Up close and personal with sardines off Port St. Johns. Sightings have been reported of shoals of baitfish as we move into the prime migratory season.
We just got to hope those commercial netter guys in St. Frances let a few shoals past this year!
Contact Rob or Debbie on http://www.offshoreportstjohns.com/
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.
“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.
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.”
Scene set for Four Elements Conservation NPC Ocean Challenge
The innovative Four Elements Conservation NPC is set to make waves yet again with its 2015 edition of the Ocean Challenge.
Photographer: Graham Stuart
On Saturday, May 16th, about 50 swimmers will battle it out between Durban’s North Beach and Vetch’s Reef during the five-kilometre race, now in its second year.
But this is not only about who has the slickest strokes in the water – it’s about youth development and creating awareness for a great cause, too.
“The swim is not only physically challenging, but aims to challenge people’s perceptions of the ocean,” says the founder of Four Elements Conversation, Olivia Taylor (18).
“The swim primarily aims to create awareness about ocean degradation, but also aims to fund an environmental scholarship camp at the end of the year, where candidates apply and get chosen based on various criteria – including passion and potential.”
Scheduled to take place in December 2015, the awardees will be taught to be independent young environmental entrepreneurs during a four-day adventure.
It forms an integral part of teenager Taylor’s goal to remind other young people that passion can lead to positive change.
“Youth have the most incredible ability to look past possible downfalls, allowing brave ideas to be formed, which leads to action and then to success. The secret is learning how to initiate change and then to remain optimistic when your confidence wavers,” she says.
All the action at the Ocean Challenge won’t be reserved exclusively for the amphibious types, though. Non-swimmers can show their support for the preservation of the oceans by participating in a walk on the beach, in time with the swimmers, while doing a beach clean-up. Those efforts are being coordinated by the Durban Girls’ College Environment Club.
There’s also a special treat in store on the day for kids from LIV Village, a Verulam-based orphanage. Four Elements Conservation will be facilitating a snorkel swim hosted by the I AM WATER Ocean Conservation Trust on Vetch’s Reef for these special children.
With last year’s event labelled a massive success, there’s no doubt that the 2015 challenge will be bigger and better.
The Four Elements Conservation NPC was established by Taylor when she was just 15-years-old. It works to conserve and preserve the natural environment, and has grown into an internationally-recognised organisation.
The Four Elements Ocean Challenge is open to any swimmer who is equipped to tackle the five-kilometre stretch along the Durban beachfront.
Date: May 16th, 2015
Time: 06h30
Venue: Durban Lifesaving Club (registration and prize-giving)
To enter, please go to http://www.
For more information follow Four Elements on Twitter @dive_aim_fly and Four Elements Conservation on Facebook. The hashtag for the event is #Swim4Change.
Contact Olivia Taylor at Olivia@taylorfamily.co.za
The 4th and 5th of April sees the Hibberdene Ski-Boat Club hosting a game-fishing competition at Hibberdene.
First prize is set at R10 000-00 with many more prizes on offer. Entry fee is R150 per angler and the competition is limited to 50 boats.
LAUNCH SITES: HIBBERDENE, MTWALUME AND INJAMBILIONLY
BRIEFING: 7PM – 3rd APRIL 20L5 AT THE HIBBERDENE SKI BOAT CLUB LAPA REGISTRATION WILL START FROM sPM
FISHING: SAT 4th APRIL 2015 FROM FIRST LIGHT.4PM SUN 5TH APRIL 2015 FROM FIRST LIGHT. 3PM
PRIZE GIVING: SUNDAY sth APRIL 2015 AT HIBBERDENE SKI BOAT CLUB LAPA AT sPM ALL WELCOME TO STAY FOR A BRING & BRAAI AT THE LAPA AFTER THE PRIZE
Click the following link to download the hsbc entry form…
or…
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT FLIP 083 4792560
