PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Attention
06 December 2022

KZN South Coast launches its ‘I Love Summer’ festive season programme

With all its beaches open for bathing and the holiday almost here, the KZN South Coast has launched its I Love Summer festive season programme with fun activities taking place throughout the Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom. Holidaymakers and residents can look forward to an exciting schedule of free festive season fun happening along KZN South Coast beaches and hinterland locations.

“Being home to the highest number of Blue Flag Beaches in the province, world-class dive sites, as well as great fishing and surfing, the KZN South Coast has always been a popular summer holiday destination. This is made even more special with the I Love Summer holiday programme that has something for the whole family to enjoy,” said Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE). “The KZN South Coast offers visitors a variety of accommodation options, for all budgets, with fantastic outdoor activities from the beach to the hinterland.”

KZN South Coast I Love Summer Programme

Programme organiser, Michael Bester of One Way Productions, said they were planning a bumper programme for what’s expected to be a great summer season on the KZN South Coast.

“The I Love Summer programme will kick off with a great treasure hunt and sandcastle-building competition for the kids before the sport contests get going,” explained Bester. “In line with the Football World Cup, we will be setting up some fun beach soccer games, but there will also be the popular touch rugby and volleyball action! There will be lots of prizes up for grabs, thanks to all our sponsors involved in making this the most wonderful summer programme ever! Visitors of all ages are all welcome to participate in all the activities…free of charge. So head to the KZN South Coast for some summer fun!”

More I Love Summer action includes:

• Hula hoop competitions
• Sack races
• Cone diving
• Musical freeze
• Tug-of-war

When?

Dates: 9 December 2022 to 3 January 2023 (except Christmas and New Year’s days)
Times: 10am to 2pm daily

Where?
Beach venues:

• Wild Coast Sun Waterpark
• Southbroom Main Beach
• Port Edward Main Beach
• St Michael’s Main Beach
• Ramsgate Main Beach
• Margate/Lucian Main Beach
• Scottburgh Main Beach
• Southport/Sunwichport Main Beaches
• Hibberdene Main Beach
• Marina Main Beach

Hinterland venues:

• Mzukelwa Primary School in Umuziwabatnhu
• Ntelezi Msani in Mthwalume
• KwaXolo Cave Adventures in KwaXolo near Margate
• KwalaTshoda Hall in KwaNzimakwe
• Uvongo Town Hall

*Please note that I Love Summer activations will happen at different venues daily and the programme might be adjusted due to weather and load shedding schedules. Organisers retain the right to change any portion of the programme due to visitor demands or safety concerns.

KZN South Coast festive season events

Outside of the I Love Summer programme, there is so much happening along the KZN South Coast this festive season. Here is a taster of what’s on offer:

Kasified Colour Run & Picnic
When: Friday, 16 December
Time: 9am to late
Where: TB Molefe Stadium, Gamalakhe
Cost: R40 for adults, R20 for kids
Contact: 078 573 3801
Details: This is a family-friendly 5km colour fun run and picnic. Register between 1 and 16 December.

Crocworld Holiday Programme
Where: Crocworld Conservation Centre, Scottburgh
Contact: www.crocworld.co.za
Details: The centre hosts daily reptile interactions and demonstrations, juvenile crocodile handlings as well as stork and vulture feedings.

Henry’s Birthday Celebration
When: Friday, 16 December
Where: Crocworld Conservation Centre, Scottburgh
Contact: www.crocworld.co.za
Details: Celebrate the 122nd birthday of the world’s oldest Nile crocodile, Henry! There will be free cupcakes for visitors so get there early!

The Oribi Gorge Farmers’ Market
When: 16 to 18 December
Where: Lake Eland Game Reserve
Contact: farmersmarket@lakeeland.co.za

Simon Mbhele 5 Aside Soccer Tournament
When: Saturday, 17 December
Time: 9am to 8pm
Where: KwaMasengeni Taxi Rank, Gamalakhe
Contact: 072 141 7698

6th Annual Kasified Eksperience
When: Saturday, 17 December
Time: 9pm until late
Where: Kasified Eksperience, Gamalakhe
Cost: R50 general, R100 VIP

The Sweetdale Christmas Market
When: Friday, 23 December
Time: 6pm to 10pm
Where: The Packshed, Margate
Contact: www.thepackshed.co.za
Details: Get all those Christmas gifts from these well-stocked stalls, with great food, drink and music setting the scene.

The Sweetdale Night Market
When: Friday, 30 December
Time: 6pm to 10pm
Where: The Packshed, Margate
Contact: www.thepackshed.co.za
Details: Visitors can enjoy local crafts, food, and drink from over 45 vendors paired with live musicians in a secure, magical and romantic setting.

Kasified New Year’s Eksperience
When: Saturday, 31 December
Time: 6pm until late
Where: Kasified Eksperience, Gamalakhe
Cost: R50 general, R100 VIP

New Year Family Fun Day with Colour
When: Sunday, 1 January
Time: 10am
Where: Ugu Sports & Leisure Centre
Contact: 071 996 3171

Holidaymakers are encouraged to share their holiday pics from selfie frames at Margate and along Umzumbe River Trail using #SouthCoastTourism and #SummerReady!

The KZN South Coast is #SummerReady with great beaches, golf courses and activities on offer! Download the free ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app from Google Play and Apple stores; visit the ‘South Coast Tourism’ on Facebook or YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; ‘Info Ugu South Coast Tourism’ on LinkedIn; www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za to check out the Events Calendar, the KZN South Coast Meeting Planner Guide and more!

To access previous SCTIE press releases, visit: https://www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za/category/press-release/

/ENDS

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High resolution images are available upon request.
(Images: Supplied by SCTIE)

Holidaymakers and residents can look forward to an exciting schedule of free festive season fun happening along KZN South Coast beaches and hinterland locations.

Phelisa Mangcu (CEO of SCTIE) enjoying some of the holiday programme activities at previous beach activations.

Margate Beach.

Marina Beach.

Wild Coast Sun Waterpark.

About South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE)

SCTIE was established as the official economic development arm of the KZN South Coast. It is a legal entity of the Ugu District Municipality with executive powers, serving Ugu District and its family of municipalities. The entity is committed to identifying and unlocking the full tourism and investment potential of the ‘Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom’ which stretches 120 kilometres from Scottburgh to Port Edward and inland to Harding. The spirit of adventure can be discovered among the 35 nature trails, 58 beaches – 6 Blue Flag – three Marine Protected Areas at Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks and Trafalgar, two iconic gorges – Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna Gorge – and game reserves. These all set the scene for activities like river rafting, abseiling, suspension bridges, paintball, surfing, SUP, canoeing, fishing, beach horse rides, microlight and helicopter rides, birding, game viewing, shark cage diving and free diving. Winter brings the annual Sardine Run, coined the #GreatestShoalonEarth, which is the largest biomass migration on earth. Nicknamed ‘The Golf Coast’, there are 11 golf courses ranging in difficulty, with endless hiking, mountain biking and 4×4 trails for rugged excursions. Hinterland adventures include agritourism and Umzumbe River Trail, with cultural and historical sites such as The Red Desert, KwaXolo Caves, Mzamba Fossils and Petrified Forest, Nyandezulu and KwaNzimakwe experiences, and Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre. Petrolheads can head to Dezzi Raceway, the only Motorsport South Africa (MSA)-approved racing track in the province. The KZN South Coast is also a fast-emerging MICE destination which hosts several high-profile events including Ugu Jazz, Ugu Film Festival and KAP sani2c. For more information, visit www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za.

Issued on behalf of:
South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE)

Disseminated by:
Olivia Jones Communications

For more information please contact:
Olivia Jones Communications
Cell: 083 653 1720
Email: media@oliviajones.co.za