Treasure-hunting tech travellers go geo-caching

NMBT staff walk the talk of tourism by finding and exploring new ways to promote and enjoy the city to the full - geo-caching is the latest.

Simplified, geo-caching is a treasure hunt activity anyone with access to a smart-phone or GPS and computer can enjoy. The trend is built around finding a ‘treasure’ named a cache. These ‘caches’ are hidden in containers around the world and - closer to home - Nelson Mandela Bay.

“It’s as easy as registering online, picking a cache in any suburb of the city you want to visit and typing the coordinates into your phone or GPS. Hop in your car and there you go. When you get to your destination, it’s time to search for the container while taking in the beautiful surroundings,” said NMBT leisure tourism coordinator Jonker Fourie enthusiastically.

Fourie explains geo-caching as the ideal tool for the “tech traveller” to discover a new city, or even re-discover their own city through a fun activity. He’s so hooked he even geo-caches during his lunch-hour.

“The wonderful thing about it is that it takes you anywhere and everywhere. Some of the caches I’ve found were at obvious landmarks of our city like the Donkin and others in more obscure places you would not necessarily visit like the South End graveyard,” he added.

More places Fourie visited were Castle Hill, St. Georges and in Settlers Park he found many ‘treasures’, “It is a great activity for couples, families and visitors to the city. One of NMBT’s tour-guide members had visitors interrupt the tour to find caches along the way and in the process joined in looking for the treasure.”

The cache is found in a container that could range from the size of a pill bottle to a large plastic crate. In the container you find a paper or notebook where you log your name almost like you would in a guestbook. The cache is planted by cache hunters.

Some American states have even gone as far as incorporating geo-caching into tours offered to visitors, “As travel and tourism professionals, we would like to explore this tool more, drawing from its power by means of custom-crafted ‘GeoTours’,” said Fourie hoping that NMB could benefit as a tourism destination.

“It’s a fast, enjoyable growing trend that made me re-examine old familiar sights and discover new ones to. I would encourage everyone to see our city through this new exciting method,” urged Fourie.

Start caching the city by visiting www.geocaching.com .