Great White Shark Festival

2008 was the second year of the White Shark Festival which is staged in Gansbaai, across the bay from Hermanus. Essentially a festival to celebrate marine life, the event is a great success.

The organisers place their focus on the scientific aspects of the festival, with special emphasis being placed on educating the youth in terms of shark conservation. A number of guests and scientists visit the festival from abroad.

Documentaries and footage from participating shark boats are be shown, there's an indoor museum and research facility displaying the history and developments in the industry, and lots of festivities for guests of all ages. There's also a marathon, mountain bike race, cheese and wine faire, music and a gala evening.

The White Shark Festival takes place late in October in the Kleinbaai Harbour just outside Gansbaai.

Some programme items for the 2008 Great White Shark festival were:

KIDS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

• Treasure chest
• Whale, shark & marine life workshop
• Death wall
• Kleinbaai cleanup
• Tidal pool education & excursions
• Reef programme
• Save our seas programme
• Educational slideshows
• Introduction to snorkelling
• “Bubble maker” scuba programme for the kids
• Ongoing Educational talks and movies
• Marine pool with live marine life. Ongoing education, feeding and release programme where the kids are involved in releasing the marine life back into the ocean.
• Tidal Eco system workshop

KID’S ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

• Face painting
• Jumping castle
• Musical activities
• Clown shows
• Stilt man
• Marine Life Fancy Dress
• Colouring in competitions
• Animated marine movie house
• Kids dancing competition
• Bungee Bounce
• Snorkelling in tidal pool

RESEARCH AND ENIRONMENTAL LECTURES
These are ongoing throughout the White shark Festival and various scientists, conservationists, marine biologists and specialist speakers conduct a detailed events programme. The aim is to educate South Africans on marine life, conservation and protection of all marine life and their importance in the eco system.

CHEESE & WINE EXPO
Local wine makers from Elim to Elgin and surrounds promote their wines and local cheese makers showcase their products.

OVERBERG MINI INDABA
New to the festival in 2008,  local B&B’s and guest houses showcase their establishments to our international and regional visitors with a hope that they will return and be able to enjoy the local accommodation in the area. 

LOCAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY PROJECT
All local community schools are invited to attend a one day opening workshop with ongoing activities and educational talks set up in the kid’s educational marquee. These arel hosted by marine and coastal management as well as other conservationists.

SEA RESCUE AND PATROL DISPLAY

• NSRI Rescue Show and Static Life raft display
• EAT Sea Patrol Display

OTHER INTERESTING EVENTS

• Gala Dinner and Festival Opening
• Drop Tower
• Bungee Rocket

ENTERTAINMENT 
This is hosted in the main event tent where one finds a variety of entertainers, deejays, comedians, jazz bands, marimba band, gum boot dancers as well as the local coon carnival. 

STALLS

• 30 fantastic non food stalls. 
• 20 delectable food stalls. 
• 10 marine stalls. 
• 15 marine conservation and educational stalls
• Beverage refreshments and bar facility

BENEFICIARIES

• Masikane School Project
• Masikane Children’s Home
• Save our Seas
• Umzobee Co-op (community craft workshop)
• Great White Shark Protection Foundation
• S.A. Shark Conservancy

For more information visit www.whitesharkfestival.org

Join this tour for the underwater experience of a lifetime as you scuba dive or snorkel with the Great White Sharks of South Africa! Take the opportunity during your stay in Cape Town to travel to the channels around Dyer Island and get up close and personal with the animal on top of the ocean's food chain.

In South Africa, we are privileged to have access to great white sharks … if you know where to go, and when. White Shark Projects is without doubt the most successful white shark diving organisation in the world.

White Shark Discovery invites you to Discover, Observe and Dive with Great White Sharks at Dyer Island / Geyser Rock nearby Gansbaai - The World Capital of the Great White Shark.