South Africa Kite Festival: Participants from around the world partake in international event

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To South Africa now---where the Cape Town International Kite festival, now in its 24th edition, has been billed as the continent's largest event of its kind. It manages to attract kiters both locally and from around the world. CGTN's Travers Andrews has this report.

Every year the skies above Muizenberg in Cape Town come alive with cartoon characters, dragons and even parachutes, they are kites participating in this year's Cape Town International Kite festival.

This year boasted much more creative and immersive kites, such as this vehicle with a spot for the driver and parachutes, which can give some kiters quite a hairy ride. It's all though for a good cause and funds from the festival go to Cape Mental Health, who put on the show to assist in funding some of the projects.

INGRID DANIELS, ORGANIZER CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL "This year the theme is rise up and fly and we want to tell people there is hope, despite the challenges that they face, we know our youth are particularly challenged."

The event is a huge hit with anyone enthusiastic about the pastime though and attracts many international participants year on year, who bring along kites as large as 10 meters. Some included regulars such as the dragon kites and new entrants the penguins, of course the gusts did cause a little mayhem.

TRAVERS ANDREWS CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA "The Cape's wind has always been a proud supporter of this festival but it can be a bit tricky at the best of times."

"It's very windy today, it's a little bit too much, we have to take care of our kites, we like it a little bit lower, then we can fly more kites at the same time."

"It's typical of what we expect, it was a bit stronger earlier but now it is settling down and it should be a good day."

In the end wind is certainly not a major factor at the festival as it is not a competition but a fun event where everyone goes home a winner, Travers Andrews, CGTN, Cape Town.