Caravan park welcomes 7 000 visitors in 4 days

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Visitors from all over South Africa, including approximately 40 overseas tourists, flocked to the Urquhart Caravan Park in Graaff-Reinet to enjoy special festive season days as day visitors at the park.

Spokesperson and head of administration for the caravan park, Michelle Hofman, said more than 7 000 people enjoyed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at the park.

"Despite no running water, nobody complained, as we constantly filled temporary water tanks installed on site."

According to Hofman, visitors at guest houses all over town came to join the celebrations. She said two minibuses with tourist from the United Kingdom pitched up to enjoy a South African braai. "Eight Germans, four Dutch people and two French national visitors also joined us on New Year's Day," she added.

Hofman said it is understandable that the chalets and other accommodation in the park weren't fully booked, because there was no running water. "We had a lot of cancellations on chalet bookings, but the day visitor's made up for the loss," Hofman said.

The total visitors are an increase compared to previous years, but it could not be confirmed what the increase was.

New Year's Day saw the most visitors, totalling more than 2,600, with 1,800 on Christmas Eve, 1,900 on Christmas Day and 800 on New Year's Eve.

Michelle Hofman had to take a chair to the gate and help sell entrance tickets. Photos: Christo Vermaak