Get off the Couch — What's happening this Weekend

Tired of sit­ting on the couch every week­end, feel­ing a bit of the winter slump? If so, don’t stop read­ing as we have some answers for you to get up and have some fun this weekend.

Gravity Adventure Festival

If you are in the Western Cape you could take part in the Gravity Adventure Festival hap­pen­ing in Kleinmond from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 August 2009. There is some­thing for every­one from a trail run, MTB race (that is a moun­tain bike race for those not au fait with the lingo), down­river kayak race, K1 sprint, mile river swim, down­river croc race and adven­ture race as well as a climb­ing event. This fest­ival, one of South Africa’s most diverse adven­ture fest­ivals, takes place in and around the main road bridge on the Palmiet River. You will be able to see some awe­some sights, test your climb­ing skills on the wall or browse through the food and gear stalls.

If you’re look­ing for some­thing a little more chilled head off to Oudtshoorn for the Klein Karoo Klassique.  This is a fest­ival of clas­sical music and Klein Karoo cuisine, wines and art and you read more about this at Klein Karoo Klassique Festival.

BMW Polo Series

Durban is host­ing the BMW International Polo Series with the first test held at Shongweni on Sunday 16 August 2009. This year Canada has accep­ted the invit­a­tion to send a team and South Africa hope to remain undefeated as they came out tops dur­ing Canada’s pre­vi­ous visit in 2004. The second test will take place at Inanda on Sunday 23 August.

If you are a water sport or boat­ing enthu­si­ast then make your way down to the Coca Cola Dome in North Riding Johannesburg for the National Boat Show from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 August 2009. Bringing industry lead­ers together in a spec­tac­u­lar dis­play of water and adven­ture sports, power boats and yachts, fresh and salt water fish­ing as well as scuba diving this is where you can redis­cover your love for the sea and see all the latest and greatest there is on offer. There are also a num­ber of com­pet­i­tions tak­ing place dur­ing the show, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Tour de Soweto

On Sunday 16 August the Vodacom Tour de Soweto offers you a unique oppor­tun­ity to see Soweto on a bicycle. Come and exper­i­ence the col­our­ful vibe of this Johannesburg town­ship. Start off with a 2km warm up ride to the start­ing line at Mofolo Park (which is oppos­ite the com­munity centre), from there you can take place in either a 40km or 19km race. Participants are encour­aged to dec­or­ate their bikes for the 19km Dikwiel race.

While you twist and turn through the streets of Soweto passing his­tor­ical land­marks such as the Orlando Stadium, Nancefield and Meadowlands Migrant Worker Hostels, and Orlando West — recent home of Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu — you will also see the com­munity life of Soweto through the street side churches, gar­ages, car washes, hawkers as well as the occa­sional she­been. The local res­id­ents will cheer you on and the live enter­tain­ment of Gumboot, Pantsula and Zulu dan­cing will keep you motiv­ated. Entrance is R50 for the 40km race and R10 for the 19km.

And if that hasn’t got your blood pump­ing make your way to Nelspruit on Saturday 15 August 2009 for the Sundwala Mankele MTB Challenge. Take part in the 12km, 35km or 60km moun­tain bike races. Bring the whole fam­ily as there is also a fair and entertainment.

This week­end is about adven­ture. Why not chal­lenge your­self, your friends, and your loved ones to get off that couch and do some­thing dif­fer­ent this weekend!

Useful Links:

• South Africa Events
• Things to Do in South Africa
• South Africa Accommodation