Limpopo throws yet another activity-packed Marula Festival

Limpopo Tourism and Parks and Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) and the Department of Sports Arts and Culture (DSAC) in collaboration with is poised to host yet another Marula festival with a plethora of activities in February 2011.

The town of Phalaborwa will be abuzz with visitors and tourists from many parts of the country including South Africa’s neighbouring countries, especially members of the Zambezi Destination, such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique Namibia and Zambia. The festival will be held in February but will be preceded by the media launch to be held on the 4th February 2011 in Phalaborwa.

The Department of Sports Arts and Culture (DSAC), will also celebrate an annual traditional ceremony of the tasting of the Marula first fruit, Ku Luma Vukanyi, on 12/02/2011 at Muti Wa Vatsonga, outside Phalaborwa, where MEC Ms. H.J. Mashamba will give a keynote address.

The MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mr. Pitsi Moloto, who officially launched Marula Festival to media on 04/02/2011 in Phalaborwa, stated that the province wishes to grow the brand to the level of other beer festivals like German’s Beer Festival and other major festivals in the country.

  Moloto emphasised that the government’s purpose with the festival is not to make profit but to empower the people of the province. To date there are nine (9) registered Mukumbi Cooperatives from various District Municipalities producing Marula by-products. In attendance was also the CEO of Limpopo Tourism and Parks and Cllr. B.C. Dlamini from Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality.

A calendar of activities to take place  include the following:
•    Marula Festival 4X4 Challenge  at Hlolwa and Half Marathon in the Kruger National Park on 19/02/2011;
•    Marula Festival Tourism Career Fair from 24-26/02/2011 at Impala Park Stadium;
•    Marula Festival Exhibition from 24-26/02/2011;
•    Marula Festival Fun Fair and Entertainment from 23-26/02/2011 at Impala Park Stadium
•    Marula Festival Cuisine Ala Marula Competition on 24/02/2011 at Impala Park Stadium;
•    Marula Festival Indigenous Games and Cultural Festival at Impala Park Stadium;
•    Marula Festival Youth Rugby (Bulletjies)  on 26/02/2011 at Impala Park Stadium;
•    Marula Festival Street Parade on 26/02/2011 from the town of Phalaborwa to Impala Park Stadium;
•    Marula Festival Open Air Festival by various artists at Impala Park Stadium.

To ensure the same quality brew for the festival, the approach of brewing the beverage at a central venue will be followed. This ensures the standardization of the festival beverage. The required quantity for 2011 is still eight thousand (8 000) litres of Mukumbi/Vukanyi/Morula beverage as last year. The supply will be provided by the Nine (9) registered Mukumbi Cooperatives from various District Municipalities. A formal service level agreement will be signed between the Mukumbi Co-operatives and Limpopo Marula Festival LOC.

Phalaborwa town has been chosen the permanent of home of the festival because of its tourism profile and close proximity to other major tourist destinations including the world’s renowned Kruger National Park incorporated within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park which includes Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The town has been declared a permanent home for the annual Marula festival and has a well-developed infrastructure, a top class airport, a golf course, a wide variety of tourist accommodation, tourism products and numerous game lodges in close proximity. It is easily packaged with products around Hoedspruit, Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof, Magoebaskloof and Giyani.

This location and setting, makes a Limpopo Marula Festival that promises to become a major attraction for locals, domestic and international tourists.

For the first time ever, the organisers of the festival will be introducing the VIP packages aimed at providing partners and corporate companies space to maximize their participation at the event.