Meander route inland from Ballito could boost tourism

It is hoped that a proposed meander-like tourism route will reignite the tourism and business sectors in the flood-impacted areas along the P103, just inland from Ballito.

iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, in conjunction with Rain Farm Game and Lodge, held a business breakfast meeting last Friday to discuss ways of fully exploiting the area’s economic potential.

From a tourism and leisure perspective, it already boasts attributes such as mountain biking, hiking, game drives, watersport and a primate sanctuary.

Critically, the area needed active participation of and support from neighbouring stakeholders to grow. The Ballito tourism sector, for example, should punt the route and its facilities.

Repairing damaged road infrastructure was another key factor.

Rain Farm Game and Lodge owner, Chris McDaniel, took over the farm with his wife in 2019 just before the Covid-19 pandemic and has weathered several storms since to make a success of the lodge.

“Perhaps it’s a KZN issue, but I find that a lot of the time businesses are very isolated and we close our doors to people who offer help. We see these as threats, being skeptical of why others would want to partner with each other. But cross-network marketing is sincerely needed,” he said.

“We have Sugar Rush Park, Adventure Valley, Monkeyland KZN and much more. What we want to achieve is establishing a North Coast meander, which would not only promote this area but also connect with surrounding businesses which can boost other areas, too,” McDaniel said.

While still only a concept, businesses are being approached to determine how it can be marketed locally.

iLembe Chamber CEO, Cobus Oelofse said the North Coast’s south-western stretch offers similar attractions in abundance.

“Although in its infancy, the idea of an adventure route is not new, while the offering is now more varied and concentrated,” he said.

Oelofse also raised concerns about accessibility to areas surrounding the suggested route, with the boosting of businesses further inland unlikely if repairs to roads and bridges are not expedited.

“The P103 remains impacted by the damage caused during the April 2022 floods, with the causeway bridge being a temporary measure put in place by the private sector, and the rest of the road severely compromised in places,” he said.

No progress has been made with repairing a collapsed portion of the P103 to the west of Rain Farm Game and Lodge, where a bridge is also still to be repaired.

The Department of Transport had not responded at the time of publication.

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