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Tourism

2018 Lights Festival – Mascots Galore for Children

The 2018 Lights Festival will have a jam packed programme running for children with appearances by four of George’s favourite mascots.  Georgie from GO GEORGE says he is the most famous selfie personality in George and is always ready to brighten up your photo with his friendly smile! He loves to tell children all about the marvelous GO GEORGE bus service. Smartie is the new kid on the block and Georgie’s best friend forever. He says he is not such a selfie celebrity yet, but he is  really a bit smarter than Georgie, so it’s okay. Smartie says his  job is to help people understand how to work the new Smart Card. Daantjie Kat loves road safety and he has been teaching children how to use road and where it is safe to play for over 15 years in George.  And the very newest super hero in George will be there as well – Rocky the Recycling Rooster  is a recycling hero and he teaches children all about how cool it is to recycle  their rubbish!

Come and meet your favourite characters from 2pm – 5pm in the cordoned area next to the George Tourism office. Entrance is from York Street. Fun galore for every ages with jumping castles, face painting and other exciting activities. Parents must accompany under age children and Community Development officials identified by orange bibs with name tags will be present to assist on the day.

The youth programme will start on the main stage from 2pm with the Classic Programme starting at 5pm. The switching on of the Festive Season Lights will take place at 8pm followed by a performance by  Emo Adams.

York Street between Hibernia / Langehoven and Courtenay Streets as well as a portion of Cathedral Street will be closed from 12pm in order to ensure the safety of all. Directional signage will be in place. A number of stalls will be available throughout the day from 2pm selling food and other items.

Chantel Edwards-Klose

George Municipality    Manager: Communications

Tel: 044 801 9160 /  082 350 2420

Email cedwardsklose@george.gov.za

Tourists welcome in George, Wilderness and Uniondale

The George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism Offices confirm and assures business travellers and tourists that we are open for business.  Communities along the Garden Route have been affected by devastating wildfires, but the situation is under control and service delivery has not been affected.

Our towns are fully functional and ready to assist with tour groups and visitors to the areas.  The George Airport is operational, and all the major roads including  the N2, Montagu Pass, Outeniqua Pass and N9 from George to Uniondale are open.

For more information about things to do in the area, please contact our Tourism Offices:

George Tourism                   044 801 9295

Wilderness Tourism            044 877 0045

Uniondale Tourism              044 752 1076

For official updates about the recent wildfires in the region, visit the following page: www.facebook.com/gardenroutedm or www.facebook.com/george.municipality

Press Release issued by George Municipality

Photograph Credit: Cloudbase Paragliding.

We are still open for business – travelers encouraged to visit our region

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo Regional Tourism office hereby confirms and assures the travel trade, business interests, government and the public that we are open for business. Communities in and around Knysna, George and Hessequa area have been affected by devastating wildfires, but we confirm that the situation is under control. Humanitarian work has commenced in all the affected areas and displaced families are being well looked after.
 
All the towns in the region are fully functional and ready to assist with tour groups and visitors to the areas.
 
For more information about things to do in each town, please contact the following Local Tourism Offices:
 
Knysna Tourism 044 382 5510
Mossel Bay Tourism 044 619 2202
George Tourism 044 801 9295
Plettenberg Bay Tourism 044 533 4065
Ladismith Tourism 028 551 1378
Oudtshoorn Tourism 044 279 2532
Hessequa Tourism 028 713 7829
Calitzdorp Tourism 044 213 3775
 
To see what the Garden Route & Klein Karoo has on offer, visit: www.facebook.com/grandkk
 
For official communication about wildfires in the region, “like” the following page: www.facebook.com/gardenroutedm

02 November 2018 No hiking or feeding of Wildlife allowed after fires in the Garden Route

Media Release – urgent notice
Issued by CapeNature

02 November 2018

Due to the recent fires in the Garden Route, CapeNature is requesting that communities living adjacent to the burnt areas support the recovery of wildlife by monitoring the condition of species and to report any injured animals to CapeNature as soon as possible. It would be very helpful if the following information can be provided to CapeNature when an injured animal is found:

– Exact locality of where the injured animal has been found/spotted (GPS position if possible)

– Correct species identification (as far as possible)

– Brief description of the injuries to the animal

– If possible photographic evidence or video footage should be taken so that the correct information is made available to the Official for the most appropriate treatment.

Do not approach an injured animal or put yourself in any danger, the public can rather contact the CapeNature George Regional Office (044) 802 5300 for any wild animals found or the Outeniqua Nature Reserve on 087 087 4151 if animals are found inside Outeniqua Nature Reserve.

No feeding of wild animals

The residential areas that border the Outeniqua mountains have experienced human-wildlife conflict for many years (especially with baboons) and therefore CapeNature is not supportive of placing out feeding stations as this will enhance conflict situations in the future.

A habitat assessment will be undertaken to determine the availability of remaining habitat for wildlife as soon as the Garden Route District Disaster Management has given clearance to CapeNature to enter the burnt areas. At this stage the area is still ‘a no go zone’ due to areas still smouldering and deep hot ash.

Wild animals will naturally move to alternative habitat if there is available habitat, by feeding wild animals you are firstly keeping them from a natural evacuation of the area and secondly make them dependent on feeding stations. As soon as the habitat assessment is completed, the situation will be reassessed.

Help by assessing and reporting – not feeding!

It is therefore advisable that the condition of wildlife be monitored rather than fed by the public. We should support wildlife by allowing corridors in order to allow them to move freely, driving carefully along public roads, and ensuring that our pets do not get the opportunity to chase wildlife that graze/browse closer to residential areas.

Please drive carefully, road verges also provide food for wildlife such as small antelope and primate species as these areas are often intact and are good for grazing/browsing and will be feeding close to the road.

Please stay out of natural areas – no hiking

We ask that the public refrain from accessing any natural areas in the George/Knysna region where there are still active or smouldering fire lines. These areas continue to have a high fire danger risk so please help us keep everyone safe!

Issued by CapeNature

Urgent Notification: Visitors travelling to the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region

GARDEN ROUTE WILDFIRES

Due to the recent wildfires in and around the Garden Route region, it is recommended that all visitors that are planning to travel to region delay their trip to the next week.  Severe weather conditions have been predicted for Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay today and tomorrow.

Smoke due to wildfires affects the visibility and air quality which adversely affect the tourism industry. Not all the fires in the Garden Route have been contained.

Please note the following:

  • Outeniqua pass has been reopened;
  • Montagu Pass remains closed until further notice; and
  • Robinson Pass has reopened following a felled tree near Ruiterbos.

Outeniqua pass currently have teams clearing debris from wildfires and wind. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution and be aware of possible falling of rocks and trees.

We would like to assure all tourists that are planning to travel to the Garden Route and Klein Karoo that once safety is guaranteed that updated communication will be shared.

Please follow all relating news feeds on our social media pages:

www.facebook.com/gardenroutedm

www.facebook.com/grandkk

For any assistance with the above matter, please contact:

Garden Route District Emergency Call centre at tel: 044 805 5071

or/

Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism office  at tel: 044 803 1427