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New regenerative tourism journey invites travellers to discover the green heart of the Bergrivier region

Green Piketberg – Route 366 is a newly launched self-drive tourism route inspired by the principles of regenerative tourism, inviting visitors to experience a rural way of life where people have lived from the land – and cared for it – for generations.

Piketberg, Western Cape – Some journeys are measured in kilometres.

Others are measured in conversations with local farmers, mornings spent on mountain trails, roadside farm stalls, fields of wildflowers, cups of freshly brewed rooibos and the warm welcome of the people who call a place home.

That is the thinking behind Green Piketberg – Route 366.

Inspired by the scenic R366 that winds between Redelinghuys and the greater Piketberg region, this new self-drive journey is more than a tourism route. It is an invitation to experience regenerative tourism in action – a way of travelling that not only celebrates a destination, but helps strengthen its communities, supports local livelihoods, protects its landscapes and honours the traditions that have shaped it for generations.

A new route inspired by an old way of life

Long before sustainability became part of the tourism conversation, the people of the greater Piketberg region were already living it.

For generations, communities have grown with the seasons, cared for the land, shared knowledge, celebrated local harvests and understood that if the land was to continue providing for future generations, they had to give something back in return.

That philosophy lies at the heart of Green Piketberg – Route 366.

Here, “green” is more than a colour. It is a way of life rooted in the land, shaped by community and inspired by a belief that tourism should leave places better than it found them.

“Green Piketberg isn’t simply a route on a map. It’s a reflection of who we are as a region,” says Nomonde Ndlangisa, CEO of Bergrivier Tourism.

“For generations, our communities have lived from this land, learned from it and cared for it. Green Piketberg is about celebrating that relationship between people and place while asking how tourism can help protect it for the future.

“Regenerative tourism means creating experiences that benefit everyone – our visitors, our communities, our local businesses and the landscapes that sustain us. We live from the land, but we also give back to the land. That is the legacy we want to leave.”

Come hungry – for food, for stories and for connection

Along Green Piketberg – Route 366, food is not simply something placed on a plate. It has a story.

Visitors can discover locally grown rooibos, artisan farm stalls, olive farms, honey producers, freshly roasted coffee, farm-to-table dining and seasonal produce while meeting the people who grow, harvest, bake and create it. Here, every meal offers an opportunity to connect with the land and the people whose livelihoods depend on it.

A landscape that carries memory

The Green Piketberg story begins with the land.

Mountain landscapes, working farms, flower-filled valleys, heritage communities and open countryside tell the story of a region where agriculture, culture and nature have evolved together over generations. From the ancient heritage of Diepkloof Rock Shelter to the living traditions of Goedverwacht and Wittewater, Green Piketberg invites visitors to discover a landscape that continues to shape the people who call it home.

Meet the people keeping generations of knowledge alive

The true heart of Green Piketberg is not a road. It is the people who live along it.

Over the coming months, the Makers of Green Piketberg storytelling series will introduce visitors to rooibos farming families, flower growers, olive producers, honey producers, artisans, accommodation owners and entrepreneurs whose knowledge, innovation and care for the land bring regenerative tourism to life every day.

The route will also highlight inspiring examples of regenerative practices already taking place across the region – from environmentally conscious accommodation and regenerative farming to composting, water conservation and initiatives that demonstrate how caring for the environment has long been part of everyday life.

From Adventure Capital to Green Capital

Piketberg has long been recognised for its mountains, outdoor adventure and spectacular landscapes.

Now, the region is building on that spirit of exploration by embracing a future where tourism, agriculture, heritage and community work together to create lasting value for both visitors and residents.

By bringing accommodation providers, farms, attractions, artisans and tourism businesses together under one shared identity, Green Piketberg – Route 366 encourages collaboration, supports local enterprise and inspires visitors to stay longer, explore further and contribute to a stronger rural economy.

“Tourism is at its best when communities thrive,” says Ndlangisa.

“Our ambition is for Green Piketberg to become more than a destination. We want it to become an example of how regenerative tourism can celebrate our heritage, strengthen our local economy and ensure that future generations inherit a region that is every bit as rich – culturally, environmentally and economically – as the one we enjoy today.”

“Green Piketberg – Route 366 offers more than a scenic drive. It offers the opportunity to travel differently. To slow down. To connect more deeply. And to leave knowing your journey has helped support the people, traditions and landscapes that make this remarkable region what it is.

Because the future isn’t about preserving the past exactly as it was. It’s about carrying the very best of it into the future.”

For more information on Green Piketberg – Route 366, including where to stay, what to experience and how to plan your journey, visit: Bergrivier Tourism & Accommodation South Africa Bergrivier Tourism

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Actually, Home Food and Travel offers a lot more than just reviews of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.  We also visit great destinations, receive advice from interior designers and stop to smell the roses and taste the coffee.

Our team of journalists are seasoned travels and love visiting the myriad of exciting places around South Africa.  Whether it is off the beaten track or in the heart of the top attractions of the country, we’ll be there,

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Expensive is not always better.  Our team at Home Food and Travel will tell you that they have camped in areas with limited ablutions and had a wonderful holiday.  They have also spent a night in a five star hotel only to be disappointed because their expectations exceeded the experience.

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To my mind a great restaurant offers three things – excellent service, great food and a wonderful ambiance.  Of these, service is the most important. 

No matter that the food is delicious and the setting delightful, poor service can ruin the occasion.  However, great service combined with mediocre meal and a plane jane restaurant can still be a pleasant night out.

We’ve eaten in restaurants that are really dirty but with incredible food and couldn’t help but give a rave review.  We’ve also hardly noticed what we ate because the setting was just amazing.

However, the best restaurants come with the best of service, food and ambiance.

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How do you know when you have had a great spa experience?  The answer, of course, is when you doze off on the treatment table. 

Well that’s our theory anyway.  It also doesn’t take a grand location with enormous facilities for a spa to be really good

A small, personal spa that is owner run can result in the best massage you have ever experienced.  However, the grand spas in five star hotels offer unsurpassed facilities in an environment that just makes the stress in your shoulders and neck melt away before you even finish checking in.

Adventure!

You don’t have to be an adrenaline junky to enjoy an exciting experience.  In fact, what are commonly termed adventure activities usually have incredibly high safety standards and unblemished safety records.

Ziplining, bungy jumping and shark cage diving are all very safe.  It’s just that our mind tells us we are craaazzzzyyyy to be doing this.

On the road to great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities

If you’re driving, be safe and make use of all the wonderful farm stalls that populate South Africa’s open roads.

If you overhear somebody asking a lot of questions or see someone taking photos of empty bedrooms chances are it’s one of our Home Food and Travel team members.

We’re out looking or those great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.

See you on the road!

 

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