THE FIRST wildlife festival in the Eastern Cape will be taking place in Kirkwood from 28 to 30 June 2002. “The Wildlife Festival promises to be packed with three days of adventure, wildlife experiences and multi-cultural entertainment,” says chairman of the festival committee Johan Swart. “By putting the spotlight on Kirkwood via this festival, we would like to establish this farming town as the gateway to the Karoo Heartland. “The Kirkwood Wildlife Festival will also serve as a marketing platform for the Eastern Cape, especially regarding domestic tourism,” adds Swart. A game auction in co-operation with the neighbouring National Addo Elephant Park and Riverbend Lodge will be the highlight of the festival. It will include kudu, zebra, eland, buffalo, hartebeest, sable, inyala and various other antelope species. The festival will highlight the growing importance of wildlife farming and tourism to the Eastern Cape economy. “Game contributes greatly to the economy in the Eastern Cape,” says Swart. “Game hunting, for example, is being positioned as an important niche in the region’s tourism mix.” A study conducted by the University of Port Elizabeth shows that the Eastern Cape is South Africa’s leading destination for foreign trophy hunters. The report states that game hunting is now worth about R200-million per annum in the province, and this figure should increase over the medium to long term. Biltong and trophy hunting are the biggest contributors to this amount, while revenue in this industry is also generated by the sale of wild animals. Of increasing importance are photo safaris and ecotourism. There are about 500 game farms in the province – more than double the number ten years ago. “In fact, the Kirkwood Wildlife Festival aims to package eco experiences, specialist activities and a blend of cultures in a stress free environment,” says Swart. “One of the other highlights of the festival will be clay pigeon shooting organised in partnership with Round Table 78.” Just some of the activities on the programme include venison cooking demonstrations, 4x4 trips to game farms, and children’s entertainment. Schools will have the opportunity to bring their pupils for educationals in the form of hikes and picnic lunches on Kirkwood’s surrounding game farms. Johan Stemmet of Noot vir Noot fame will be hosting a Rooi Rose breakfast fashion show for the ladies. Modelling clothes from well-known fashion designers will be previous Miss South Africa’s Wilma van der Bijl and Amy Kleynhans as well as top models from Port Elizabeth. Exhibitions will include a traditional Xhosa village, taxidermies, rifles, hunting knives, camping gear, wine tasting and food and craft stalls.