Category: Announcement

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Lifestyle Expo 2015 set to be the biggest one yet

The Lifestyle Expo 2015 set to be the biggest one yet

There are only a few days left until the much-anticipated Lifestyle Expo 2015 which will feature at this year’s 51st Highland Gathering in Hutchison Park, Amanzimtoti on 2 May.

This one-day gathering – which attracts an impressive 10 000 visitors to the area – offers an expansive range of lifestyle products and services while raising much-needed funds for South Coast charities.

Organised by the Amanzimtoti Lions and Big Events 365, the event is a huge boost to the local economy while revenue from entrance tickets, stalls and the bar sales is used to support a substantial number of local charities and improve the lives of hundreds of people.

ancdrewclip[son
Photo by Andrew Climpson

Visitors to The Lifestyle Expo can look forward to some exciting displays of high-quality brands including Volvo, BMW and Feral Inflatables as well interesting exhibitions such as the Virgin Active Gym and the Makro Marquee.

 

Shoppers will also receive goodie bags, Makro vouchers and lots more!

 

For the children there will be a host of fun activities lined up in the Cooee Kidz Zone including fun colour-in activities, entertainment by the Frapples character and random prize giveaways.

 

Attendees to the The 51st Highland Gathering and Lifestyle Expo will also have the chance to enter and win the Miss Highland Gathering Beauty Pageant which has three categories; Miss Mini Highland Gathering (ages 3 to 6); Miss Junior Highland Gathering (ages 7 to 12) and Miss Highland Gathering (ages 13 to 18).

 

And judging the various categories will be celebrities Kayla Gleisner (with Mobile Model Management) who was awarded Queen of the Universe 2014/2015; Savannah Shone (with Extreme Model Management) who was Model Africa Winner 2014/2015 and Roxi Wardman who won MasterChef South Africa season 3.

 

Visitors will also be entertained by 12-year-old singing sensation, Keely Crocker, who will help raise funds for the Lion’s charities.

 

Keely made a name for herself in competitions such as East Coast Got Talent 2011 where she won the Bambino Category through her moving rendition of Michael Jackson’s song, ‘Ben’.

 

The Grade 7 Amanzimtoti Primary School pupil – who suffers from a rare, incurable kidney disease – writes her own music, plays the guitar and is learning the keyboard.

 

Organised by Big Events 365, The Lifestyle Expo, which is now in its second year, forms an important part of the Highland Gathering and has something for everyone.

 

A high impact one-stop shopping experience, The Lifestyle Expo will provide stall holders with powerful direct marketing and shoppers with an incredible variety of products.

 

Event spokesman, Monique Botha of Big Events 365, said this was looking to be one of the best expos yet.

 

“There will be something for everyone at this year’s Lifestyle Expo, from beauty products and services to high quality furniture and top-of-the-range vehicles, you are certain to find something that grabs your attention,” said Botha.

 

“The Highland Gathering and Lifestyle Expo is the ultimate family excursion and you definitely don’t want to miss out!”

 

There are still a limited number of exhibition stands available so anyone wanting to feature at this well-attended family event must act now.

 

Entrance to the The Highland Gathering and Lifestyle Expo is R40 per adult, R20 for children and pensioners. Gates open at 8am.

 

To keep updated on the event, check the Facebook page “The Highland Gathering & Lifestyle Expo”.

 

Exhibitors can contact Monique Botha at Big Events 365 to book a stand at The Lifestyle Expo on 031 904 1578 or events@bigevents365.co.za

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge to boost South Coast Tourism

Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge to boost South Coast Tourism

Tourism authorities are already in high spirits over the upcoming Seabreeze Build-It ‘Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge.

The two-day competition, taking place this October at Rocky Bay Resort on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, will allow riders to test their skills over a total of 100 kilometres.

It’s a challenging trail through coastal forest – but it also promises views and experiences second to none.

Justin Mackrory, CEO of South Coast Tourism, says the event is bound to be a catalyst for tourism, and will be a welcome injection to the local economy.

bikers

“The race is an invaluable publicity tool to profile our wonderful destination. Participants and their supporters contribute to our economy in terms of direct spend in hospitality establishments, indirect spend on retail and induced spend whereby recipients of their spend recirculate revenues into the local economy,” he says.

“Events of this nature, if successful, have a high return factor which suggests that riders will return, not only for subsequent events, but also for holiday and leisure.”

With the ‘Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge touted as a family-orientated event, that’s very likely to be the case.

The highly-anticipated race is also open to under-19s, since the routes do not exceed 60-kilometres on either day. The organisers are encouraging riders of all skill levels, to join the fun.

Entry for a team of two will cost R3 500, while single entries will be charged at R2 000 each. In addition to a spectacular experience, entrants will receive a complimentary goodie bag and a t-shirt. The price also includes access to both days of the two-stage event, as well as dinner on Friday, breakfast, light lunch and dinner function on Saturday. Breakfast will be served on Sunday morning.  Accommodation for entrants is not included in the entry fee, however Rocky Bay Resort is offering the following specials to all entrants:-

 

OPTION ONE      –              Log Cabin Accommodation at Rocky Bay Resorts

R1100 per TEAM entry and R825 per SINGLE entry            –              lodge@rockybay.co.za

 

OPTION TWO    –              Tented Camp Site, including 2-man tent & 2 mattresses at Rocky Bay Resorts

R620 per TEAM entry and R465 per SINGLE entry              –              lodge@rockybay.co.za

Own sleeping bags/pillows/linen required

LIMITED to 100 tents – first come, first served

 

OPTION THREE –              Camp site at Rocky Bay Resorts

R540 per TEAM and R405 per SINGLE entry                          –              lodge@rockybay.co.za

Own caravan/tent etc. required

 

To accommodate the families and friends of participants, Rocky Bay Resort will be running a special over the race weekend. Log cabin accommodation will cost R275 per person sharing, while bringing children between the ages of 5 and 12 will cost just R135 each per night. Kids under 5 get to stay for free.

If your family can’t get enough of the outdoors, camping is the way to go. It’s only R135 per person per night, or R70 per night for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Again, there’s no charge for kids under 5.

For families that wish to stay longer and truly indulge in the South Coast experience, there’s plenty to do. Golf courses, sea charters, shark diving and fishing excursions are but a few of the attractions on offer – and it’s guaranteed to leave visitors spoiled for choice.

Mackrory says: “Sporting events are a vital conduit for the sustaining and growth of tourism in an area like the Greater South Coast – that is why we have one of the busiest events calendars in KZN.”

Get your entries in for the Seabreeze Build-It ‘Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge now by logging on towww.roag.co.za.

For more information in English, isiZulu or Afrikaans, please do not hesitate to contact Lodge Reception on 039 976 0336 or lodge@rockybay.co.za.

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Offshore Africa Port St. Johns

 Offshore Africa Port St. Johns

Offshore Africa Port St. Johns is run by Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith whose combined experience will ensure your sardine run experience will be unforgettable. The team still have a few slots open for the 2015 run, but the bookings are filling up fast – click here to get in touch and onto the list!

OffshoreAfricaPromo003
Offshore Africa Port St. Johns invite you on an experience of a lifetime. You are welcome to share this image…please do!
Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

AZGO Festival at Fatima’s this May

AZGO Festival at Fatima’s this May

Join us all for a huge party at Fatima's in Tofo this May

Another big party to be staged at Fatima’s in Tofo, Inhambane, Southern Mozambique. A “Bilhete” is a ticket btw. Check out the packages and click here for more information about AZGO…

http://azgofestival.com/en/about/buy-tickets/

or check out for more information at…

http://azgofestival.com/en/

From AZGO…

“Azgo Festival returns this May for the 5th edition of the festival. We aim to bring together a diverse and quality music, film and dance program to the city of Maputo across two days and nights. Azgo Festival is a contemporary celebration of arts and culture, with a strong focus on artists from Mozambique and from around the continent of Africa – in its first four years we have hosted artists from Cape Verde, Reunion Island, Angola, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Azgo Festival has also formed key partnerships with International organisations to bring artists from France, Spain, Switzerland, Japan and the United States of America to the festival. In doing so we are creating new opportunities for exchange between national and international artists through workshops and collaborations. The festival serves as a new platform for emerging and acclaimed artists to collaborate and meet a new audience. The name “Azgo” is an old slang from Maputo to say “let´s go”, let’s revisit our cultures and heritage, “let´s go” promote cultural diversity, we promote life. We will create new opportunities for business, come to enrich our experiences, Let´s Go… The Festival is produced by KHUZULA, a young and dynamic team to bring together lovers of different musical styles and produce innovative events and taking into account the public’s taste of Mozambique.

Festival Objectives • CONTRIBUTE to the artistic and cultural development and to a greater awareness regarding cultural issues in Mozambique and Southern Africa; • BRING together different crowds and different artists, emerging and wellknown and various genres; • PROMOTE Mozambican cultural heritage and artistic life, position Mozambique as a destination for music lovers; • PROVIDE opportunities for professionalization in the music industry, to involve local communities and create jobs; • CREATE a platform to promote music exchanges between local and international artists, establishing a network with music events and initiatives in Southern Africa, on the continent and overseas. Partnerships Azgo Festival is part of the African Music Festival Network (AMFN) and a founding member of the Firefest Route which encompasses Bushfire Festival (Swaziland), Sakifo (Reunion Island), HIFA (ZIM) and Fireball (South Africa). The Ministry of Culture is the primary partner, supporting the initiative of the realization of the festival under the artistic and cultural promotion and development, professionalization and increment of cultural exchange. African Synergy (South Africa) will also help in many fields: sharing knowledge, artists’ tours in connections with other musical events and festival in Southern Africa and will also help promoting the event. Social Responsibility and Sustainability Azgo Festival recognizes the importance of involving children in the arts from an early age, so we have a dedicated Kids Zone and Schools Festival with the objective of inspiring young and creative minds with various presentations and interactive competitions. 50% of the festival profits are donated annually to local community based organizations in Maputo. Azgo Festival has partnered with the Mozambican Association for Recycling (AMOR) to reduce its carbon footprint and ensure the best possible waste management practices are implemented.

Past Line-ups have included: Salif Keita (Mali), Oliver Mtukudzi, (Zim), Tito Paris (Cape Verde), Ghorwane, Mayra Andrade (Cape Verde), Freshly Ground (RSA), Mafikizolo (RSA), Bongeziwe Mabandla (RSA), The Brother Moves On (RSA), Ras Haitrim (Moz), Isabel Novella (Moz), G2 (Moz), Muzila (Moz), Mokoomba (Zim), Natalie Natiembe (Reunion Island), Christine Salem (Reunion Island), Spirits Indigenous (Swaziland), Bholoja (Swaziland), Alif Nabba (Burkina Faso), Nomadic Wax Collective (USA), Imperial Tiger Orchestra (Swizterland), Akale Wube (France), Under Kontrol (France), Fuel Fandango (Spain) and many more.”

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Greenpeace vs Shell in the Arctic

Greenpeace vs Shell in the Arctic

Greenpeace vs Shell
Greenpeace vs Shell

The folks at Greenpeace are being hardcore and entertaining as ever with this, their latest jaunt down south. To save the environment from immense destruction at the hands of the shareholders, stakeholders and operators of Shell.

Shell are a formidable opponent but nothing seems to phase the Greenpeace Arctic Team as the struggle for the future…

“Six ordinary people just boarded Shell’s oil rig as it makes its way to drill in the Arctic. Shell are threatening immense destruction in the far north, exploiting melting sea ice to find more oil, make bigger profits, and fuel even more climate change.

It’s pretty scary clinging to the top of an oil rig travelling through the Pacific ocean – can you take a minute to send the volunteers a few words of support?

https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/message-of-support

The volunteers have all the kit they need to receive messages from Greenpeace supporters around the world.

If Shell drill in the Arctic, there’s a 75% chance of a large oil spill, according to the US government’s own analysis[1]. Even the oil industry says that an oil spill would be virtually impossible to clean up, leaving polar bears and local people to suffer the consequences for years.

Less than two years ago, the Arctic 30 helped to shine a bright light onto the dangers of Arctic drilling. As another oil company threatens this pristine landscape, Aliyah, Jens, Johno, Miriam, Andreas and Zoe have stepped forward to continue the struggle.

They’ve had to overcome immense fear as they cling to the oil rig in the wind and wet of the Pacific ocean, putting their bodies between Shell and the Arctic. Can you send a message of support to the brave volunteers on the rig?
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/message-of-support

Now they’re safely on board, they plan to find a place to camp where they can be as secure as possible. They’ll stay there as long as they can to make this oil rig infamous around the world, while it continues its journey to the Arctic.

Shell may have billions to spend, but together we’re millions of people. People vs Arctic oil is the battle of our time. If we stand firm, and we stand together, we think we can win.
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/message-of-support

Claire, Akshey, and the Arctic team”

You got to hand it to the Greenpeace team – tenacity unbounded. However, with the funding and equipment they have garnered, through the unselfishness of the interested public, we do expect results.

Share