“High frequencies from fingertips to feet. This festival awakens a child-like intuition that greets you with familiarity. If you are someone who seeks the sharp edge of adrenaline, who finds strength in discomfort, and who craves a connection that transcends the ordinary — welcome home.” – Noa Strike-Nakar
In the months prior to the festival, organizers prepared, while our community began ‘training’ for the Rocklands Highline Festival held over Easter Weekend. Leading up to the event, the whatsapp group grew to 550 people, double the size of our Cape Town slackline whatsapp group, ‘Still stoked slackers’.
Rigging the Highlines
This year saw a record number of 11 highlines rigged during the Easter Weekend, opening the experience of highlining to more than 100 people. Tree nets, slacklines and two waterlines provided the perfect playground around the lapa and the dam.
Starting on Monday, Hasting, Leighton, and Sean start preparing webbing and bolting anchors for a new 20-meter beginner line. On Wednesday, Aidan, Hasting, Laurence, Leighton, and Sean, rigged the two 200-meter long highlines using a shared curtain.
This method of drawing 400 meters of webbing across the valley along a tensioned dyneema line halved the amount of rope pulling typically required and rigging two big lines was wrapped up in four hours. Taking a break for lunch, the riggers returned to complete the other 8 highlines, making it possible for people to session on Thursday.
Festival Growth
The Rocklands Highline Festival continues to run on volunteer and community spirit. The event welcomes donations towards new highline gear and this year tshirts with a screen print design were sold in a pre-order prior and after the festival.
There are a small number of shirts available on Viper Slacklines website. The proceeds from the shirts goes towards community gear that is used at the festival. If you would like to donate, contact us and we will share the details with you.
Challenges We Faced Together
A strong downpour overnight left us rattled and hiding in our tents until Burghen’s knot tying workshop on Friday morning. The excess water caused the electricity to trip, preventing water pumps from filling the tanks and the toilets from flushing (portable toilets were on-site over the long weekend).
Thank you to the De Pakhuys team who worked through Friday to ensure the water was restored and the facilities were back in order promptly.
Let the Festivities Begin
An opening ceremony led by Jeff and Leighton gave thanks to Sylvain, Charmaine and the slackliners who have paved the way for this beautiful festival to grow into what it is today. A community-led long weekend filled with incredible growth and learning experiences.
Leighton and the rigging team shared leash climbing techniques at ground level using two slacklines elevated 3 meters in the air. A flow workshop hosted by Halen from Pyroflow, Jaco, and Jes shared the basics of Poi and staff, before diving into some techniques. Acro Yoga took the floor next, connecting flyers with their base partner. Taking to the sky in a graceful practice led by Kahla and Mary.
Following a stunning highline session, local films were shown on a projector screen. We previewed Benjamin’s film featuring the Rocklands Highline Festival of 2025. Followed by a film of the African record highline project ‘Mpumalangline’ created by David Blaszka.
Connecting and Creating Together
This festival is a unique opportunity to connect with one another on a deeper level. A men’s circle led by Fabian and Ieuan did just this. Dropping in with each other, sharing where we found themselves in this present moment. A chance to build trust and relate to one another.
The women’s circle, led by Emma, created space for connection, and built physical trust. A partnered exercise gave an opportunity to sense where our bodies need support and if desired, physical touch.
Creative Expression of Crafts
While a second highline and leash climbing demonstration was held, Theo opened the stage up for an open mic performance. We were serenaded with songs, read poems, and witnessed improvised jams taking place.
Connor Trembath and Jack Dicey-Rutherford led us through a woodcarving workshop where we crafted spatula’s, spoons, and sculptures from soft, hard, and rare woods.
A power hour took place up at the highlines, giving space for expression and support of the women in our community. The presence of experienced ladies walking lines, taking whips, and practicing techniques proved to be a valuable addition to the weekend, helping to inspire beginners and encourage first experiences.
“In a community amongst orange rocks
I swallowed the moon
And walked on air
The land gave water
And people shared fires
Flourishing, failing, feeling
Much gratitude and love to everyone” – Jacqueline Dow
Breathe In
While the sunset turned the skies pink, Becks from Breathe In led a beautiful yoga flow at the top of the rocks. A stunning setting to witness highliners walking through the evening light, both yogi’s and highliners seeking their moment of balance.
Fire Performance, Poi, and Party
A drum circle built rhythm for the evening’s energy. We were treated to a fire performance by Halen and Jes, combining staff, poi and partnered movements, bringing the crowd to a large applause.
The floor then opened to the many talented flow artists who moved with grace while the audience began to sway. As the flames withered, the music rose in tempo and the party began.
Rocklands Highline Festival Closing Ceremony
Rising on Sunday we added colour to our shirts with tie-dye led by Sarah and added highline characters to our festival shirts using linocut with Laurence. All the while, potjie preparation took place, leading us into the evening’s prize giving.
Monika won a Sun Zapper giftpack for persistently sessioning multiple times a day. Rikus received a knitted ‘Great White’ headband from Debra Calder for his continued support and assistance.
Aidan also received a headband for his incredible progress on the highlines. Mary took home the big prize, a 13-meter two inch slackline from Viper Slacklines, in honour of her continued stoke and presence on the lines.
Slackliners Made of Star Dust
With bellies full, we rolled over to join Hannes for stargazing with a telescope. After witnessing a massive meteor travel across the night sky, we dove into a fascinating story of the life cycle of a star. Moving through the elements until it reaches an Iron core and becomes a super nova.
Attendee’s Experiences:
“Here, a radical combination of mindfulness and community fills you with electricity until a breathing being is born from the collective. Everything is shared: overcoming fears, celebrating success, and crafting with confidence. In this space, a newfound freedom from the confines of the internal monologue allows the body and soul to feel as one.
Where cuts and bruises are a reminder of strength and perseverance rather than failure, and where nourishment fuels a primordial flame—hunger subsided by excitement, prioritizing the deep digestion of experience.
The workshops at the festival act as time capsules—designed to educate and inspire, but more importantly as reminders of the simple joys: craft, creation, and community. Yoga on a rugged mountain top moulds the body and breath into organic contortions, an echo of the weathered sandstone peaks that have held their own shapes for eons.
In this stillness, the distinction between the skin and the stone begins to blur. From the grounded flow of Tai Chi to the ancient vulnerability of the Men’s and Women’s circles, every gathering is an education in presence. Introductions to slacklining, drum circles, and flow arts are all taught with such grace and patience, where failure is encouraged and celebrated through the learning process.
This spirit culminates in the communal potjie—a ritual of shared contribution, of course we feast together as one family. As the open mic jams begin, the separation between performer and observer melts into the music. Looking up, a profound understanding of our place in the universe settles in; a realization that we are crafted from the same stardust as celestial flames.
Much like the stars that brighten the Cederberg nights, we illuminate each other—a collective of primordial flames flickering against the dark, tethered to the earth but belonging to the sky.” – Noa Strike-Nakar
Gratitude to the Rocklands Highline Festival Rigging Team
“Its incredible how a community can come together over the course of a long weekend; to connect, craft, cook and discover new things. In these moments of togetherness we can find true magic, the type of magic the soul yearns for.
A monumental expression of gratitude is due to our Rigging Department. They didn’t just tension lengths of webbing; they choreographed a complex web of nylon lifelines. Through their stewardship, they served as metaphysical shepherds, gently nudging a cohort of slack liners toward their maiden highline voyage.
We learn, we grow, we understand flow. ” – Jeff van Breda
A special thanks to Thuys and the De Pakhuys team for hosting us. It is an honour to share our passion and grow our community in such a special space. We appreciate and applaud all the facilitators and attendees who shared their energy to make this such a memorable time.
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