So much to do at the Amanzi Festival

THE excitement is growing as the time rapidly approaches the start of the Amanzi Festival, sponsored by the Royal St Andrews Hotel, as it takes on the challenge of becoming the premier water sports event in the Eastern Cape and, in the future, in the country.

The Amanzi Festival will run across the Easter Weekend and right through until the following weekend, from Friday March 30 to Sunday April 8, and will include the best in water sports and an international contingent of competing athletes, as well as a trail run, a swim, lots of craft stalls, kiddies’ entertainment and a whole lot more.

Entries are now open for participants in both the 8km Trail Run and the Marina Mile Open Water Swim, both events heralding the start of the 2018 Amanzi Festival. Please see for registration in these two events or for more information on what is happening at the festival. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Sunshine Coast Tourism website (

). The organisers are also looking for crafters to take part in this prestigious event.

So, the more than a week-long festival is getting itself into shape and, if you would like to attend, here is the programme:

Friday March 30, from 7.30am is the 8km trail run, starting at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club. At 8am, the West Beach Warfare bodyboarding contest begins at West Beach. Then, at 10am at the Halyards Hotel, the 1km Marina Mile swim.

Saturday March 31, the West Beach Warfare continues at West Beach with international (APB) bodyboarding taking place with some of the world’s best athletes on show.

From 8am at East Beach there will be international jet-ski and rubber duck (inflatable boat) races.

In the afternoon is the Barnacles Challenge on the Kowie River, as well as more rubber duck races.

April 2, will see the bodyboarding finals and more fun, like face painting and other fun things for the kids to do at Kiddies Beach.

On Tuesday April 3, there will be trampolining and fencing displays and rowing machines at West Beach. And, of course, the entertainment doesn’t stop at Kiddies Beach where there will be hoola-hoop and frisbee competitions and more.

skate park will be established at West Beach on Wednesday April 4 and there will also be a parent-and-child canoe challenge at Kiddies Beach and, together with other games and events, a hotdog-eating competition.

Thursday April 5, the activities are all centred around Kiddies Beach where the children are anticipated to be fully entertained.

on Friday April 6, the national surfing competition take place at East Beach, carrying over until the Saturday and finishing on Sunday April 8.

This jam-packed line-up of top-class national and international competition is bound to get the pulse racing, as well as bring thousands of visitors to Port Alfred.

If you would like to participate in one of the events or are a crafter who would like a stall at the event, visit Time Trial: March 15 5km 1. Vuyisani Nobi 19:03 2. Jared Penny 28:15 3. Damian Tsikos 31:16 4. Yvonne Tsikos 31:26