Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa; 14 October 2008 - Soekershof; Private Mazes and Botanical Gardens in South Africa is a never ending story which the owners are not going to survive. And as the story rolls forward new developments happen all the time at South Africa’s most unusual tourist destination which does not want to attract mass tourism.

The marketing of Soekershof is merely Internet related and this in a country of which the majority of Internet users don’t know how to use the medium and, due to cultural/educational/etc. background, are no concentrated readers. But there is a way to attract them: ‘Tag’ a celebrity in a blog and get the hits (1200+ in 20 hrs for 007). As said Soekershof’s marketing is primary Internet related; combined with word of mouth and media exposure. It brings us more than 80 percent of the visitors (around 20 percent solely on account of Internet). And 70 percent of the visitors is South African.

But there is more.
More important is the continuous movement at Soekershof. The new rockeries near the entrance are getting shape. The succulent plant collection is increasing; from over 2400 different and registered plants to around 2700 OUTDOORS in the garden towards the end of this month. It’s by far the largest outdoor collection of its kind in South Africa. Together with passionate friends of Obesa Nursery in Graaff Reinet Soekershof acquired a few hundred very rare species from private collectors. And nearby in McGregor is the outstanding lithop collection of Andrew van Ginkel (approx. 2000 species under cover). With these and other colleagues Soekershof maintains a good mututal beneficial exchange of knowledge.
And on Soekershof’s blogsite http://soekershofwalkabout.blogspot.com you find in the right collumn links to other things to do in Robertson plus a link to accommodation in the region of which you can be assured of a consistent good quality and hospitality, each in their own market segment. It is the philosophy of Soekershof that it is also in their interest that visitors enjoy every moment of their stay in the Robertson Wine Valley.

Art in the Garden

Next to the baobab sculpture one of these months we Soekershof will launch the first South African ‘cruise missile’. This 4.5 metres high sculpture is at the moment getting shape in the workshop and is created by woodworker Marthinus Plaatjies who also makes an exclusieve collection of (laminated) wooden products such as garden furniture, seed boxes (with embedded cotyledon) and design handbags. Also in the making are the laminated (2 bluegum species) King and Queen Chairs of respectivily 200 and 165 cm high and each weighing over 100 kilograms. These monumental objects (one of a kind) will be for sale in the Visitors Centre. And Joey the wire artist is still demonstrating visitors a real African handshake ... next to his unique work of course.

Inviting gifted artists from local communities nearby is part of Soekershof’s engagement in Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa.

In the near future Soekershof hopes to attract more local artists who are, as Joey, willing to invest time in creating unique collections of their own work with the foresight of making an independent, non-subsidised, sustainable income.

Mama Africa

If time allows owners and staff of soekershof will also add new, visualised, stories in the Klaas Voogds Maze. But first they want to sculpture a giant Earthwork (>2 metres high, 14 metres long and 6 metres wide) representing Mama Africa. This object is dedicated to all people of this fascinating African continent (and also a little bit to a few locals who every now and than are circling with their aircraft above Soekershof ..........).

More info: http://soekershof.com
Blog: http://soekershofwalkabout.blogspot.com

Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa: http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za

Obesa Nursery: http://www.obesanursery.com
Andrew van Ginkel: http://www.lithops.co.za