TourismTattler joins the Hiking Organisation of Southern Africa (HOSA) in mourning the passing of Tim Hartwright – a true hiking legend.
“At the time of his death, Tim was one of our board members and a true friend to many. Our deepest condolences to his family. He will be dearly missed in the hiking fraternity and @HikingSA,” said Wilna Loxley-Ford on behalf of Hiking SA.
Tim Hartwright was the owner of Jacana Travel Marketing & Reservations and also chairman of the Footprint Hiking Club and the Braamfontein Spruit Trust, an environmental organization concerned with monitoring the well-being of the public open spaces and parks in the suburbs of Johannesburg, and part of the Management Board of HOSA. Tim was also the author of many hiking books, the most recent of which is ‘Gauteng – Hikes & Walks’.
A memorial service will be held for Tim on Friday 21 April at The Barnyard in Cresta from 10h00.
Jacana was started by Sarie Mehl in 1990 as an instrument to market, farm stay accommodation and private hiking trails. The first cottages and trails where based in the Free State and KwaZulu Natal. Sarie, in fact, can be credited with the introduction and development of ecotourism as we know it today. Numerous guesthouses and weekend trails sprang up as farmers and landowners realised the value and potential of having tourists on their land. Today the Farm Stay and ecotourism market has grown into a multi million rand industry.
In 2007, Tim Hartwright purchased the business of Jacana from Sarie and through intelligent marketing and networking the business grew from strength to strength to become the largest agency of its kind in Southern Africa.
Requiescat in pace Tim.
