Time Out Durban

It's that time of the year again when the creatives of South Africa gather in Makhanda (also known as Grahamstown) for the National Arts Festival, which is proudly sponsored by Standard Bank. From June 25 to July 5, Makhanda will become a haven for all things arty, with actors, musicians, comedians, cultural phenomenons, magicians, and loads more creatives descending upon the town. If you are heading down to support the South African arts, we've got some hints and tips as to how best to get there. You won't want to miss out! How to get to the National Arts Festival from Cape Town To keep things simple, flying into Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and hiring a car is the best option. It's 124km from Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport to Makhanda. Most of the airlines have daily flights from King Shaka International Airport to Gqeberha. A return trip will cost in the region of R3,000. If a road trip excites you, the N2 from Durban will take you straight to Makhanda. The drive is roughly 11 hours in total, covering a distance of 825km. Just remember that petrol is not cheap anymore (why did you have to remind us?), so you are looking at an estimated price of R3,200 for the trip up and down. There are also bus services which operate between Durban and Makhanda, but the time it takes is not ideal, especially if you are not going for the full National Arts Festival period. All prices correct at time of publication. Book tickets for the National Arts Festival here. Stan