Star-studded line-up set to light up Wildsfees stage
Headlining the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency ( ECPTA) main stage on Friday June 27, is popular band Spoegwolf, which will close out a dynamic line-up that includes Die Piesangskille, Droomsindroom, Fatman, Bibi, Jennifer Zamudio, and GQ Ruan van der Kuil.
The star-studded programme for the Saturday features performances by Bernice West, Kurt Darren, Rubber Duc, Eloff, Ruhan du Toit, Irene-Louise van Wyk, Refentse, Jakkie Louw and Danny Smoke, with Jan Jan Jan set to headline the evening.
The Sunday offers a more relaxed vibe, with acts such as Wynand and Cheree, Keanan Eksteen, Blackbyrd, Ivan Roux and Manie Jackson rounding off the weekend.
'This year's festival truly has something for everyone,' festival director Jenni Honsbein said.
In addition to the live performances, the festival will feature more than 300 specialist stalls, animal and equestrian shows in the MTN Arena, pony rides, as well as new vehicle, agriculture and outdoor expos.
A highlight for many will be the Walk on the Wildside experience.
According to organiser Mandy Roets, the exhibit will include a tourism showcase by 12 of the Eastern Cape's top destinations, educational wildlife talks with live reptiles by Mark Marshall, the Iziko Mobile Museum, an Addo Elephant National Park display, bee-keeping demonstrations, a dinosaur experience, and the launch of a new tourism product by Ron Mackenzie of Small Town SA.
Families can look forward to a sprawling family play park, and fans of pop culture will enjoy photo opportunities with cosplayers dressed as popular action characters.
All shows and activities are included in the entrance fee.
Ticket prices are R120 per day for under 18s, adult day tickets are R250 on Friday and Saturday, and R200 on Sunday.
Pensioners (65+) qualify for a 50% discount on Sunday. Weekend passes are available at R250 for youth and R500 for adults.
Festival gates open at 9am daily, with main stage performances running until 11pm.
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The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
It's time for one of the greatest flower shows on earth
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The vygie flower ( Mesembryanthemums ) is to be found everywhere in the Western Cape and Garden Route as it grows prolifically on the dunes of our local beaches and it's like a brilliant star among other vegetation. My favourite one is the cerise colour, but among the fireworks in the fynbos these vygies come in a carnival of pink, purple, yellow, orange. They are simply exquisite as they shine with almost iridescent petals quite unlike any other plant in the Cape Floral Kingdom. The commonly used Afrikaans word vygie means small fig after its fruiting capsule. There are more than 1,600 species in the country and a whole lot of them are found in our area. Along with the vygies , other fynbos plants on the Garden Route typically bloom during the spring months, from September to November. You can expect to see bursts of colour as the fynbos flowers, including ericas and other species show themselves everywhere, alongside the roads and in the forests. The Chincherinchees lilies are out. The bulbs and the whole plant actually hide until spring and then they suddenly pop out of the ground with little white bell-like flowers. It was my mom's favourite and it flowers the same time she died so I imagine they're sent by her. The biggest hint that spring is on its way are the annual Canola flowers. From August to September farmlands on the Garden Route and Western Cape are transformed into a huge yellow quilt. Canola oil is made from the seeds of this plant. Many of us who live here make a trip especially to see this extravaganza and the best Canola fields can be found all along the N2 highway between Hermanus and Mossel Bay including little towns along the N2 like Riviersonderend, Caledon, Onrus, Botriver, Swellendam and Riversdale. Marjolein van Mourik-Borrias owns the Kloof Heritage Estate Boutique Hotel and Villa in Swellendam and she says the flowers are out in all their glory. Readers can email her on info@ and get a discount if you request the 'canola-deal'. 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It's a botanical spectacle unmatched, making it one of the must-see things to do on earth. There are so many options to enjoy the flowers. The town of Darling hosts an annual wild flower show annually over the third weekend in September as it celebrates an integral part of the Cape Fynbos Kingdom comprising of Renosterveld, Sandveld and Strandveld where more than 1,200 different species of flowers can be found. You can go as far as SANParks Namaqua National Park to see the flowers and in particular the daisies this area is famous for in spring. Sweeps of orange, white and yellow wildflowers line the trail, offering a visual feast for nature lovers and adventure seekers. SANParks say visitors will get to see an explosion of floral diversity and colour as the season unfolds with Namaqualand arctotis (Bittergousblom), Namaqua parachute-daisy (Bergmagriet), Cape marigold (Soetgousblom), Namaqualand daisy, Sambreeltjies, Bokbaaivygies Glansogies, blue and white sporries, Wit-soe, Various Oxalidaceae (Suurrings), a variety of vygie species, Meidestert, and different Gazania species. There are West Coast hiking trails available in August and September that meander through the wild flowers. For more information contact info@ This year, the Chelsea Flowers in Stanford event is even more prestigious: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Grootbos Foundation will present a fynbos floral experience like no other. SA won gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 under the leadership of landscape designer Leon Kluge and artist-gardener Tristan Woudberg. 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Cape Country Routes (CCR) SA is a leading group of owner-operated and managed accommodation and activity establishments comprised of more than 20 privately owned hotels, lodges and guest houses — located on the scenic and historic routes in the Western and Eastern Cape . These are carefully selected for their character, charm and romance as well as offering good accommodation and activities to suit tastes and budgets. Theresa Gibbon of CCR suggests the following options for the spring flowers: Drive to Cape Agulhas and there are Canola fields as well as flowers right up to Agulhas Country Lodge. I've stayed at the Arniston Spa Hotel and will use any excuse to go again so let the flowers be your reason. It's very affordable accommodation that includes breakfast. The De Hoop Nature Reserve is resplendent in flowers. Choose self-catering or luxury accommodation from the De Hoop Collection or check out CapeNature's offerings. The West Coast comes out tops for flower-gazing. 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The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
TV: From BBL to Regret: Why These Celebs Want Their Real Bodies Back
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The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
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