abseil marshalling point.
3. An overnight hike: From the base of Fraser Falls (After a mind-blowing abseil down the double falls) to the River Lodge. This one is not for the feint hearted – if roughing it the environs of Nature at its pristine best is your idea of fun – you are going to love this one.
4. The ultimate three day hike: Incorporating the kloofing leg to the river mouth from the base of the waterfall, a visit to Cathedral rock and Waterfall bluff then returning to the Mbotyi. This hike has been designed to be the most adventurous, breathtakingly spectacular, experience on the Wild Coast.
Benefits to the community
This programme has already been five years in the making. To date it has been funded exclusively by On Track Club. This is not intended nor will it ever be a quick fix, political point scoring exercise – this is a real, structured, upliftment programme that has the potential to uplift entire communities and preserve the essence (culture and environment) of the area. An open invitation is extended to anybody who genuinely has the future of the Wild Coast and its people at heart – for the rest… take a hike.
Simplistically there are three phases in the realisation of the full potential of this programme; the implementation of the initial adventure tours/activities (This includes the education and experiential training to prepare the participating community members), the establishment of satellite businesses that can be sustained as a result of the unique tourism activities on site and finally the business management and marketing components that will come once this project starts to take hold.
All the adventure activities set up at the various development nodes are owned 100% by the local community on site – On Track Club is there in a mentoring capacity up until the community decides that they are ready to go it alone.
All the adventure activities require able bodied guides and instructors. The first, qualified instructor (Phineas Nenemba) has completed five years of experiential training with On Track Club, there are few people better suited to the introduction and implementation of adventure sports development along the Wild Coast. Durban Mpahlana will head up community liaison, is his own right he is an accomplished athlete who has travelled the World either as a competitor or as team manager – the insight he is able to provide is invaluable.
With Phineas and Durban setting a solid and stable foundation, thousands of others will be exposed to the opportunities that can come through adventure tourism. Many will be motivated to attend selections, qualify for the bursaries offered by On Track Club - in the not too distant future they will find themselves meaningfully employed. The fact is that within the short space of only a few months the initial adventure activities can result in immediate employment of no fewer than 20 field guides, most of which will qualify for training bursaries in 2008.
From the moment the adventure activities are finalised training will begin. From the moment training begins there will be a ripple effect throughout the youth. This program is designed in a way that encourages skills transfer at every opportunity. What better way to get experience that to teach somebody else? In this case those being trained, as part of their training, will be expected to impart their newly acquired skills and knowledge to the training squads that will emerge from the local schools.
From the time there are activities that attract tourists to a focal point there is opportunity for symbiotic sidelight businesses to come to life. With this in mind our objective is, where ever possible, to make the focal points of the various activities as close to the community villages as possible. Part of the adventure will be the cultural experience that is unique to the Wild Coast
§ Catering: Instead of creating kiosks and the like, members of the community who have the flare will be trained so that they can provide food and sustenance from their respective homesteads.
§ Arts: Xhosa art can be showcased at the heart of its creation
§ Craft: Instead of having to cart their wares to the side of the road or to centres and resorts miles from home, crafts, like art can be exhibited in a real setting
§ Village tours: There are many who would incorporate an authentic Xhosa village tour to their adventure
§ Accommodation: Again this is an exceptional opportunity for a unique Xhosa experience.
These and many more satellite business are more than feasible. This will be a gradual process that will be mentored and supported with insight and training. Part of this metamorphosis will result in the ‘upgrading’ of local living conditions
As this project comes to life so will the need for specialist business skills come to life; accountants, marketers, sales staff and administrators will be required to ensure the future grown and prosperity of the project. Our objective is to motivate these skills at the local schools in the hope that many will see this as an opportunity to stay on within their communities.
In the not too distant future we hope that South Africa’s
Wild Coast Adventure Route
will emerge… come on spread the word and help us make this happen.
Tertiary education (Long term)
Satellite businesses (In the medium term)
Immediate adventure sports training for the youth
Immediate employment and ownership
Whether you are an armchair adventurer, a social hiker or a 'hardcore' adventure racer – take your life experience to a whole new level