Kouga strengthens tourism position at SATSA LinkUp Workshop and Networking Expo At The Links

by | Feb 26, 2026 | St Francis

Kouga – Kouga Local Municipality continues to strengthen its position as a leading coastal destination following its participation in the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) LinkUp Workshop and Networking Expo, hosted at St Francis Links on 13 February 2026.

The strategic engagement forms part of the municipality’s ongoing drive to grow the local tourism economy, expand market access for Kouga-based businesses, and position the region as a trade-ready destination for both domestic and international visitors.

Representing the municipality, the Economic Development and Tourism Department used the platform to promote Kouga’s diverse tourism offering, build partnerships with industry stakeholders, and secure practical insights to enhance destination marketing and digital visibility.

The event brought together tourism role players from across the Eastern Cape, creating valuable opportunities for product exposure, buyer engagement, and knowledge sharing.

Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, said the municipality’s participation in SATSA LinkUp reflects Kouga’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of its tourism sector.

“Tourism is one of the cornerstones of Kouga’s local economy. Platforms such as SATSA LinkUp allow us to connect our local tourism products with national and international markets, which ultimately translates into more visitors, more jobs, and more opportunities for our communities,” he said.

He added that strengthening partnerships with industry stakeholders is essential for building a competitive destination.

“By investing in destination marketing, digital innovation, and trade readiness, we are ensuring that Kouga remains a preferred coastal destination. Our focus is on inclusive growth, where SMMEs and emerging tourism operators benefit alongside established businesses.”

A key outcome of the workshop was the municipality’s access to the 2026 tourism outlook and destination marketing trends presented by SATSA Chief Executive Officer David Frost.

Kouga representatives also participated in an inbound tourism masterclass focused on statistics of key inbound source markets, strategies to bridge the digital divide, leveraging incentive programmes like the Tourism Transformation Fund, and utilise platforms such as the SATSA Tourism LinkUp Tuesdays for weekly trade exposure.

The municipality further showcased the region’s tourism assets through a destination presentation that positioned Kouga as a hub for coastal, adventure, heritage, and lifestyle tourism. This exposure strengthens Kouga’s profile within provincial and national tourism networks and opens new trade opportunities for local operators.

Bornman emphasised that tourism growth must translate into tangible local benefits.

“Our goal is to ensure that tourism growth is felt in every town across Kouga – from Jeffreys Bay and St Francis to Hankey and Patensie. By supporting local enterprises and expanding market access, we are building a resilient and inclusive tourism economy.”

Participation in SATSA LinkUp directly supports the municipality’s commitment to:

  • Growing the local tourism economy.
  • Supporting SMME development and transformation.
  • Increasing visitor numbers and length of stay.
  • Enhancing digital destination marketing.
  • Building strategic industry partnerships.

By engaging on national trade platforms such as SATSA, Kouga Local Municipality ensures that local tourism products gain cost-effective promotional exposure while accessing industry knowledge, networking opportunities, and market intelligence.

Kromme Enviro Trust Pentathlon returns to the dunes on 2 May

by | Feb 26, 2026 | St Francis

After the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Kromme Enviro Trust Pentathlon is set to return on Saturday 2nd May, once again taking place at Dune Ridge Estate and winding its way through the spectacular Oyster Bay dune fields.

Last year’s Pentathlon brought together 27 teams from local businesses, sports clubs, families and groups of friends for a day that was as much about laughter and teamwork as it was about physical challenge. Participants ranged from serious athletes to teams in themed outfits and coordinated colours, but what united everyone was an infectious sense of camaraderie and commitment. Importantly, every single team completed the course, a true testament to the enthusiasm and spirit of the day.

The top three teams in 2025 were:

  • 🥇 Ukuthula
  • 🥈 Bushbuck Farm Eco Retreat
  • 🥉 The Soccer Guys

The Pentathlon combines a variety of activities designed to be inclusive, fun and memorable. This year’s event will again feature cycling, walking and running, alongside the ever-popular cold-water bob and an environmental quiz, with teams made up of five people. The format makes the event ideal for work teams, families and friends, with plenty of encouragement along the way.

Beyond the fun and friendly competition, the Pentathlon has a serious purpose. The event raises funds and awareness for the protection of the Oyster Bay Headland Bypass Dune System, also known as the Sand River. This remarkable dune field is the last functioning dune system of its kind in South Africa, with exceptional archaeological, ecological and cultural significance. It is currently under threat from proposed sand mining and development.

The Kromme Enviro Trust is actively working to have the dune system declared a formally protected nature reserve, ensuring that this unique landscape is preserved for future generations rather than lost to short-term profit.

With its blend of outdoor adventure, community spirit and conservation purpose, the Kromme Enviro Trust Pentathlon offers participants a rare opportunity to experience one of the region’s most extraordinary natural environments and to help protect it at the same time.

More details and entry information will be released closer to the event, but for now, participants are encouraged to save the date, start gathering their teams, and get ready for another unforgettable day in the dunes.

To learn more about the Trust’s work or to become a member, please visit: www.stfranciskrommetrust.co.za. Membership helps amplify our collective voice in safeguarding the future of this unique environment. 

Kouga’s quiet stand for the whales

by | Feb 26, 2026 | St Francis

KOUGA – Last Friday morning, while the tide rolls gently onto the shores of Kouga, there was no big stage, no loudspeakers, and no formal guest list. Instead, a team from Kouga Local Municipality’s Environmental Unit walked along the beach, carrying posters, conversations, and a deep concern for the ocean.

They were not hosting an event in the traditional sense. They met people where they were – barefoot in the sand, watching the waves, breathing in the salt air. One conversation at a time.

It was their way of marking World Whale Day – not with bells and whistles but with purpose.

World Whale Day is more than a celebration of these gentle giants; it is a reminder that whales are essential to the health of our planet. They are not just creatures of the deep. They are ocean gardeners, climate allies, and silent workers in the fight against global warming.

Few beachgoers realise that when a whale dives and feeds, it helps fertilise phytoplankton – tiny ocean plants that produce nearly half of the oxygen we breathe. Even in death, a whale continues to give, its body sinking to the ocean floor and locking away carbon that would otherwise warm our atmosphere.

Yet these same whales face growing danger.

Kouga’s quiet stand

Warmer oceans are shrinking their food supply. Mothers struggle to find enough nourishment, leading to fewer calves and longer gaps between births. Ancient migration routes are shifting as habitats change, bringing whales into closer and often dangerous contact with human activity.

These are the stories the Environmental Unit shared with anyone willing to pause for a moment on the shoreline.

They spoke about the Southern Right whales that visit Kouga’s waters between July and October, often close enough to shore to move even the most casual observer. They described the acrobatic humpbacks that breach between June and December, turning the ocean into a theatre of wonder. And they reminded residents that this coastline is not just a place of beauty – it is part of a living migration route.

There were practical messages too: reduce plastic use, respect marine life, support conservation, and report stranded or injured animals. Small actions, they said, can ripple outward like waves.

This was awareness without a podium. Education without a microphone. Conservation carried on in conversation.

As families walked the beach and children played at the water’s edge, Kouga’s environmental stewards were there – not to interrupt the day, but to deepen it. To turn an ordinary seaside stroll into a moment of connection between people, planet, and the giants that pass just beyond the breakers.

Because protecting whales does not always begin in boardrooms or conferences.

Bands Innie Bush 2026 Tickets Now Available For Port Alfred Easter Festival

by | Feb 26, 2026 | St Francis

Port Alfred –  Tickets for Bands Innie Bush 2026 are officially on sale, with one of the Eastern Cape’s most anticipated Easter weekend events set to return to Port Alfred in 2026. Bands Innie Bush forms a major part of the Port Alfred Easter Festival, a multi-day celebration that will combine international surfing, sport, music and community events into one high-impact coastal weekend.

Port Alfred Easter Festival

Over the Easter period, Port Alfred will host the Rip Curl GromSearch South Africa junior series event and the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup, a World Surf League Qualifying Series contest expected to attract elite surfers, families and supporters from around the country. The town is expected to fill up, and the beachfront will once again become a central hub of daytime activity.

Bands Innie Bush 2026

Bands Innie Bush 2026

The Rockerfellas © Kody McGregor

When the sun sets on Saturday, 4th April, Bands Innie Bush will take centre stage. The lineup includes chart-topper Refentse, hitmaker Brandon Peyper, the crowd-moving Sunset Sweatshop, and the hugely popular The Rockerfellas, widely known for their wild and high-impact stage performances. Headliners December Streets will close the night with their commanding live presence.
Bands Innie Bush has quickly established itself as a defining Easter highlight, drawing music fans, surf supporters and festivalgoers into one shared celebration.
Tickets are available now via HOWLER.
Early booking is strongly recommended as Easter weekend demand traditionally moves quickly across accommodation and events.
Venue
Bands Innie Bush venue on Google Maps
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The Port Alfred Easter Festival

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