Robertson- There are many off-beat destinations in South Africa the majority of people have never heard of. Soekershof Walkabout is one of those 'primary unusual destinations'. Together with Grootbos Nature Reserve in Standfort and The Backpack in Cape Town Soekershof Walkabout in Robertson is accredited for the Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa trademark. This was officially announced during the travel fair Reise Pavillion in Hannover (Germany).

"This accreditation is the recognition that Soekershof Walkabout is really committed to: fair wages, working conditions and operations, ethical business practice, positive contribution to local economic development, respect for human rights, culture and environment", says co-owner Herman van Bon of Soekershof. "But still we intend to improve; a garden has to grow and this garden we are not going to survive. This garden will grow into the future with, a.o., trees which will mature in a few thousand years; ever changing stories and for the moment also the most beautiful legs in the world representing the New South Africa".

"This might sound cryptic", adds his wife and the other co-owner Yvonne de Wit, " but once experiencing this tourist destination with a camera visitors keep on taking photographs of these legs".

Going 'Off-beat'

But what of where is Soekershof Walkabout all about?

It's a typical and unique 'primary unusual destination' for the broad-minded personalities always in search for an unusual experience. Soekershof Walkabout is located in Klaas Voogds West between Robertson and Ashton; 2 hours touristic driving East of Cape Town, South Africa. Many Capetonians enjoy their Sunday picnic at Soekershof Walkabout.

'Weird but Passionate' hosts; great stories; a wealth of plantlife; time-travel with Albert Einstein; a stone-age cinema; the New South African Handshake; philosophers garden and, of course, the highly acclaimed succulent gardens with more than 2400 registered different species from all over the world in the unprotected open air are just a few of the impressions visitors undergo.

Visitors can also earn a memorable reward by fulfilling a quest in the Klaas Voogds Maze which is regarded as the largest hedge-maze in the world..

"This Maze is not a Maze in the traditional perception that you have to get lost but is a reflection of life; walking from one story into another which are visualised by objects, as orientating points, towering above the hedges. However there are, as in life, also a few 'stories' you will have to look for. And, visitors are invited to make their own stories", explains Van Bon.

A visit to Soekershof is hard to describe for it is a very personal experience as can be found out in the 'love-letter' section of the Soekershof website (http://soekershof.com).

Information

The own Soekershof nursery distinguishes itself from other (specialist) nurseries by providing visitors with sufficient customized cultivation information. Sometimes even by refusing selling a plant if, distilled from the information provided by the client, it turns out that the environmental conditions (climate, location, etc.) are not suitable. "From statistics, f.e., it's known that 60 to 70 percent of the succulents including cacti sold in the Cape Town area die within months or will never prosper. Recently there was even a publication about this in one of the local newspapers. It turns out that even specialist nurseries provide their customers with insufficient information", tells Yvonne de Wit. "A landscaper from Cape Town recently formulated: 'These nurseries have either no sufficient knowledge; want to make fast money or are desperate for money'. And such a behaviour is at the end not good for the whole nursery trade"

Can both of you describe Soekershof Walkabout in your own words?

Van Bon: "It is the place where Klaas Voogds, James Bond and Albert Einstein meet".

De Wit:"Everything you always wanted to know about sex ..... between plants but never dared to ask".

A visit takes at least 1.5 to 2 hrs. Visitors are invited to bring their own picnic.

Herman van Bon

In previous life a free lance journalist (technical publications)

Nowadays co-owner of Soekershof Walkabout; the onliest off-beat destination in South Africa without a roadsign due to personal preferences of the provincial road engineer of the Western Cape.

See website http://soekershof.com for precise road directions and 'What visitors can expect'.