Supplied
It was all hands-on deck in the town of Nqweba (Kirkwood) when the annual SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees had to find a new venue.
In less than two months a patch of veld became a festival village, which attracted thousands of festinos to the Sundays River Valley and impressed tourism minister Patricia de Lille.
“We are very happy with the numbers,” says festival director Jenni Honsbein.
“There is a perception that our country is all about safaris and Table Mountain, but as you travel across the country you discover these hidden gems, and we must diversify our offering,” she at the opening function.
Festivals such as the Wildsfees helped raise the profile of “less visited” provinces such as the Eastern Cape.
“The Wildsfees is unique because it is not just a celebration of wildlife, but also culture and community. It is also a powerful showcase of what tourism should be. It should be inclusive, educational and above all joyful,” she said.
“The Wildsfees is truly a community festival. It is said that adversity either divides or unites people,” says Kirkwood Wildlife Festival board chairperson Paul Marais.
“The very successful move of the festival from its traditional home at the Kirkwood High School has demonstrated the power of the community – and how much the Wildsfees means to the people of the Sundays River Valley.
“Business community members freely provided advice on how to transform a patch of veld into a festival village, and provided equipment and supplies at cost price or free.
“The traffic department, South African Police Services, and municipality were also wonderful in their support of the move.
“Our contractors and service providers excelled themselves.
“Our decision to go ahead with the festival was largely based on their assurances that they could create the wonderful venue in record time”.
A community initiative two weeks before the opening saw residents of the town from all communities and demographics taking to the streets – with brooms, shovels, paint brushes, and spades to spruce it up ahead of the 22nd annual SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees.
Community volunteers painted and mounted the rubbish bins, cleaned the verges, painted their gates and road markings and picked up rubbish.
NGOs and sports clubs which had benefited from the Wildsfees in the past gave their time and energy free.
The annual Kirkwood Wildlife auction turned over R12,6 million including VAT, which is back to pre-Covid levels, according to Marais.
“It was a great effort by the team, SANParks and the other breeders,” he said.
A black rhino bull from the Mountain Zebra National Park sold for R170 000, while four male buffalo from Kwandwe sold for R155 000 each, according to Brandon Leer auctioneers.
(Statement supplied)
