New app will highlight Plettenberg Bay trails

Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plett and surrounds have become a haven for nature lovers, especially because of its world-class trails.

It is for this reason that Plett Tourism has launched a new app to help visitors to enjoy these trails to the fullest.

The new Plett Trails app is a comprehensive and "easy-to-use guide" to the best and lesser-known walks, hikes and MTB trails to be found in the areas that make up Plettenberg Bay, from Harkerville to Tsitsikamma. It will inform users with regard to trail information, difficulty grading and skills, and trail classification.

To create the app, the Plett Tourism Association partnered with the World Trails Network and founder of the popular Garden Route Walking Festival, Galeo Saintz, alongside private stakeholders including SANParks, CapeNature and the MTO group.

After 18 months and much ground covered, the Plett Trails app is ready to use and includes 26 hiking trails – 16 of which are international Green Flag Trails, and the first Green Flag mountain bike trails in the world.

Green Flag Trails is an international standard for trail accreditation, to enhance public awareness and confidence in trails with a system designed to meet the needs of trail users in relation to trail information, difficulty grading and skills, and trail classification.

Plett Tourism chief executive Patty Butterworth said Plett's location at the heart of the Garden Route National Park, surrounded by nature reserves, pine plantations, mountains, dramatic coastline, fynbos and exquisite indigenous forest, makes it the ideal base from which to explore the region.

Hikers Carol de Beer, Yolande Stander and Samuel Stander take a stroll along the Robberg hiking trail in Plettenberg Bay. Photo: Ewald Stander

She explained that the app currently offers information on a variety of trails ranging from Harkerville to the west of Plettenberg Bay through to Tsitsikamma in the east, complete with trail information, maps, distances, updates to trail conditions and contact information, ensuring first-time and returning visitors are provided with up-to-date information in an easy-to-use format.

Saintz said that, with the development of the app, signature trails such as CapeNature's Robberg and SANParks' Otter Trail stand shoulder to shoulder with lesser-known gems such as the Cairnbrogie Trails Network, Keurbooms Nature Reserve, the Dolphin Trail and the Inqua Trail (previously Robberg Coastal Corridor).

"The app integrates with Google Maps to enable users to accurately navigate to the start of each trail and – where mobile signal is available – use Maps to navigate the trail itself." He said more trails will be added to the app over time, as information becomes available.

Attractions to enjoy include Plett's section of the Cradle of Human Culture Route, navigation to the permanent Land Art piece Aartmoeder by Simon Max Baxter in Kranshoek, two World Heritage Sites and nature reserves, various SANParks and MTO trails and a total of 16 Green Flag Trails within a vastly biodiverse region.

Yolande Stander enjoying the Cairnbrogie mountain bike trails in Plettenberg Bay. Photo: Ewald Stander

"If you've ever visited an area and struggled to find information on hikes or trails, or started a trail only to find out it's a lot more strenuous than expected or severely degraded, you'll understand and appreciate the value of having the app's information at your fingertips. Whether you're visiting for the first time or looking to explore new and exciting paths around Plett, the Plett Trails app will be your faithful companion. We are thrilled to introduce this new product to the travel market."

The app will also be introduced to the tourism market at WTM Africa 2023 at the Cape Town International Conference Centre from 3 to 5 April.