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"The Northern Cape Race" promises compulsive TV viewing for South African viewers!

15 January 2010 With 4 000 kilometres of Northern Cape highways and back roads covered and 36 contestants divided into 12 teams, “The Northern Cape Race” premieres on SABC TV3 on Sunday 17 January.

Divided into 13 adrenalin-charged episodes of 45 minutes each, the series aims to showcase how different cultures, languages and communities can work together as teams, while also introducing some of the Northern Cape’s literal and metaphorical gems to a considerable prime-time television audience.

“The series will especially appeal to visitors, nature lovers, peace- and-quiet seekers, and especially to extreme sport fanatics, discoverers and adventurers,” explains Mr John Block, MEC: Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.
The NCTA has partnered with seasoned film-maker Elmarie Smit of Film Media and sponsors the Northern Cape Provincial Government and Tracker Skytrax to “break new ground in terms of presenting a region that is rich in culture, history and tradition in an “easily digestible, palatable and indeed downright adrenalin-charged manner that makes for compelling viewing,” MEC Block continues. This is achieved through tangible interaction with various local communities at culturally and historically important settlements such as Galeshewe Township, Riemvasmaak, Pella, Eksteenfontein, Carnarvon, and Victoria West.

“The show offers an ideal opportunity to showcase Noordkaapenaars, as the series probes them about their cultural traditions, their past and the highs and lows of life in this tough and challenging environment,” MEC Block explains.

HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE GREAT MANY ACTIVITIES VIEWERS WILL SEE…

• Shooting San arrows across the iconic red Kgalagadi dunes while being coached by one of the last surviving members of the oldest community on earth…
• Preserving water and the ecology in ostrich eggs, following the example of this community
• Indigenous dancing eg Nama Stap; Riel Dans
• Donkey cart riding
• Witness the covering of Nama huts with ‘matjies’
• Spitting bokdrolle
• Rowing bakkies on the Atlantic ocean in search of crayfish
• Making bricks according to age old techniques in Carnarvon
• Measuring the temperature of Riemvasmaak’s hot water pools
• Playing rugby
• Watching movies
• Walking
• Running
• Driving vast distances
• Riding ancient big-wheeled cycles while chasing obstinate sheep across the vast Karoo plains with locals
• Hot air ballooning above Kimberley
• Descending down The Big Hole
• Camping at Witsand Nature Reserve
• Sand boarding at Witsand Nature Reserve
• 4x4ing
• Kayaking along the Gariep River then abseiling off a bridge
• Diamond sorting at Port Nolloth
• Surfing the heatwaves at Vioolsdrif

The Northern Cape Race offers a thrilling series of programs, with a healthy and exciting competitive element. It introduces the viewer to the varied and unique aspects of a truly extraordinary area. It shows the humanity and hospitality of the local communities and it ponders the future of its subject.

Be sure to tune into SABC TV3 every Sunday from 17 January at 19.30 for the next 13 weeks to experience the destination, which is as Real as Those who Choose to Explore it.

For further information, keep visiting www.northerncape.org.za and the SABC TV website www.sabc.co.za .

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