On the night of 24 March 1944, one of the largest and most daring escape attempts took place. It was World War 2 and more than 200 allied soldiers made a pact to escape the German prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. They dug three massive tunnels, named Tom, Dick & Harry, hoping one of them would lead to their freedom – and indeed, one of them, (Harry) did! 76 people were able to escape but only 3 managed to evade capture.
As life would have it, the mastermind behind this great escape was a 24-year-old, South African born, fighter pilot, Squadron Leader Roger Bushell. The year 2020 may have had the rest of us South Africans, feeling similarly to Roger Bushell, maybe not locked up, but certainly “locked down”. As restrictions are continually lowered, every person is planning their escape from their confines.
Helicopter tour over Mossel Bay
Take this time to visit Mossel Bay, where the sun shines 320 days a year, and where more activities are available than you can ever imagine. The Mossel Bay Area is the perfect place for your Great Escape, with several towns waiting to be explored! Mossel Bay Tourism will be leading the charge, as they launch a nationwide campaign, aptly titled “The Great Escape to Mossel Bay” inviting visitors from the Garden Route, the greater Western and Eastern Cape, as well as national tourists, looking for their post-lock-down escape.
Mossel Bay and surrounding areas are well known for its water sports including surfing, scuba diving, shark cage diving, deep-sea fishing, flying water-powered bikes, and speed boating. Mossel Bay has two waterparks as well as two heated indoor pools to entertain the younger visitors.
For those more comfortable on dry land, an array of activities including sandboarding, mountain biking, quad biking, trail running, and hiking are options that will entertain visitors. We even cater for daredevils wanting to try skydiving, paragliding, horseback riding, and helicopter trips and flips!
Between the golf estates, malaria-free game reserves, animal interactions, and award-winning wine farms and distilleries in the area, as well as some of the country’s top blue flag beaches, restaurants, camping spots, and accommodation, there’s something for everyone in Mossel Bay.
‘Mossel Bay is arguably the most award-winning town in South Africa, and sometimes, we, as ‘locals’ forget we have achieved so much and have so much to be proud of. We encourage our residents and visitors to support our local establishments, not just financially, but also by promoting our Mossel Bay brand wherever we can,’ said Chief Operations Officer of Mossel Bay Tourism Aneli Gerber.
All you need to do is go to www.visitmosselbay.co.za to plan your full itinerary. The site is designed to give you all the details you need to plan the perfect staycation.
For more information Gerber from Mossel Bay Tourism, 044-691-2202. From the beachfront to the mountainside, the site will give you all the details you need to plan the perfect staycation, including upcoming events, things to do, where to eat, and of course where to stay.
Picture: Visit Mossel Bay
