Witsand Explorers Festival
Situated directly halfway between Cape Town and Knysna is Witsand, also known as Port Beaufort, an unspoiled piece of coastal paradise and a village steeped in cultural history. Known as the whale nursery of South Africa, it offers pristine beaches, the magnificence of the Cape Floral Kingdom and endless adventures for outdoor enthusiasts.
Witsand, Port Beaufort will be celebrating its 200-year Bicentennial celebrations from Friday, 29 September to Monday, 2 October where a plethora of events will be hosted.
The Festival will celebrate history, culture, outdoors and adventure with a programme of unique events catering for every member of a family and a diversity of interests.
Sports enthusiasts, Cultural games, talks, music, families, fishing and, food lovers and those who want to explore the cultural history and natural beauty of Witsand, Port Beaufort and its surrounding area. Events will cater from the very active to the not-so-active, young to the old. Also, make sure to pop-in at Breedezicht Estate show house over the weekend for a complimentary glass of wine.
Event Programme
FRIDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER
‘Dummies-Guide-To’ Pub Quiz
Date: Fri 29th Sept 2017 Time of the event: 18h30
Venue: River Breeze Restaurant and Conference Venue
Event info: Come and stir up those brain cells, dust off those random facts you thought you would never need
stored in the deep recesses of your mind with a general knowledge quiz that has a place for everyone – all ages, all sizes and all kinds of smarts are more than welcome. The delicious River Breeze 2-for-1 burger special will be on to whet your appetite and get the creative juices flowing. Prizes will be available for the winners and spot prizes for some lucky few.
Added bonus is the stunning view to be had from River Breeze advantageous lookout over the Breede River mouth.
Booking process: Email: conservation@breede-river.org. All proceeds to go to conservation efforts on the Breede estuary.
Cost: R200 per group of four or R50 per person
Contact Person: Sarah Halse, conservation@breede-river.org
SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER
River Trips with Fish Witsand
Date: Sat 30th Sept and Mon 2nd Oct 2017
Time of the event: Book a trip between 10h00-16h00
Venue: Pick up at Pili Pili Harbour
Event info: Fishing or river cruising trips. An opportunity for families and kids to see the river by boat or visit and learn about the sand banks at the mouth of the Breede River.
Cost: R150- R500pp
Contact Person: Wihan Wegewarth, 072 109 4744
Food and Craft Market at The Woolshed
Date: Sat 30th Sept and Sun 1st Oct 2017
Time of the event: Sat 08h00- 17h00, Sun 08h00- 14h00
Venue: The Woolshed
Event info: Celebrate heritage and culture, great food/ kontreikos and boutique crafts at Witsand’s famous Koffie
‘n Kletz at The Woolshed. Lots of activities for the kids to do too! Cost: Free entrance
Contact Person: Jana Wegewarth, WJCrafts, 084 463 2779
Amazing Race of History and Culture- by Car
Date: Sat 30th Sept & Sun 1st Oct 2017
Time of the event: DAY 1: Check in/ Registration Sat 30th Sept 08h00, DAY 2: Check in/ Registration Sun 1st Oct
08h00. Briefing: Sat 30th Sept 08h20. Prize Giving: Sun 1st Oct 15h00 (@Pili Pili)
Venue: Register & start @ The Woolshed
Event info: A 2 day fun family treasure hunt with a twist! The BEST possible way to explore this spectacular area,
discover new places, the best viewpoints & learn the most interesting bits of history too! Teams of 4-6 will receive a route book in which they need to find various points, answers, and clues to a series of questions along a route. All in the comfort of your own car! It’s all about having great fun, being observant and being adventurous!
Cost: R200 per team of 4-6 people.
Entry process: Entries limited to 30 vehicles. Pre-registration via email. Contact Person: Amanda Dixon, events@tumbleweeds.co.za, 072 949 3002
Witsand Port Beaufort Inter-club League Bowls Tournament
Date: Sat 30th Sept 2017
Time of the event: 09h00- 17h00
Venue: Witsand Port Beaufort Bowls Club
Event info: Six clubs make up the inter-club league; Barrydale, Heidelberg, Witsand, Riverdale, Ladismith and Stilbaai. All welcome to come and support!
Contact Person: Tina Rowen, 083 406 8879
2017 SUP Whale of a Race
Date: Sat 30th Sept 2017 Time of the event: 10h00 Venue: Pili Pili, Witsand
Cost: R350pp
Contact Person: Neels Swanepoel, 072 287 2475
Event info: Come and join us for the 5th Annual SUP Whale of a Race. There’s now also the new ‘Baby Whale SUP Race’, a shorter distance of 3.5km. R35 000 in cash prizes to be won and lots more! Come and enjoy a weekend of fantastic family fun, the NSRI Spitbraai and a general jôl! Prize giving @ Pili Pili between 15h00 and 17h00.
Prizes: Ladies 1st - R10 000, 2nd - R5000, 3rd - R2500. Men’s 1st - R10 000, 2nd - R5000, 3rd - R2500
Entry process: Online registration at: http://www.pilipili.co.za/event/whale-race-sup-event-2017/
WJCrafts Kids Crafting Workshop
Date: Sat 30th Sept 2017
Time of the event: 14h00- 16h00
Venue: The Woolshed, Koffie ‘n Kletz
Event info: Some creative crafting fun for all the youngsters to enjoy; canvas finger painting and make, mould &
play with clay. Cost: R45per child
Contact Person: Jana Wegewarth, WJCrafts, 084 463 2779
Witsand Explore Trail Run
Date: Sat 30th Sept 2017
Time of the event: Registration: 15h30- 16h45; Briefing: 16h45; Start: 17h00; Prize giving @ Breede River Lodge at 19h00
Venue: Register & start @ The Woolshed
Event info: Two spectacularly scenic trail runs will be offered- a 7km and a 10km route. The run starts from The Woolshed and will take runners exploring the shoreline of the Breede River mouth at low tide, partly through the scenic village of Port Beaufort and along the myriad of awesome trails that wind through indigenous bush on the eastern and western edges of the town. Whilst the 10km is more challenging, the 7km can be enjoyed by runners and walkers alike.
Cost: 10km- R160.00 / 7km- R120.00 (entries available on the day at R50 extra)(a portion of proceeds to go to NSRI Witsand Station 33)
Entry process: Enter online at www.entryninja.com
Contact Person: Amanda Dixon, events@tumbleweeds.co.za, 072 949 3002
NSRI Spitbraai
Date: Sat 30th Sept 2017 Time of the event: 19h00 Venue: Pili Pili Restaurant Event info:
Cost: R95pp
Contact Person: Lyzette, witsand@pilipili.co.za, 073 007 7542
Participants will be treated to the amazing venue and the hospitality of Koffie ‘n Kletz at The
Woolshed before the run and thereafter runners, family and friends will be entertained with a fun prize giving
session in the Red Lounge at Breede River Lodge with great prizes up for grabs.
After the event, join us for the
NSRI Spit braai and a party at Pili Pili that evening! Make it a weekend of FUN!!
Blue skies, sunshine and perfect sea-views will be the order of the day whilst an amazing meal is
prepared! Come and support Witsand NSRI Station 33 in this fun-filled vital fundraiser! To replenish all the energy
spent on the various Festival events, Lamb on the spit (cooked to perfection), potato salad, three-bean salad and
fresh pot bread with cheese and jam will be served.
SUNDAY 1ST OCTOBER
Witsand Whale MTB Race
Date: Sun 1st Oct 2017
Time of the event: Registration: 07h45- 08h45; Briefing: 08h45; Start: 09h00; Prize giving @ Pili Pili at 13h00
Venue: Register & start @ The Woolshed Event info:
Cost: R200 (entries available on the day at R50 extra) (a portion of proceeds to go to NSRI Witsand Station 33) Entry process: Enter online at www.entryninja.com
Contact Person: Mark Dixon, mtb@amdodyssey.co.za or Amanda Dixon, events@tumbleweeds.co.za, 072 949 3002
Fish Dissection and Display
Date: Sun 1st Oct 2017 Time of the event: 10h00
Venue: The Breede River Lodge harbour
Event info: For the curious – hands-on or off, depending how adventurous you want to get, fish dissections and a little conservation knowledge about the Breede River with the Lower Breede River Conservancy Trust’s own Ichthyologist and Dr JD Filmalter (SAIAB).
Cost: Free
Contact Person: Sarah Halse, conservation@breede-river.org
Sheepdog Demo
Date: Sun 1st Oct 2017 Time of the event: 11h00
Venue: Open patch of grass diagonally opposite the Woolshed
Event info: Fitz the super-fit Border Collie is fast becoming known as the local sheep-herding hero! Come and
watch as owner, Attie Gunter, and Fitz work as a tight team to demonstrate their amazing skills.
Cost: Free
Contact Person: Lyzette, witsand@pilipili.co.za, 073 007 7542
Dune Dash
Date: Sun 1st Oct 2017 Time of the event: 14h30
Venue: Witsand beach
Event info: Pop on down to the beautiful beach that is Witsand main beach for a Dune Dash, a baton relay style race for ages 6-16. You can expect good times and hopefully some exhausted kids by the end of it. Proceeds will go towards Witsand Station 33 NSRI - Sea Rescue is the charity that saves lives on South African waters. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is run by over 1 000 highly skilled, unpaid volunteers who are on standby day and night throughout the year.
Cost: R20pp (donations also welcome)
Contact Person: Sarah Halse, sarahjanehalse@gmail.com
A secret gem and Mountain Bikers paradise is the pristine and spectacular Witsand/ Port Beaufort and
surrounding private farms. The 40km route will start in Witsand from the Festival HUB, The Woolshed, and will
take cyclists through private farms, through sections of unique Renosterveld biome, along pristine single and jeep
tracks overlooking the ocean (with a possible chance of seeing Southern Right Whales from the cliff tops),
finishing back at The Woolshed. Although only 40kms, this is NOT a ride for the faint- hearted!
The Whale Induna- the showing
Date: Sun 1st Oct 2017 Time of the event: 19h00 Venue: Pili Pili Restaurant Event info:
Cost: R30pp (funds raised will be donated to Wallace Anderson Home for disabled) Contact Person: Amanda Dixon, events@tumbleweeds.co.za, 072 949 3002
South African fisherman Peter Esterhuizen had a mission: to help whales – and make others love them
as he did. This film is the remarkable true story of a man and the giant Southern Right whales of the Cape coast.
Peter's story unfolds through the eyes of Cape Town cameraman Jeremy de Kock. Peter claimed a special kinship
with whales. Some thought him crazy, scientists dismissed him. Others praised him, and owed their love of whales
to him. His life was unusual – and his death untimely. The Whale Induna went on to win a Finalist Award at the
International Wildlife Film Festival, an Adjudicator’s Special Mention Award at the Apollo Film Festival, a Craft
Stone Award, a Silver Stone Award and the Tonights “Pick of the week”.
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