Gay South Africa

A new beginning

2011-12-31T06:45:00.000-08:00

South Africa has never had it so good in terms of abandonment of sexism, racism, and all forms of discrimination including discrimination against gay/lesbian orientation.

The Constitution entrenches gay rights and since 2006 Gay Marriage has been legalised.

We have been successfully running a blog about our city of Durban, Gay Durban, since October 2006, and are now extending this to Gay South Africa, a blog inviting participation from and providing useful links we have found to the rest of the country's gay community. Join us in this quest to level the playing fields and celebrate our new-found freedom.

Mr Gay South Africa 2011

2011-12-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Lance Weyer from East London (centre above and right below) is our new Mr Gay South Africa 2011. Lance is flanked by 1st runner-up Alexander Steyn (right above) from Johannesburg and 2nd runner-up Casper Bosman from Bloemfontein (left above). Lance (24) is a DA Councillor in the Buffalo City Municipality and also won the BoneWear Model of the Year title and Best Charity Work title at the glittering pageant which took place recently. The finalists also visited Durban View Guesthouse before embarking on a cruise to Mocambique in the run-up to the finals.

Mr Gay South Africa 2011 - Lance Weyer

Mr Gay South Africa 2011 - finalists sail away

2011-11-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Mr Gay Sa 2011 Finalists at Durban View Guesthouse

Barman Ian and fiends meet the Mr Gay SA finalists

Llewellyn (Durban View Guesthouse co-owner) with Gavin Deale

Durban View Guesthouse co-owner Dave (left) with Rainbow Cruise organiser Leon Nel (centre) and former Mr Gay SA Finalist Gavin Deale (right)

Coenie Kukkuk, organiser of the Mr Gay South Africa pageant with his Finalists

The November Rainbow Cruise which sails from Durban to Mocambique is the most festive with the finalists of the Mr Gay South Africa competition on board. The sail-away party at Durban View Guesthouse gives us a chance to meet the finalists and the other rainbow passengers the night before the ship sails.

Hot November in SA

2011-11-09T06:07:00.000-08:00

November is the month to be visiting South Africa this year... it's the COP 17 Climate Change Conference taking place in our warm east coast city of Durban. It's the largest conference Durban will ever have hosted and (not to generalise) environmental affairs have a huge gay following.. so it's gonna be good.

City boy

2011-07-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Keeping this side of the fence is our hot city boy..

Gay in SA

2011-04-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

Always great to be gay in SA, since 2006 with our new Civil Union Act, gay marriage is legal.. and we're very gay-friendly.. so if you're in South Africa over Easter, or coming here soon, we look forward to welcoming you.

Visiting South Africa this year?

2011-03-28T06:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some travel tips for those who would like to visit South Africa this year. For more gay information, also visit our Gay Durban, Gay Johannesburg and Gay Cape Town blogs.

The big 5 animals of South Africa

Durban beachfront on the warm east coast of South Africa

Table Mountain Cape Town

I was asked some advice for a tourist to South Africa, so I thought I would write a blog post and extend it to a wider audience.

Most tourists imagine that they can drive around the country in 2-3 weeks and see it all. This would not be adviseable as South Africa is a big country. If you did want to see parts to the north, south, east and west, you would need to fly to some and drive between other parts as I will recommend. An itinerary also depends on how much time you have and your budget.

TIME OF YEAR

April is the best time of year to visit South Africa. This is because the weather is generally the best... the heat of summer is over and winter is not yet upon us. Peak season would be summer when the schools are on holiday, but I personally prefer it off-peak when the crowds have thinned out and it is not so hot. Durban is best all year as our winters are never less than 15c and no rain. Cape Town is worst in winter as it is cold, windy and rainy.. best for Cape Town would be October/November and March/April. Cape Town is on the Atlantic Ocean so swimming is generally out, whereas Durban is on the warm east coast so August to end of April is good with best swimming/beaches December to March.

AIRLINE ROUTES

Emirates fly to Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg via Dubai, so best would be to fly in to one city and fly back out of another city, travelling between cities by car, train or bus. Most of the other airlines fly in to either Johannesburg or Cape Town, which means a stop in Durban and the east coast means additional flights or travel. I would even avoid Johannesburg completely and fly into Durban and then out of Cape Town home. My favourite Airline to Africa is SAA of course, but their routes are not the best and sometimes the prices are over the top. Check them out and compare.

WHAT TO SEE

Your routing may depend on what you want to see. The Kruger National Park a few hours drive from Johannesburg is probably the best but requires getting to Johannesburg and a few hours drive each way. I personally would avoid that as there are many excellent game parks around South Africa. If you have loads of time you could include the Kruger Park.

So suggestions could be... fly to Johannesburg, hire a car and drive to the Kruger Park. Stay 3 - 4 nights and drive back to Johannesburg to return the car. Fly to Durban and stay for 3 - 5 nights. Fly to Port Elizabeth (2/3rds of the way to Cape Town), hire a car and drive along the coastal Garden route to Cape Town stopping off en-route for 2- 3 nights. Spend 5 nights in Cape Town and fly home direct.

The Drakensberg Amphitheatre

Beach sculptures in Durban

Alternatively fly direct to Durban and stay 3- 4 nights. Drive up to the Hluhluwe Game reserve and stay 3 nights. Drive back to Durban and fly to Port Elizabeth following the same suggestion above ie cut out Jhb and the Kruger park.

As an extension to either route, you could drive to the Amphitheatre in the Drakensburg Mountains which are half-way between Durban and Johannesburg (2 1/2 hours drive), or you could drive from Jhb to Durban intead of flying. Another option is the train from Johannesburg to Durban which I believe is good.

Wine lovers would love Cape Town as the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franshoek wine routes are within 40 mins drive of the city. I personally love Stellenbosch where my son goes to University at the moment, so I can visit him and drink loads of wine. There must be at least 200 wine farms in a few kilometres radius.

If you have a shorter or longer visit planned and want to come at an odd time of year or have any other queries, feel free to email me at durbanstadiumview@gmail.com and I will try and help out with my recommendations. Enjoy!

South Africa clinches 2nd Mr Gay World title tonight!!

2011-03-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Francois Nel have been pouring in.

The new Mr Gay World 2011 chosen tonight in Manila, Philipines, is South Africa's Francois Nel seen right above with Mr Gay South Africa organiser Coenie Kukkuk.

This makes it second in a row for South Africa as Charl van den Berg (left in picture right) handed over his reign as Mr Gay World 2010 to Francois. Charl is pictured in Durban with Durban View Gay Guesthouse co-owner Dave Mc Naught.

We are so proud of both you guys holding up the flag for South Africa at such a prestigeous competition.

The 1st runner-up was USA, 2nd runner-up Spain, 3rd runner-up Australia and 4th runner-up New Zealand.

Gay Directory South Africa updated

2011-03-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Facebook group Gay Directory South Africa is the largest gay Facebook group with over 4 200 members and has just been re-vamped. Created by Dave Mc Naught of Durban the directory has been steadily growing and gives an easy link to nationwide gay interest groups, accommodation in the various provinces and more...

Check out the Gay Directory South Africa here.

Here we come

2011-03-12T01:58:00.000-08:00

If you're thinking of making a trip to South Africa, April must be the best time of the year to visit. Fabulous weather, hot guys! Come visit us on the east coast, where the beaches never end and the ocean is warm and the boys even hotter.

Legality of same-sex sex and Marriage in South Africa

2011-01-22T00:14:00.000-08:00

The legal age for sex in South Africa has changed over the years and on the 1st January 2008 we achieved gender equality.

Same-sex legality was previously 19 and for hetero-sexuals was 16 but all provisions that discriminate have been formally repealed - including an equalised age of consent now 16 regardless of sexual orientation, and all sexual offences are now defined in gender-neutral terms.

South Africa was also the fifth country in the world, the first in Africa, the second outside Europe and the first republic to legalise same-sex marriage with the coming into effect on the 30th November 2006 of the Civil Union Act allowing same-sex partners to choose between a marriage or civil union, both with identical implications. A copy of the Act can also be downloaded - see our side blog and civil union or pre-marriage agreements are also available. Tel 083-7033329 if you need more help. - Dave

Summer in South Africa

2011-01-01T23:37:00.000-08:00

I know how cold it is in the northern hemisphere, but here in South Africa it's a sizzling summer and the beaches are hot... especially on our east coast where surfers are king.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T04:08:00.000-08:00

So here's to an awesome 2011. 2010 saw our Mr Gay South Africa, Charl van den Berg take the title of Mr Gay World so we're on the right track. Come visit gay South Africa this year and you will be pleasantly surprised... mmm

Francois is Mr Gay South Africa 2010

2010-12-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

Francois Nel is the new Mr Gay South Africa 2010.

Here are the full results:

Mr. Personality: Francois Nel;

Top 3 SMS results: 1. André Lammers; 2. Jared Lee Smit; 3. Francois Nel;

Bone Wear Model of the Year: Francois Nel;

Schwarzkopf Model of the Year: Jared Lee Smit;

Mr. CW Design Jewellers: Francois Nel.

Overall: Second runner-up: Karl-Heinz Michel, first runner-up André Lammers, Mr. Gay South Africa 2010, Francois Nel!

Congratulations guys and to Charl van den Berg, the outgoing Mr Gay South Africa who did South Africa proud by going on to win the Mr Gay World 2010.

Good morning South Africa

2010-11-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

It's beautiful summer weather in South Africa. So it's shirts off and fun in the sun... let's toss the scarf!

Pride Movies in South Africa

2010-11-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

Not very well publicised but Ster Kinekor are halfway through their Pride Film Fest in South Africa with 2 movies left to screen in their Cinema Nouveau complexes around the country.

In Johannesburg/Pretoria there will be a screening of The Kids are Alright on the 12th November in Brooklyn (Pretoria) and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, and in Rosebank Johannesburg on the 26th November, whilst their other movie Eyes Wide Open screens only at 4 venues on the 12th (Rosebank and Cavendish) and 26th November (Brooklyn Pretoria and V&A Waterfront Cape Town). Durban has one remaining movie, the Kids are Alright on the 12th November.

Last year I was appalled by the lack of publicity for the few films they were showing and adverts at the Cinema for the gay film fest apologised to straight patrons for the screening on one day of the year of films to suit the gay community. Poor show Ster Kinekor.

Yes you can

2010-10-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Everything is possible in South Africa.

gay Durban Durban View Hot Bodz

Go PRIDE Go - Johannesburg Pride 21st Birthday

2010-09-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

It's all happening in Gay Johannesburg this weekend 2 Oct with South Africa's largest Pride gathering, Parade and Parties.

Check out the Events listing down the sideblog of our Gay Johannesburg blog and here's a pic of the Parade route from Zoo Lake to Rosebank and back. The Pride Parade and Festival celebrates it's 21st birthday on Saturday! Wow, a coming of age of Gay Rights in South Africa.

The 2010 Pride Parade, featuring a host of colourful floats and thousands of revellers, will kick off from Zoo Lake Sports Club at 10am through the streets of Rosebank. Participants should note that this is an hour earlier than in previous years – so make sure you get there on time!

Refreshment points for marchers will be provided along the route. No alcohol is permitted to be consumed in the Parade and participants are reminded to wear sunscreen and a hat or cap.

Marchers return back to Zoo Lake Sports Club at around 11.30am for the rest of the Pride Day festivities until 5pm. Revellers will be entertained by local artists and DJS as well as a guest teaser performance and appearance by British pop-star and DJ Sonique who will perform with her dancers at the Official Joburg Pride After-party later that night at the Standard Bank Arena. (Tickets for the after-party are available through Computicket).

Besides the entertainment there will also be Pride stalls - with all sorts of goodies on display and on sale - bars, food and a kiddies’ play area. LGBT organisations such as OUT will be informing the public about their work and will provide services such as free on-the-spot HIV testing.

Mr Gay South Africa finalist

2010-09-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Meet Ernest Gravett hot finalist in the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 competition. Like the previous winner of the 2009 competition Ernest is from Cape Town.

South Africa in Russia and Amsterdam

2010-09-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

We were in St. Pertersburg last month for Llewellyn's 40th Birthday and imagine our delight to find the DJ in the Central Station bar sporting a South African shirt! Not be be outdone, in Amsterdam for gay Pride 2010 the street barman was happy to pose with the South African flag we carried along the canals as we followed the parade.

Dave and Llewellyn show the flag during Amsterdam Gay Pride 2010 in August

Mr Gay South Africa ™ Finalists

2010-08-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to finalists in the Mr Gay South Africa ™ pageant who have been chosen from Cape Town - Andre' Lemmers (top) and KwaZulu-Natal - Jared (left) and runner-up Prince (right) who will be among the 12 finalists competing for the 2010 title in Pretoria in November. The Glen Hotel in Cape Town and exclusively-gay Durban View Guesthouse in Durban hosted the two regional finals.

Kzn Finals of Mr Gay South Africa 2010

2010-07-24T23:51:00.001-07:00

Dave and Llewellyn hosted the Central region (Kzn) finals of the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 Pageant at the Guesthouse last night and pose here with winner Jared who goes through to the national finals later this year.

The Heat is on

2010-07-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

The heat is on as the 2010 Mr Gay South Africa finals around South Africa take place over the next few weeks. In Durban, Sat 24th July sees the KZN (Central) regional finals @ Durban View Gay Guesthouse, in Cape Town the Southern regional finals take place @ The Glen Boutique Hotel on Sat 7th August and @ the Brooklyn Theatre in Pretoria on Sat 4th September the North (including Gauteng) regional finals will be held.

Event bookings are through Hennie - hennie@mrgaysouthafrica.co.za

Towards Mr Gay South Africa 2010

2010-07-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

It's the KZN finals of the 2010 Mr Gay South Africa pagent at our Guesthouse next weekend in Durban, so if you havn't already booked to stay with us and enjoy the hot guys around the house, there is limited space still available.

GO Bafana GO! Opening game

2010-06-11T04:33:00.001-07:00

One would be mistaken in thinking our SA National Football team, Bafana Bafana, were not the world favourites to win today as they take on Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup.

I have never seen so many yellow shirts in South Africa on one day... everyone - uniting the nation - are showing their colours for Bafana Bafana and South African flags are everywhere.

Fridays have been the days South Africans and schoolchildren have been allowed to show their support by wearing a Bafana shirt to school or work. In the photos from top to bottom are images painted on a garden wall just up the road from the Guesthouse showing Bafana Bafana in action, a handwritten message in wet concrete, my office staff gearing up for the opening game today, and a self-pic of myself in my car on the way to work - full time lawyer, inbetween running the Guesthouse with my partner Llewellyn, who also has his own SpecSavers Optometry practices by day.

Welcoming the World to South Africa

2010-06-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

Welcoming the world to Durban are Guesthouse co-owners Dave and Llewellyn on the rooftop of the house with views of the new FIFA World Cup Football Stadium in the background.

The past few weeks have been busy ones at the Guesthouse recovering furniture, painting, choosing new furniture and curtains for some of the rooms, putting desks and safes in every room and pimping up the Pub for the visitors from around the world due for the World Cup Football event.

We will be welcoming guests from Australia, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, United States, England, Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland.

We hope you have a really awesome time in Durban guys. And don't forget to visit Durban's one and only Gay Club, The Lounge at 226 Mathews Meyiwa (previously named Stamford Hill) Road, or give us a shout on +27-837033329 if you want to pop in at the Guesthouse to say hi.

Hot bois all in one country

2010-05-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

One thing about South Africa is that we have the hottest guys as well as the hottest weather. So be it winter or summer, there's plenty of both, especially in our coastal city, Durban.

And we boast one of the most liberal constitutions that protect gay rights and our cities are all gay-friendly...

mr Underwear 2010

2010-05-10T03:53:00.001-07:00

Meet Gerhard Venter. he is the new Mr Underwear 2010 chosen at this year's Pink Lourie festival in Knysna.

Durban View Guesthouse sponsored a weekend in Durban for 2 to the winner so we hope to see Gerhard here in Durban at the Guesthouse sometime soon.

Congratulations and good luck Gerhard.

Winter dawn in Durban

2010-05-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

The sun has risen and it's another glorious winter morning in Durban. For those not from Durban it is almost hard to believe it is winter; we went to the beach yesterday and tanned coming home a little pink. This is not the case for the rest of South Africa though - it is already quite cold inland and whereas we have a dry winter, it is usually raining and cold this time of the year in Cape Town.

27 April - 2 May: Pink Loerie Festival

2010-04-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Pink Loerie Festival in Knysna is upon us and the final programme has now been loaded on their website. And it's their 10th Annual event so promises to be even bigger and better than before.

There is a Pink Parade, parties every night, pink soccer tournament, art exhibitions and openings, Mr Mardi Gras and Underwear shows, Miss Mardi Gras, Go-Go dancers and comedy show... and more.

It started as a way to kick-start the slow May (cold) economy in Knysna and hasgrown over the years to be one of the town's, albeit controversial, biggest money spinners.

So hats off to the organisers. It's a huge event.

Miss Gay SA 2010

2010-04-18T23:31:00.001-07:00

Now there's a Miss Gay South Africa 2010 - beauty queens in drag.

The organisers of the beauty pageant promise that while most of you have probably been to a few drag beauty pageants, with this South Africa-wide one, you will be able to see ALL the entrants from the smallest town to the biggest city, and not only a few selected representative from a certain province or club.

The competition is organized to showcase our beautiful drag talent in South Africa, and entrants and sponsors can contact the organisers by e mail to info@gaysa.co.za (Anton Swanepoel).

There is also a Facebook group with the link here.

Hot in South Africa

2010-04-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

April is the finest month to be travelling in South Africa. The beach is best in Durban, where the sea temperature is still great.. sunny skies and awesome weather before the winter sets in.

SA's Charl is new Worldwide Mr Gay 2010

2010-02-17T04:27:00.000-08:00

Our Mr Gay South Africa, Charl van den Berg, has just been selected as the new Worldwide Mr Gay 2010.

He was crowned on Valentine’s day at a gala ceremony in Oslo, Norway. The competition (previously known as Mr. Gay World) drew delegates from all over the world representing all of the continents.

Australia came second and the rest of the top five were made up of Hong Kong, Spain and China. Both Mr. Photogenic and Mr. Swimwear were won by Russia and Brazil took the Mr. Popularity title.

The competition was streamed live on the Internet to viewers from all over the world. Charl said from Oslo just before the finale started: “The competition is very tough, but I am confident.” That confidence shone through when he had to answer the main question put to the final five: “If you were to speak to an high school about sexuality, what would you tell them?”. Charl answered: “Sexuality is a private matter; regardless of what your sexuality is, we are all the same – we are all human beings.”

The 28-year-old restaurant manager from Cape Town impressed the judges and Morten Ruda, President of Mr. Gay Europe said to the organisers of the Mr. Gay South Africa™ competition: “Congratulations on your victory! He has made a deep impression on all of us here in Oslo! Well deserved. Best wishes for all his future endeavours.”

The first duty of the newly appointed Worldwide Mr. Gay will be to fly to Vancouver, Canada to take part in the festivities of the 2010 Winter Olympics. While in Vancouver and Whistler, Worldwide Mr. Gay will be an ambassador for equality and diversity while taking part in the Pride House – a safe space that brings visibility to LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex) people in sport.

Mr Gay South Africa 2009 - Winner

2009-12-01T09:10:00.000-08:00

At a glittering affair in Pretoria our Mr Gay South Africa 2009 has been chosen - Charl van den Berg, 28 year-old Cape Town boy. You can connect with Charl on his blog.

Charl says: "It has been an amazing journey and something I know I will always remember. Up to know I have learnt more about myself than I think I ever have. I have realised my potential as a human being to be able to make a difference in my community and have also come to realise that I CAN do anything I put my mind to!"

Congratulations to the winner as well as the runners-up.

Mr Gay South Africa Tonight

2009-11-28T00:10:00.000-08:00

Guest at Durban View Guesthouse Hendrik from Windhoek, Namibia, was delighted to be on the Rainbow cruise this week that hosted the finalists of the Mr Gay South Africa Pagent which culminates in a Grand Finale in Pretoria tonight.

In the photo with Hendrik on board the MSC Sinfonia is finalist Chris McGreggor, who hails from Durban and is looking awesome here at the White Party on board the ship resplendant with wings and cock-tail... mmm

Hot in South Africa

2009-11-11T01:36:00.000-08:00

It's always warm in South Africa and it's getting hotter with the gorgeous guys now that summer is upon us....

Durban's Moses Mabhida 2010 FIFA World Cup Football Stadium

2009-10-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

Our recent guest Friedrich was a whiz with his camera and took these photos of the city from the Guesthouse.

In the top photo is our new 2010 FIFA World Cup Football Stadium which has just been completed. There were sceptics who said the Stadia in the country would never be completed in time, but they were proved wrong. The Durban Stadium, the Moses Mabhida Stadium feature a stunning cable car lift which ca take visitors to the top of the Stadium arch and for those more adverturous there are stairs on the other side to take one up or down as well.

In the middle photo are the night lights of our beachfront hotels, whilst the day photo below shows the CBD of the City from the Guesthouse. Thanks Friedrich for these stunning new pics.

Salvation for South Africa this December

2009-10-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

In Durban for the launch of QC2's huge December gay circuit parties coming to Johannesburg (Sat 29 December), Durban (Tues 26 December) and C ape T own (New Year's Eve Thurs 31 December) is promoter Pieter (right) seen with Durban View Gay Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn (second from right) and guests Lindeque (left) and John (second from left).

Salvation are the most famouse gay parties in London and the world with rave reviews from every continent.

So be sure to be there... log on to QC2's website and make sure you get your tickets early. QC2 were the organisers of the recent Fireman's Ball at the Dome in Johannesburg with several thouand Pride after-party enthusiasts.

Vote for Mr Gay South Africa

2009-10-02T22:47:00.001-07:00

Now you can vote for KZN entrants in the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant by SMS.

In the photos above are hunky Ballito boy Gavin Deale seen at the Guesthouse recently when he won through to the finals of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant.

If you want to vote for Gavin, simply sms GSA Gavin Deale to 35215 and your vote will be recorded.

Another hot finalist from Westville is Tyrone Nell (below), seen in this recent shoot.

Tyrone qualified as a finalist for the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant at the Knysna Loerie Festival earlier this year. He was also in attendance at the KZN Finals of the contest at the Guesthouse here last month checking out the competition.

You can vote by SMS for Tyrone by sending a message GSA Tyrone Nell to 35215 and make sure that one of our spunky KZN boys wins the Pageant for our Province.

Good luck guys... and to the readers, please get your sms votes going now. You could win a trip to Tanzania just by voting.

You can view more finalists by clicking on this Facebook link.

Mr Gay South Africa

2009-09-05T02:27:00.000-07:00

This Saturday is going to be a hot affair at the Guesthouse with the KwaZulu-Natal regional finals of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant taking place.

Bookings for accommodation or to see the Pageant may be made on our webpage at BookNow.biz.

The regional finals for the prestigious contest have already taken place in the Eastern Cape, Western and Northern Cape as well as the Free State and the Gauteng regionals take place the week after on the 18th September at Monte Casino.

Here are the hot finalists so far from the regionals that have taken place.

Chris Macgregor, Finalist: Winner Eastern Cape

Leo Jan de Beer, Finalist: Second Runner-up Eastern Cape

Shahin Eskandar, Finalist: Winner Western & Northern CapeKarel Petzer, Finalist: Mr Mardi Gras 2007

Quentin Saunders, Finalist: Mr Mardi Gras 2008

Tyrone Nell, Finalist: Runner-up Eastern Cape

Jan du Toit, Finalist: Winner Free State

Charl van den Berg, Finalist: Runner-up Western & Northern Cape

Book Now for the KZN Regionals this Sat 12 Sept at Durban View Gay Guesthouse and see some hot guys in action on the ramp. It will be a glittering affair.

Grahamstown Festival

2009-06-25T01:59:00.000-07:00

It's the Grahamstown National Arts Festival from the 2nd - 11th July and we're going to be there.

I was last in Grahamstown for the festival a few years back and it was awesome... always great for the Shows, the fleamarket.. the best I have seen and the spirit in the town and the parties.

Ignore the beach-bod photo on the post.. it is freezing cold in Grahamstown and we will be leaving the warm beach climate and hot bodz of Durban to drive down south through the Transkei to the Festival... about an 8-hour trip.

So come join us for the fun. Click on the link for more details on their Facebook group.

Hot in SA

2009-04-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

March and April are South Africa's best months to travel... hot autumn sun, hot bodz, cool evenings... bring it on!!!

Mr and Miss Gay North-West

2009-03-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

The North-West Province of South Africa is coming alive. Gay Umbrella, a non-profit organisation is working among the gay community of the North West Province. Established in 2007, this organisation is working hard towards serving the needs of lesbians, gays and other sexual minorities there.

They will be hosting the first ever Mr & Miss Gay North West Pageant. In the past two years they have tested the waters with the Miss Gay Umbrella and the support was very encouraging. Now the event has been rebranded in line with national trends and so Mr & Miss Gay North West is born.

Categories

There will be three categories in the competition. The first is Mr Gay, where the judges will be looking for the sexiest young man. Miss Gay is for those boys who like to drag, while the Mr Lesbian category is looking for the most handsome lesbian in the province.

Contestants will have to dress in casual wear, swim wear and evening wear.The winners of these three categories will be expected to raise funds for a charity and they will have to work hard during the year to help popularise Gay Umbrella and its activities. They will be entered into other contests and it is hoped that one of them will win a national title. The judges will be made up of a panel consisting of other beauty queens, radio personalities and sponsors.

A special rate on accommodation at a local guest house has been secured and those travelling from afar are welcome to contact the Gay Umbrella office for more details. For the first time ever the focus will also fall on local gay talent as part of the entertainment. Guyz and girlz who can do drag shows, play musical instruments or sing and dance are welcome to come forward to be included in the programme. The organisers are hoping to include this talent search aspect as part of the competition and are currently negotiating prizes with sponsors.

Mr & Miss Gay North West is trying to up its game and several semi-professional and professional artists have already volunteered their services. The popular Ayanda will share MC duties with Brown. The Five Diamonds from Kimberley are making their way to Mafikeng to astound the audience with their show.

The event takes place in the stylish Mmabana Mafikeng Cultural Centre Theatre which can seat around 350 people. Admission is R40 per person and the show is scheduled for 25 April at 19h30. Tickets can be booked by calling the Gay Umbrella Office or they will be available at the door. A bar service will be available and after the pageant the ever popular DJ Smallz will keep the dance floor going until dawn!

Look out for these other events coming up in 2009: Out in Africa Film Festival - 15 & 16 May. Unisa/Gay Umbrella Research Project - June through September. Educational Lekgotla - 17 October. North West Pride - 28 November.

The secretary is Hendrik Baird and he can be reached on cell 083-698-7998. Alternatively contact can be made with the Chairperson, Mildred Maropefela, on cell 073-157-1791. More information will be available on http://gaymaf.blogspot.com/ and e-mails can be sent to hennieb@ananzi.co.za.

OutGames 2009 Copenhagen

2008-12-29T21:26:00.001-08:00

Top Sporting event on the 2009 gay calendar is the World OutGames being held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Games takes place 25 July - 2 Aug and you can still enter to compete or join the group of South African supporters going to cheer on our National Team.

There's everything from Aerobics, Badminton & Bridge to Golf, Roller-Racing, Squash, Table Tennis & Wrestling - 38 events in total!

A Facebook Group for the South Africans has been created which you can join to support our girls and guys competing and for more info on the Games you can click on the links to the official Copenhagen Facebook Group or look at their website.

Warm South African Christmas

2008-12-20T23:33:00.000-08:00

A romp in the hay anyone? Wising all of our visitors to South Africa an awesome, "hot" festive season and much fun in the hay!!

Christmas Cheer

2008-12-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season to be jolly and here in South Africa it will be a warm festive one and a hot New Year as we welcome in 2009.

If you're visiting South Africa, a warm gay welcome to you. There is plenty of action - just head for our warm, sunny beaches, gay clubs and pubs and enjoy the hospitality South Africans are reknowned for. Happy Holidays!!

SA Gay Idol

2008-11-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

The organisers are expecting a good turnout in Randburg, Johannesburg, for South Africa's first Gay Idol competition.

The show takes place on the 6th December 2008 in the fabulous ballroom at the Sisulu/Randburg Hall with great looking men and women with great voices on stage. It will also be the best party in South Africa ever, the organisers confidently predict, with a huge dance floor and to the tunes of one of SA's top DJs, Des Gouws 'DJ Chopa'!

Tickets may be obtained at Strictly Tickets 087 940 1937/073 725 7381.

A Facebook event for the function has also been created and you can click on this link to find out more information.

Networking in South Africa

2008-10-31T04:38:00.000-07:00

It's been an exciting time for networking in South Africa the past week - a new Gay Directory South Africa was established on Facebook... a new way to network and cross-link websites, blogs and Facebook groups nationwide.

If you click on the link a whole new dimension opens up and lets people across the world find gay groups, businesses and websites quickly. If you are reading this story, please spread the word and become a regular reader of this blog and the linked Facebook groups. Collectively we'll keep you up to speed on Gay happenings in South Africa. Dave

Spring Gay in SA

2008-09-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

So how many of you would you like to spend Spring Day in the company of these Guys....?

1 September is Spring Day in South Africa and summer is just around the corner so why not book your trip to beautiful Durban.... home of sunny beaches, warm ocean and gorgeous surfer boys... Book now and enjoy our hospitality at Durbanview Gay Guest House.

New SA Gay website - GayShare

2008-08-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

Cape Town's Andy Wicks has just launched his new website aimed at the gay market. GayShare is an excellent site themed to Work, Live and Play gay in South Africa. It's an opportunity for gay business owners and event organisers to market themselves to the exclusively gay community in South Africa online. Well done Andy and your team for an excellent new addition to our community internet and business needs.

New gay resort

2008-08-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

It is great to find new exclusively gay guesthouses, lodges or retreats in South Africa. Here is a new one just opened in Warmbaths, about 80kms north of Pretoria.

Manfields is appropriately named and promises to liven up the list of available gay resorts in this country. Here is what owners Andre and Jaco have to say about their resort: "Wake up to most amazing sunrises and fill your lungs with the fresh, crisp and crystal clear bushveld air to get you going. Go for strolls in the lovely bushveld, relax in the lounge at the bar and make friends in the splash-pools. Watch the sunset from a splash pool with a cocktail in your hand or share your greatest stories around a crackling bonfire or just allow the flames to carry you into dreamland." Check out their website by clicking on the link in this story and maybe we'll see you there!!

Desert Safari anyone?

2008-08-15T20:54:00.001-07:00

The famed Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa just got hotter with this addition to the sand scenery...

Mr and Miss Gay SA 31 May

2008-05-24T07:09:00.001-07:00

Pretoria is the venue this month end for the Mr and Miss Gay South Africa International finals. Here is Werner Strydom from Pretoria one of the finalists. Before and after the show and pageant you will be able to join the crowd on the dance floor to the cool sounds of one of South Africa's top DJs Hennie Blom and party until sunrise.

There will also be a special appearance by Mr Gay South Africa 2007, Mr Community, Mr Cool Smile, Mr Jeans, Mr Personality, Mr Speedo, Couple of the Year and Drag Queen of the year.

The extravaganza will be held at the Portuguese Hall and tickets may be booked through StrictlyTickets.com or TicketBitch.co.za.

Gay Travel and Accommodation

2008-05-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Zoom Vacations - Your Gay South Africa vacation awaits you. And, instead of another Thanksgiving holiday filled with the same Turkey and Stuffing as last year, why not treat yourself to the South Africa vacation of a lifetime!

Gay Info.co.za - is poised to become one of South Africa's most comprehensive Gay Guide for the local and international Traveller.

FREE listing for South African gay businesses.

Out In Africa - dream holidays for singles, partners or groups of friends choose your own flights your own dates your own route your own pace.

Gay Mart - Gay-MART specializes in travel information and internet shopping of interest to Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites, Transsexuals and Intergendered Persons and their friends and allies around the globe.

Safari now - Gay destinations South Africa. A useful booking and holiday accommodation guide.

Gay Durban - Accommodation, travel and gay tourism guide for the sunny east coast of South Africa port city of Durban. Party Gay, Stay Gay and Travel Gay. Book Now ONLINE.

Dating and Information

2008-05-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

Mamba Online - South Africa’s most stylish gay lifestyle portal - catering to the mind, spirit and body.

Love 2 Know U - Looking for that Special Someone who you'd really 'Love to Know' ... a New Friend, a sexy soiree in Online Dating, or even the Love of your Life?

ThunderBolt City - Thunderbolt City provides a secure, hassle-free environment where people can meet to form new online relationships.

Gay Resources/ Info

2008-05-14T07:28:00.001-07:00

Gay South Africa.Org - No trip to South Africa will be complete without a visit to Gay South Africa.org.za, voted one of the top gay interest websites on the net!

Tourism Indaba

2008-05-14T06:10:00.001-07:00

There were gay guys aplenty at South Africa's (in fact Africa's) largest travel conference Indaba which ended at Durban's ICC yesterday. Unfortunately there was no "Gay Destinations" stand at the show and the gay boyz had to be hunted down at their individual stands. Seen in the photos are Durban View Gay Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn (3rd photo and right in 4th photo) with Karl of The Nest Hotel (Drakensburg) which won the Best Leisure Resort award at the AA American Express Awards ceremony, Jacob from SA Travel Centre Holidays (bottom photo) and Eddy (top photo), marketing manager of Mhondoro Lodge which was runner up in the Good Travel Guides "Best food and new Lodge" category. All of the guys were guests at Durban View Guesthouse, the city's exclusively gay guesthouse.

Back to glorious Durban

2008-03-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

It's always great to be home, especially the glorious March weather of Durban, our home town on the sunny east coast of South Africa where we run an exclusively gay Guesthouse. We had a wonderful short break though.. visiting Borovets, the ski resort of Bulgaria and then Barcelona. Seen having fun with us are from top, Alex and Valentine (Russian friends middle), Llewellyn on the ski slope at night in Borovets, Dave and barman Bobby at the Mamacita's Pub in Borovets, gay friends from the UK Stu, Vic, with Llewellyn, Chris and Harry at Buzz Bar in Borovets, and bottom photo is of LLewellyn and Dave on the streets of gay Barcelona.