Hosted at Erfenis Nature Reserve near Theunissen, the four-day event brought visitors from across the country together over the Heritage Day weekend for outdoor activities, entertainment, and art. Guests stayed in luxury camping tents while experiencing a range of activities designed to highlight the reserve and its natural surroundings.

Local artists and DJs were given an opportunity to showcase their talent, while visitors could take part in activities including boat rides, fishing, paintball, and jet skiing. 

Guests from Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, and other towns spent the long weekend at the reserve. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were provided by Canvas Republic.

Visitors enjoying live performances at the Erfenis Nature Reserve near Theunissen. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

The Free State tourism sector and other stakeholders also participated in the event as the province continues efforts to attract visitors to its destinations and strengthen tourism. 

Canvas Republic, established in 2017, develops outdoor camps ranging from large festival villages accommodating thousands of people to smaller leadership camps for schools.

Fishing at  Erfenis Nature Reserve. Photo: Free State Destea

Partners supported the event with a range of activities, including paintball, jet skis, and a party boat, says Canvas Republic project manager Amogelang Modise. 

The programme also retained its traditional 5–8km bush walk, giving visitors an opportunity to see wildlife while exploring the reserve and enjoying its natural surroundings.

“With that experience, our guests got to see wild animals roaming around, enjoying nature and having fun,” said Modise.

Jet skiing at Erfenis Nature Reserve. Photo: Free State Destea

Organisers are already looking towards next year and plan to broaden their offering through other events, says Modise. 

Experiences linked to the Maletsunyane Braai Festival in Lesotho and the MTN Bushfire Festival in Eswatini are among those on Canvas Republic’s programme.

The camping experience comes as the Free State pushes tourism as a contributor to employment and economic development. 

The province launched Tourism Month earlier in September, with economic, small business development, tourism and environmental affairs MEC Ketso Makume calling for greater investment to create jobs, support businesses, and encourage more travel.

The province needs to market its tourism offerings more aggressively and draw attention to its landscapes, mountains, waterways, hills and other attractions, says Makume. 

About R46m is meanwhile being invested in efforts to revamp resorts regarded as important tourism attractions with the potential to generate economic activity, said acting department head Pakiso Lebone.

“One of our priorities is to explore how we can enhance digital collaboration with the Free State Gambling Authority. We also plan to invest directly in technology, ensuring that our facilities are more accessible and user-friendly for citizens,” said Lebone.

The province launched its summer tourism campaign at the Gariep Dam Forever Resort last year. 

At the time, Makume encouraged Free State residents to explore the province’s largely untapped tourism potential and take greater pride in the destinations and attractions available closer to home.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs

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