A local couple is inspiring people in Helderberg and Stellenbosch to embrace adventure by hosting treasure hunts in different locations in the surrounding area.
Winners of the second season of the Treasure World, Team Mayhem: Cindy Hurlow, Jenna Hurlow and Glenn Hurlow, won a prize of R20 000. PHOTO: Supplied/Jacques van den Heever
The Treasure World initiative was founded by Jacques and Carol van den Heever during the hard lockdown of 2020, with the aim of building an appreciation of nature and adventure in the relevant communities, Jacques told MatieMedia.
Jacques was inspired by Forrest Fenn, an American, who hid a treasure chest in New Mexico in the United States about 10 years ago. This chest was found last year during the lockdown.
“His idea was getting people outdoors to go look for his treasure chest. I thought of continuing this idea to lift our community’s spirit during this lockdown,” said Jacques.
Treasure hunt in the winelands
The Helderberg Basin, where the first hunt took place on 4 October 2020. PHOTO: Supplied/Jacques van den Heever
The treasure that participants must find during the Van der Heever’s treasure hunts, are found in treasure chests that are hidden in a specific location. Participants are given clues to its whereabouts and must decipher its location from these clues, according to Jacques.
Each hunt is referred to as a season in order to inform participants about how many hunts there were previously. Each season continues until the treasure is found, explained Jacques.
“Initially, the treasure hunt took place in the Helderberg Basin – Strand, Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay. But we included Stellenbosch from Season 2,” Jacques said.
The initiative started with a cash prize of R10 000, which was funded by Jacques’s IT company. However, due to growing interest and participation by the community, the prize has grown to R40 000 as of the previous season, according to Jacques. The cash prize is now funded by the sign up fee of R150 per person, according to the Treasureworld website.
“We only wanted to do one treasure hunt, but since the community’s response has been so great and people wanting more, we decided to do this event on a regular basis. We often get testimonies of how the treasure hunt changed people’s lives to enjoy the outdoors more,” Jacques added.
Covid-friendly fun
The winner of the most recent treasure hunt, Klara de Beer. PHOTO: Supplied/Jacques van den Heever
The event also takes Covid-19 regulations into account by sending clues to participants, thereby avoiding the need for gatherings, explained Carol.
“It’s a non-gathering event and the hunt starts wherever you are at the given time. The clues and communication are all done electronically and on social media,” said Carol.
The initiative has completed four seasons, said Jacques. The Van den Heevers now hope to grow the initiative to reach more people, according to Carol.
The hunt itself challenges the participants while still being a fun experience, according to Klara de Beer, the winner of the fourth season.
“Even after the treasure was found, the questions were still buzzing in my head for a week or two after,” said De Beer. “It’s a lot of fun to get out and get to know Stellenbosch and the Helderberg basin a bit better.”