DINNER & TALK

This is a “must attend” event during the Calitzdorp Succulent Festival. You will have the chance to meet and mix with succulent experts from all over South Africa, enjoy a wonderful dinner prepared and served by the ladies of the Calitzdorp NG Church.

Dinner will be prepared and served by the ladies of the NG Church in Calitzdorp. This dinner is annually regarded as one of the finest served all year in Calitzdorp. Menu will be available soon.

The featured speaker at this year's dinner will be Japp Viljoen, one of South Africa's leading experts on Aloes. Jaap will talk about “Aloes, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“In planning a talk and presentation on aloes, I was flooded with aloe information in a chaotic manner. As the chaos slowly cleared, I realised that I had the privilege to living through various Aloe cycles or eras, of which some have been very passionate for me and instilled a love for aloes for a period more than 65 years” says Jaap.

Jaap will give a short overview of these Aloe cycles and what can be expected what the future holds for Aloe lovers, collectors and observers.

 

EVENING SCHEDULE
18:00 - Social Hour
18:30 - Starter and Main Course served
19:30 - Talk
21:00 - Dessert

DINNER MENU
Wine served complimentary at each table.

Starter
Smoked Salmon Mouse and Cucumber Starter

Main Course
Chicken Breast stuffed with feta and spinach
Ostrich Kebab
Spiced Rice
Seasonal Vegetables

Vegetarian Main Course
Butternut Lasagne
Spiced Rice
Seasonal Vegetables

Dessert
Pear poached in red wine with Quince Ice Cream
Served with Tea and Coffee

DINNER DETAILS

VENUE
Calitzdorp NG Church

DATE & TIME
Saturday, 19 September 2026 from 18:00 onwards.

COST
R350 per person. Includes a salad course, main course and dessert, with wine from local wineries. Remember to select your option of Meat or Vegetarian when booking.

BOOKING/REGISTRATION
Seats are limited and booking is essential.

Book Now

ABOUT JAAP VILJOEN

After completing a BSc, BSc Hons and a MSc degree at the Potchefstroom University, Jaap Viljoen started his formal career as Geologist, Engineering geologist, Soil scientist and ended as Environmental scientist in the mining industry.

In 2004, Jaap and his family relocated from Johannesburg to Swellendam and started Rooiklip Nursery where he grew aloes, cycads, succulents and clivias mostly for the wholesale trade and became the sole grower and supplier of Sunbird aloes in the Western Cape. In 2019, Jaap retires from Rooiklip Nursery and operate as a Field and Nature Guide with an interest in Namaqualand and the Richtersveld and continues to spread educational wonder of succulent plants.