Afropunk returns to Constitution Hill
AFROPUNK will return to
Constitution Hill from December
30-31.
The festival will bring together
musicians, artists and activists, offering
food, art, entertainment, shopping and
education.
The festival was established at the
Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2005,
and has since expanded to other parts
of the world, including Atlanta, London
and Paris. This will be the second year
Johannesburg will host the festival.
“The festival is an exciting mix of
innovative dialogue and music, all
against the backdrop of South Africa’s
Constitutional Court,” says Dawn
Robertson, ceo of Constitution Hill.
It creates a space that is safe for all
genders, sexes and races.
An early line-up for the festival
includes US group, Public Enemy;
Haitian-Canadian musician, Kaytranada;
South African star, Thandiswa; LA-based
Thundercat; and popular Soweto
band, BCUC.
SANParks introduces new gate technology
SOUTH African National Parks will
introduce new gate technology
to streamline access at Table
Mountain and West Coast National
Parks, starting November 1.
Hapiloe Sello, SANParks managing
executive: Tourism Development and
Marketing, said visitors would now
be able to purchase digital tickets
online, prior to arrival at the gate.
The tickets will then be scanned at
the gate for quick access. This is
important for tour operators who
can now skip purchasing group
tickets at SANParks’ offices and
instead book online for their groups.
From November 1, the
conservation fees at Cape Point will
be R76, and R39 at Boulders, for
SA nationals and foreign nationals
with SA residence. The Table
Mountain Cable Car will not be
affected by changes to the fees.
Online bookings open in midOctober,
in time for the new system
implementation on November 1.
Tour operators will be able to book
directly from SANParks’ website.
Gamkaberg unveils rock art sites
CAPENATURE is opening a piece of
protected land in the Gamkaberg
Nature Reserve outside Oudtshoorn.
CapeNature ceo, Dr Razeena
Omar, explains: “The rock art in
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve is
estimated to be between 1 500 and
2 000 years old and there are about
40 rock art sites scattered within
the protected area. Each of these
sites has spiritual significance and
records lifestyles and stories of the
Khoi and San people.”
The reserve is also ecologically
important as it is home to three key
biomes: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo
and Albany Thicket.
A new two-person glamping
accommodation option has also
opened. The Xami Eco lodge
offers guests wheelchair-friendly
accommodation in a secluded part
of the reserve, with minimal impact
on the environment. The lodge has
a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, openplan
lounge, braai area and a splash
pool. There are also accommodation
facilities for larger groups, and
campsites.
Visitors can also enjoy newly
opened rock-climbing spots at
Tierkloof.
New Easter Cape day tour
THE Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism
Agency, together with nine small tourism
businesses, has launched the East
London Urban and Cultural Experience
day tour.
Velile Ndlumbini, founding member
and md of Imonti Tours, says the
route covers 60km. Guests visit the
Art Versatile Ceramic Workshop where
they create their own pottery pieces.
From there, the tour visits Drifters
Theme Park, an adventure village where
go-karting and paintballing are on offer.
A township experience is also
included, with a stop in Duncan Village,
as well as Mdantsane and Xhobani
Projects, a community project where
beer bottles are recycled into beads.
Guests can then buy the end
products.
