Google launched an enhanced version of Google Maps South Africa last month, just months after the announcement that it had begun collecting image data for Street View. Since that time, the company has received appeals from around SA to include even more images of the country\'s attractions in Street View and put its famous landmarks on the map, especially the secluded ones.

Google has responded to these appeals by launching a new collection vehicle in South Africa, the Google Trike, to capture images for Street View. The Trike is designed to go places that are inaccessible to the current vans and cars doing the capturing. A Google Trike consists of three bicycle wheels, a mounted Street View camera and a specially decorated box containing image-collecting gadgets. They are being driven by fit cyclists in customised Google attire and helmets.

“Street View has been a hit for tourism around the world, and now we want to make it even better for showing off South Africa’s history, nature and culture. The Trikes are designed to go down footpaths and tracks to collect images of areas of natural beauty or tourist sites. The Trikes will be here in South Africa for just a short time so in order to pick the very best spots, we’re asking the public to get involved and tell us where they want us to go. We want it to be a really fun, new aspect of the website - depending on what the public vote for, users will be able to virtually tour historical monuments or scenic locations before visiting or checking out which side of a football stadium they need to be on before leaving the house,” explained Stephen Newton, head of Google South Africa.

You can get involved by voting for your favourite three spots, which the Trike will then visit first. South African Tourism (SAT) has compiled a list of 20 locations from around the country, which you can vote for.

“We have been only too happy to join forces with Google for its Street View initiative in South Africa, to bring our country’s remarkable diversity to the world in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The new Trikes that are arriving shortly will help to showcase even more of South Africa’s unique travel offering, and we look forward to enthusiastic voting from the public,” said Roshene Singh of SAT.