Durban - Combining music and outdoor adventure for lovers of both is the idea behind a festival in the Northern Drakensberg next weekend.
Designed to attract the whole family, activities include rock climbing, paragliding, abseiling, mountain biking and trail running, while music will include reggae, folk and afro funk.
It takes place in the region of the Amphitheatre World Heritage site in the northern Drakensberg, from May 22 to 24.
Modelled on the successful Smoking Dragon New Year’s Festival, the new event is also hosted by the Amphitheatre Backpackers.
“There are so many organisations in the northern Drakensberg area that have such wonderful offerings for adventure seekers and nature lovers that we have decided to combine music and adventure into one big creative festival for everyone from 0 to 100 to enjoy,” said Ilsa Roberts the festival director.
“This inaugural event is an idea to bring like-minded music- and outdoor-lovers together to celebrate and enjoy the beautiful Berg.”
Among the other activities offered are microlighting, quad biking, off-road Segway or scooting, canopy touring, paintballing, hiking (to the highest waterfall in Africa), kloofing, white water rafting, bass fishing or hot air ballooning. In some cases this will be the first time such an activity has been available in the area.
“Festival goers will have access to these on site but are encouraged to explore the many adventure sports on offer in the surrounding region. There are separate charges for some of the adrenalin activities, which can be booked through the Smoking Dragon website, and of course, all safety and regulatory procedures will be adhered to,” said Ilsa.
The musicians playing will include Stelth Ulvang (from The Lumineers), Shortstraw, The Tidal Waves, Champions of the Sonarverse, Veranda Panda, Fools of Fate, The Accidentals, The Gus Brown Band, Gavin Ferguson, Hezron Chetty, The Meditators, Inkonjane No Bheseni, DJ Invizable and DJ Dubmasta China.
“There will be our usual food vendors, clean toilets and showers and full bars,” said Roberts.
“Music starts at 5pm on Friday and Saturday, after all the adrenalin has been used up, and ends at midnight so that sportsmen and women will get enough sleep to get up and enjoy more fun the next day.”
Those 18 and younger can attend free and those born in or before 1950 can pay half price.
The festival starts on Friday at 3pm and runs until Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are R600 for a 3-day ticket, which includes the two nights camping, three days of music, a free lucky draw to win another full ticket and R1 000 worth of vouchers to be spent outside the festival on adventure activities.
There are also day passes: Friday access one day and one night camping at the festival is R250, Saturday one day and one night camping R350 and Sunday only R100. Tickets for accommodation and activities can be bought online.
For more information visit www.smokingdragon.co.za, or e-mail amphibackpackers@worldonline.co.za or call 082 855 9767 or 076 822 7508.
l To see some of the activities on offer visit: http://youtu.be/gN2wKQH7cmU
Independent on Saturday