Traditional African Homestays South Africa (TAHS-SA), a Limpopo homestay initiative, recently took two people from the Makushu Village in Limpopo to spend two nights in Goedverwacht, Western Cape, a new homestay experience set up by Abang Africa Travel in co-operation with West Coast Tourism and Bergrivier Tourism Office.

The goal of experiencing another homestay initiative was to stimulate idea-sharing so the community members, both from Goedverwacht and Makushu, could learn from each other and take something back to their own communities to improve their own homestay experiences.  

The Goedverwacht homestay experience was held at a former mission station near Piketberg. Abang Africa Travel recently awarded certificates to homestay hosts in Goedverwacht on the West Coast, who attended and/or successfully completed their basic tourism and homestay training provided by Abang. In addition to site inspections of the various homestays, TAHS-SA also visited the recently found San cave with Bushman paintings.

“We had the opportunity to connect with our homestay families on a different level. We also took part in a historical walk around the community, visited the Moravian church, the mill museum, the local school and the slave graves,” said Cameron Murray, Founder of TAHS-SA.

Murray told Tourism Update that, after launching TAHS-SA homestays toward the end of 2017, there had been considerable interest in the new tourism offering.

Makushu Village hosted its first guests from The Netherlands over the New Year period, and has another five confirmed bookings before April.

TAHS-SA recently created a three-night #WeDoMakushu package, which allows guests to immerse themselves in the village and allow them to connect with their homestay families and the community members on a different, personal level.