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Festivals in South Africa
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You are here > Home > Festivals in South Africa

Festivals in South Africa

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Perhaps not the first country you think of for festivals, South Africa has a full calendar of events, marking everything from food to (some people's!) urge to push their body to the limits.

Festivals in South Africa Festivals in South Africa - Cape Town New Year Festival - January - Cape Town People of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town mark the new year with floats and minstrel bands, which can be seen for around a month after January 1.

Festivals in South Africa - Klein Karoo National Arts Festival - March/April - Oudtshoorn An annual celebration of Afrikaans art and entertainment that takes place in Oudtshoorn and involves theatre, food, wine, dancing, crafts - and a tribute to ostriches.

Festivals in South Africa - Comrades Marathon - June (June 15 2008) - from Durban to Pietermaritzburg At 86.7 miles, the Comrades Marathon puts the London Marathon in the shade somewhat. Runners begin early in the morning, follow an undulating path over hills and valleys and stumble over the finishing line several hours later. Non-South African citizens can enter but it's fun (and a lot less exhausting!) just to join the thousands of spectators cheering them on.

Festivals in South Africa - Cape Town International Jazz Festival (formerly known as the North Sea Jazz Festival) - March/April - Cape Town Arguably the best jazz festival in Africa, with home-grown and international stars playing over two nights, photography exhibitions and a free community concert.

Festivals in South Africa - National Arts Festival - June/July (26 June - 5 July 2008) - Grahamstown South Africa's answer to the Edinburgh Festival, this festival includes music, opera, dance, films, exhibitions and lectures and has a blossoming fringe scene.

Festivals in South Africa


Festivals in South Africa - Knysna Oyster Festival - July (4 July - 13 July 2008) - Knysna Quays
Sample the oysters, which are taken from Knysna Lagoon, and you'll realise why there's a festival dedicated to them. Among the events are oyster cooking (and eating!) competitions, puppet shows and a whole series of sporting contests.

Festivals in South Africa - Cape Town Fashion Week - August (8 - 11 August 2008) Cape Town Leading South African designers show off their creations at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. There are even talks on careers in the fashion industry.

South Africa festivals Festivals in South Africa - Hermanus Whale Festival - five days in September/October (24 - 28 September 2008) Walker Bay, Hermanus Standing on a cliff, beer in hand, watching one of nature's greatest productions - life doesn't get much better! The festival is held to celebrate the calving and mating of the whales, and includes South African's version of the Mexican wave, the Welcome Wales Wave Walk, concerts, cabarets and sporting events.

Festivals in South Africa - Rustler's Valley Festivals - throughout the year - Rustler's Valley Music festivals take place at various times of the year in the shadow of the Maluti mountains, with extravaganzas at Easter and New Year. If you're going to be in the area, ask at a tourist office or check the local press.


South Africa is a fantastic destination for a gap trip and planning your gap trip to coincide with a festival you are interested in makes it even more exciting.

Take a look out our South Africa gap programme below and you could be checking out the festivals in South Africa in no time!
Cape Town Medical and Community
Help doctors with sick children in the mornings and get involved in building and painting schools, AIDS support and an education centre in the afternoons. You’ll make a difference and have time to explore Cape Town’s sights. From £1299

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Cape Town Teaching and Development
Help provide vital teaching assistance at two schools within underprivileged communities of Fish Hoek, on the outskirts of Cape Town. Assist in community work and development initiatives and gain an insight into the lives of underprivileged individuals in Cape Town. From £1299

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Field Guide Training Course South Africa
Qualify to be a field guide in the home of the Big Five. After a year’s practical training and work experience, you’ll have a recognised licence that will set you up for paid work in the future. From £7599

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Kruger One-Year Field Guide Course
Gain the skills and qualifications to work as a field guide by spending 12 months on or near Kruger National Park. Practical training and work experience will teach you all you need to know. From £5399

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Kruger to Coast Sports Adventure
Sample some of Africa’s exhilarating highlights. Camp in Kruger National Park with the big five, do a volunteer placement in Swaziland and learn to scuba dive in Mozambique. An adventure with a bit of everything! From £1745

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Kruger to Coast Volunteer Adventure
Take an unforgettable tour of southern African, getting close to game in South Africa, working with orphans in Swaziland and snorkelling with whale sharks in Mozambique. Indian Ocean beaches provide a paradisiacal finale! From £1595

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Online TEFL Course 40 Hour

This programme is temporarily unavailable. Please contact us for details. This 40 hour online TEFL course allows you to learn at your own pace, when and where you like, to fit around your life schedule allowing flexibility and plenty of time for you to gain the most out of the course.

From £156

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Online TEFL Course 60 Hour
This programme is temporarily unavailable. Please contact us for details. A 60 hour online TEFL course that is slightly more comprehensive with an extra 20 hours gaining a specialist certificate in grammar. Learn at your own pace online and gain your TEFL qualification in your own time! From £184

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Online TEFL Course 80 Hour
This programme is temporarily unavailable. Please contact us for details. A complete and comprehensive 80 hour online TEFL course that includes everything that the 40 and 60 hour courses include with the addition of 20 hours in 4 specialist teaching certificates and a lifetime access to teaching helpdesk.  From £236

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South Africa Cape Town Sports Volunteers
Teach children who often make do with carrier bags for balls and inspire them to play football or take up other sports. You’ll combine much needed sports coaching with academic tuition. From £699

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South Africa Cape Town Volunteers
Experience the real South Africa and make a difference to its inhabitants. Live with a host family and get involved in projects for HIV children, disabled adults and children, orphans, penguins and other marine life. From £949

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South Africa Childrens Home For Girls in Cape Town
Help soothe the effects of abuse, poverty and neglect. Lend a hand with schoolwork or computer skills or just arrange games and activities that will let them enjoy being children again. From £1099

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South Africa Chimpanzee Sanctuary
You’ll receive training in sanctuary management and come away with an in depth understanding of chimpanzees. Based near Kruger National Park, you’ll learn about the history and habitats of chimpanzees, sustainable tourism and more. From £649

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South Africa Conservation and Photography
Put your love of photography to good use on a World Heritage Site. Photograph elephants, rhinos and many other creatures for a database, and possibly magazines. You’ll also teach local children about their surroundings. From £1395

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South Africa Cricket Academy Cape Town
Improve your cricket and get paid to coach others. Work on your fitness and skills at the academy, with help from past and present cricket stars, and earn some cash by running sessions for school children. From £1599

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South Africa Horse Riding and Conservation
Riding and caring for horses and learning about African wildlife are at the heart of this unique experience. At night, you’ll shower in the open air and sleep in a bush lodge.
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From £799

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South Africa Literacy and Language Cape Town
Help children develop a love of reading with one-on-one sessions. Read with them, and work in the library, and also get involved in teaching, running garden projects and more besides. From £1099

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South Africa Monkey Rehabilitation
Nurse injured and orphaned monkeys, plus baboons, snakes, crocodiles and any other animals needing attention. Longer-staying volunteers have the chance to work on sites that release monkeys back into the wild.
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From £849

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South Africa One Month Field Guide Course in Kruger
Learn about the area you’re staying in with theoretical and practical lessons in everything from animals to astronomy. Opt to complete written tests and you can qualify to be a tour guide. From £1149

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South Africa Orphans and HIV AIDS Education
Get a feel for Zulu culture and help counteract the effect of AIDS. Play games with orphans, raise awareness of HIV and AIDS and destroy the myths surrounding them, visit sick people at home and help build classrooms. From £1295

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South Africa Rugby Academy
Eat, drink and breathe rugby in a country the holds it in the highest regard. You’ll develop all aspects of your game, and have the chance to play for a local university or villagers’ club. From £2299

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South Africa White Shark Conservation
Swim with great whites…in a cage! Sail through Sharks’ Alley, among seals and penguins, while you record shark activity. Tuition on shark behaviour, underwater filming and lots more will give you an in depth understanding of these magnificent creatures. From £1399

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South Africa Wild Coast Horse Rehabilitation
Live a horse lover’s dream! Help with the day-to-day care of neglected and abused horses and build up their confidence. You’ll be able to ride the Wild Coast’s spectacular beach and bush trails too. From £849

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South Africa Wild Coast Teaching Volunteers
Pass on your computer and sports skills to deprived children in rural South Africa. You’ll stay just two minutes from the beach, surrounded by some of Africa’s most spectacular scenery.
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From £1199

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South Africa Wildlife Art Course
Draw and paint South Africa’s wildlife and tap into your creative side. Visit Big Five reserves, go on bush walks, learn to see the animals differently and take a look at art history. From £1499

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South Africa Wildlife Photography Course
Capture the animals of Greater Kruger National Park in new ways. You’ll be taught new techniques, instructed on bush safety then taken on game drives. Come home with the holiday photos of your dreams! From £799

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South African Reptile Park Volunteers

Get up close and personal with Africa’s wildlife, from Black Mambas to Baboon Spiders. As a reptile centre volunteer, you’ll be involved in research, feeding, building enclosures, demonstrating and much more.
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From £899

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Township Teaching Project in Cape Town
Volunteer in a desperately underprivileged township and set children up for a better future. Give them some individual help with English, maths and basic skills – you’ll be amazed at the difference you can make! From £699

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Wild Coast Sports and Education
Build up children’s confidence and teamwork skills by setting up sports clubs, and give them the computer know-how they’ll need to progress in the world. Harness their enthusiasm and watch the improvements. From £1199

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Wild Coast Wildlife Conservation Project

Play a part in protecting South Africa’s beautiful Wild Coast. Work at a lion cub centre, sleep under the stars, learn about wildlife management, go on game drives and bushwalks, and more – perfect for outdoor people!

From £1499

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Wildlife Conservation Course Kruger
Get yourself on course to manage a game farm or nature reserve. Surrounded by the Big Five and other African wildlife, you’ll learn about educational bush walks, how to identify animals, game tracking, navigation and more.
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From £749

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