PROJECTS

WHAT WE DO

The George Trails Project

George Trails was established in 2015 and launched its first trail system in December 2016 at Saasveld around the Garden Route Dam in partnership with MTO Forestry.

During 2016 it also signed a ten-year agreement with the George Municipality to build and establish trails on its land.

George Trails is a multi-sport and eco-tourism project that is enhancing George’s reputation as a tourism destination with a specific focus on recreational use of it’s beautiful natural surroundings.

George is the ONLY place in the country where you will find mountains, oceans, indigenous forests, fynbos, pine plantations, rivers, dams and the Karoo, within 20 kilometers of a town/city center. Its natural diversity is a big selling point for tourism in and around the city.

go to George Trails website

Click the George Trails logo to explore their website and trails.


WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO

Go along with nature

ENHANCED SELF-ESTEEM

Research shows that as little as five minutes of outdoor exercise can improve self-esteem (Barton and Pretty, 2010). Any outdoor location will do, but being near greenery or water enhances this effect. Interestingly, low- to moderate-intensity physical activity shows greater improvements in self-esteem than high-intensity outdoor exercise. Activities shown to improve self-esteem include walking, cycling, horseback riding, fishing and gardening. A regular dose of outdoor activity can help boost the already powerful esteem-enhancing effect of exercise.

EASE OF ACCESS

Lack of time is another common barrier to exercise. Navigating traffic, parking garages and crowded locker rooms adds additional time needed to be active. Taking advantage of the great outdoors can reduce these time constraints. Local hills, tracks and neighborhood streets provide ideal walking, running and cycling settings, while nearby parks offer ideal venues for resistance training, boot camps and yoga classes. Many outdoor areas include benches, trees, inclined roads and even designated exercise equipment, allowing for a variety of resistance-training exercises. 

LOW COST

People often cite cost as one of the biggest factors prohibiting regular exercise. The outdoor environment provides a low-cost solution for exercise enthusiasts and trainers alike. While high gym or studio prices can act as a barrier to exercise, outdoor venues such as low-traffic neighborhood streets and local parks offer free space for physical activity. Trainers can benefit from these spaces as well. A local permit and small fee is often all that’s needed to hold training sessions in public use areas, resulting in reduced overhead and increased earnings.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR WORLD

One of the greatest benefits of outdoor exercise lies in its inherent opportunity to connect with people and places in your community.
Finish your bike ride at a local coffee shop, wave hello to your neighbours as you jog the streets, or set up a weekly walking group with friends and neighbours.
Exercising outdoors can help you feel grounded, deepen your connection to your environment and enhance your appreciation for the beauty around you.