The Best African Events & Festivals: Month-by-Month Southern Africa Guide

Although Southern Africa’s top attraction is its wildlife, many exciting African events and festivals are the ideal complement to Big 5 safaris. Some major African events include the Absa Cape Epic cycle race and the Old Mutual Two Oceans. And, top African festivals include Splashy Fen, the famous Reed Dance, and the Kaapse Klopse. If you'd like to experience some incredible African festivals, consider timing your safari trip to include some of these events.

Here's our quick month-by-month guide to Southern African events and festivals to help you plan an African safari with a festive twist.

Cape Town Carnival, African events by South Africa Tourism

January African Events

Cape Town Minstrel Carnival

The Kaapse Klopse, also known as the Second New Year and officially named the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, is one of the more colourful festivals in Africa. The Cape Town Carnival takes place each year on the 2nd of January in the Mother City. The roots of this African carnival stretch back to the days of slavery, as New Year was the only time slaves could play music and celebrate freely among the colonists. Their brightly coloured attire of blazers, bow ties and top hats mimicked the settlers. Troupes compete against each other annually to create the best performance in a lively spectacle well worth watching. The Kaapse Klopse is one of the festivals in South Africa, with a hint of New Orleans carnival thrown in for good measure, not to be missed.

• Combine the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival with 4-Day Cape Town Tour - Cape Winelands, Township & City

February African Festivals

Livingstone Festivals, Zambia

Livingstone is the site of several African festivals of culture, music, food, and theatre. Most of these African events fall in February and March, and they often spill out of the town onto the nearby Zambezi River, near the mighty Victoria Falls. The Livingstone International Cultural and Arts Festival is the largest of the historical town’s festivals and is an annual African cultural event held under the auspices of the Zambia Tourism Agency, incorporating everything from street carnivals to boat cruises. It is worth checking out these African festivals to see if any of them coincide with your safari itinerary.

• Combine Livingstone Festivals with 4-Day Victoria Falls Safari in Zambia

Marrabenta Festival, Mozambique

The Marrabenta Festival, held annually on Heroes Day in February, has brought this musical style to international attention. It is built on the legacy of local musician Malangatana Ngwenya and has been held in the cultural centre he built in his hometown Matalana, and also on Costa do Sol beach in Maputo. This festival in Africa is renowned for its 1000-seat Marrabenta train, which makes a 40-minute trip from Maputo to Marracuene. Headline acts are now coming in from neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe and Lesotho, making the Marrabenta Festival an exciting African affair.

• Combine the Marrabenta Festival with 8-Day Mozambique Beach Tour

March African Events & Festivals

Cape Epic Cycle Race, African event

ABSA Cape Epic

The most iconic African event is the full-service mountain bike race, the Cape Epic. Covering around 700 km each year, competitors must endure up to 17,000 m of climbing during the race. The Cape Epic passes through picturesque Cape villages and traverses mountains, coastlines and fynbos-filled valleys. Everything is taken care of in this mammoth South African festival, from tents to medical care, so cyclists can focus exclusively on the race. This does of course come with a hefty price tag, but with the Rand exchange rate, this is not an issue for tourists. The Cape Epic is the highlight on professional racers’ calendars – and an unforgettable experience for enthusiasts.

• Combine the Cape Epic with 4-Day Cape Town Tour - Big 5 Safari, Cape Peninsula & Wine Route

Splashy Fen Music Festival, South Africa

South Africa’s oldest music festival (started by Woodstock legend David Marks), attracts thousands of music fans. Every year droves of eager music-lovers descend on Splashy Fen farm - located in the beautiful rolling hills of the Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal. In between watching bands, festival-goers frolic in the freshwater stream that runs through the site – and they also get to watch a rugby match or two on large screens! Of the many festivals in South Africa, Splashy Fen has been dubbed as ‘South Africa’s friendliest music festival’. Splashy Fen attracts musicians and fans from all over Africa. These days it’s run like a well-oiled machine, with catering that surpasses that of most small towns. 

• Combine Splashy Fen with 7-Day Lesotho to Addo Safari

Cape Town International Jazz Festival

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is the largest music event in southern Africa and has for this reason been called “Africa’s Grandest Gathering”. With crowds of more than 30,000, and performances from 40-plus international and African artists, the two-day African event stretches across five stages and is based at the magnificent Cape Town International Convention Centre. Expect to see big international acts like Dan Brubeck (the son of Dave) and Herbie Hancock. Visitors to Cape Town, Robben Island, and Table Mountain, can spice up their safari experience by visiting one of the finest music festivals in South Africa.

• Combine the Cape Town Jazz Festival with 4-Day Cape Town Tour - Cape Peninsula, Winelands & Shark Diving

Omagongo Cultural Festival, Namibia

Marula Beer, Africa

Also known as the Marula Festival, Omagongo is celebrated by tribes in the northern parts of Namibia. This African festival centres around the marula fruit which is an important symbol of hope. This fruit is fermented to produce a potent brew, and these days its oil is big in the hair and beauty industries. This colourful African event unites communities and is recognised by UNESCO for this vital role. There is much song, dance and banqueting at Omagongo, which has been attended by several dignitaries over the years, such as former president Sam Nujoma.

• Combine the Omagongo Cultural Festival with 7-Day Cape Town to Namibia Safari or 3-Day Etosha Safari in Namibia

KKNK, South Africa

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), an annual Afrikaans language arts festival held in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, encompasses both visual and performing arts and is one of the most vibrant African festivals to visit. Recognized by the South African government as a national arts festival, the KKNK is the largest in the country based on visitor numbers. With over 1,000 artists participating in more than 200 productions and exhibitions over eight days, typically in March or April, the festival holds a central role in Afrikaans stage productions. New works are often premiered at the KKNK before being showcased across the rest of South Africa throughout the year. 

• Combine the Klein Karoo festival with 4-Day Private Garden Route Tour

April African Events & Festivals

Windhoek Karneval, Namibia

The Windhoek Karneval, also known as WIKA, has been running since the early 1950s. It’s a celebration of German culture, as Namibia was a colony of this European country, but these days it does have a local feel and local artists, giving it an African festival feel. Events include street parades, balls, a children’s carnival and the election of a prince and princess, who have their own royal guard of honour. There’s plenty of beer drinking and cultural exchange as artists from across the globe attend each year as guests of Namibia’s six cultural societies.

• Combine Windhoek Karneval with 7-Day Cape Town to Namibia Safari or 6-Day Namibia Desert & Wildlife Safari

Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, South Africa

Dubbed “The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon”, the Two Oceans Marathon is a 56km event that incorporates the jaw-dropping views of the Cape peninsula, with a route that includes Chapman’s Peak, Hout Bay and Constantia Nek. Since it began in 1970 the marathon has grown in popularity, especially since the half-marathon was introduced in 1989. Africa’s largest running event caters specifically for international entrants, who enjoy the many pleasures the Cape has to offer on their visit to South Africa.

• Combine the Two Oceans Marathon with 3-Day Cape Town Big 5 Safari

Zomba City Festival, Malawi

This relatively new African festival, located just north of Blantyre in Zomba city, takes place late in April. The Zomba City Festival's numerous activities include yoga, aerobics and historical walks, in addition to the usual festival fare of music, art and theatre performances. The Zomba festival is LGBTQ-friendly and tries to include as many female artists as possible. Based on the concept of Afrofuturism, it’s a great chance for tourists to mingle intimately with the locals and experience African culture at its best.

• Combine the Zomba City Festival with 6-Day Malawi & Zambia Lodge Safari

AfrikaBurn, South Africa

In 1986 some friends set fire to a wooden figure on a San Francisco beach, thus sparking off the Burning Man festival, which has transmogrified into dozens of different incarnations, including AfrikaBurn in South Africa. During the week-long event participants busy themselves with creative endeavours that sometimes take years to plan and prepare and include sculptures, performances and costumes, which they share with the colourful gathering. The event takes place in the remote and dusty Tankwa Karoo; those who attend must bring their supplies and leave no trace when departing. This is one of the most popular festivals in South Africa, and tickets sell out fast. Book early to avoid disappointment.

• Combine AfrikaBurn with 6-Day Cape Town to Garden Route Self-Drive Safari

Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Zimbabwe

This week-long African festival of the arts has been running for 25 years and celebrates theatre, dance, music, art, and poetry. HIFA is an important healing space for Zimbabweans, who have endured decades of political uncertainty and economic hardship and shows “a Zimbabwe that works” to visitors. It is the largest cultural event in the country and ranks among the eight major festivals in Africa. One of its key goals is to foster cultural exchange and collaboration, which it does by bringing together artists from different backgrounds and artistic disciplines, and performances are also augmented by workshops and mentorship programmes.

• Combine with Victoria Falls Tour - Zimbabwe Safari Package

May African Festivals

STRAB Festival, Mozambique

The STRAB (Subterranean Rhythm and Blues) Festival has been running for decades at Ponta Malongane, a campsite just off the beach in the south of Mozambique. It’s a famous diving venue, and the festival was organised by divers originally. Ponta do Ouro is close by, with great beaches and a host of activities, such as swimming with dolphins. Featuring a stellar line-up of blues artists who hail mainly from South Africa, STRAB is sold out every year, making it one of the most successful festivals in Africa. But the spirit of giving extends to the Mozambican community nearby, and solid charity work has been the order of the day since the event’s inception. Access to the festival is now simple, as a tar road now links Mozambique to South Africa. Check the Facebook site for the most recent updates.

• Combine the STRAB Festival with 14-Day Eswatini, Mozambique & South Africa Safari (Overland Lodge Tour)

MTN Bushfire Festival, Eswatini

Malandelas sunset

Nestled in the lush Malkerns Valley, near Maseru in Eswatini, Bushfire is one of those family-friendly African festivals that people return to regularly. The line-up of artists includes both local and international “World Music” acts, and there are always a few wild cards thrown in to pique interest. The venue, called House on Fire, is home to a collective of artists and is worth visiting even when there’s no event taking place. MTN Bushfire Festival is growing in stature as one of the best African Festivals, and during the festival month, transforms Eswatini from a sleepy kingdom to a bustling destination. Ensure that you buy your tickets early, book accommodation well in advance, and get to the border posts before the crowds from South Africa do. 

• Combine the Bushfire Festival with 9-Day Kruger, Eswatini & KwaZulu-Natal Self-Drive Safari

June and July Festivals in Africa

National Arts Festival, South Africa

With a heritage of 40 years, The National Arts Festival in Mkanda, Grahamstown, is the biggest art event on the South Africa festival calendar. Every kind of art form that you can imagine is represented: dance, theatre, music. The jazz festival can stand on its own as a world-class event, and there are many other sub-festivals contained within the main festival, including the Think Fest, Spiritfest, Wordfest and the Creative Digital Arts Festival. The core of the festival is the Settlers Monument, which has several venues, but the historic town of Makhanda has dozens more. Fringe events take place in town, at Rhodes University and even in the local township. The 10-day-long African festival is an experience that few forget, as the tiny city is set abuzz by over 200,000 visitors, many of whom enjoy wining and dining late into the evenings.

• Combine the National Arts Festival with 6-Day Cape Town to Garden Route Tour

August African Festivals & Events

OppiePanne Music Festival, Botswana

This Afrikaans festival is only two years old, but the remote setting – the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans – is so stunning that it makes this event appealing to anyone, no matter what language you speak. Organised by South African singer/songwriter Bok van Blerk and Joe Peterson from Elephant Sands Bush Lodge, OppiePanne, “On the Pans”, is both family and environmentally friendly. Ideal for 4x4 enthusiasts, camping under the stars is an unbeatable adventure, and there’s a bonus: this African event raises funds for the local NGO Water for Elephants, which tries to minimise interactions between the giant pachyderms and humans.

• Combine OppiePanne Music Festival with 7-Day Kalahari Desert Camping Tour

The Reed Dance, Eswatini

Eswatini Reed Dance, African festivals

The Reed Dance, also known as Umhlanga, is the largest event on the eSwatini events calendar, and possibly one of the most famous festivals in Africa. About 40,000 girls garbed in brightly coloured traditional skirts march out to cut tall reeds, which they then present to the queen. These are used for erecting reed fences around the royal palace. The celebrations of this African festival then begin on the last days of the week-long ceremony, and the king sometimes chooses one of the young maidens as a fiancée. The girls have an escort of warriors, and the dances both perform are a spectacle tourists eagerly gather to photograph each year.

• Combine the Reed Dance festival with 8-Day Eswatini & South Africa Overland Lodge Tour

September African Events & Festivals

The Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon, South Africa

The Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon, KAEM, Big Daddy is a self-sufficient foot race of 250km over seven days and six stages. This is an epic African event for extreme athletes. Recently, organisers introduced a shorter and easier version, the KAEM Ultra, which is only a 160 km supported race over five days and four stages. The Big Daddy has been described as “brutal and insane” and is a true test for extreme marathon runners. The athletes often are forced to bond to overcome the elements, which include temperatures ranging from 40 degrees Celsius to minus five in the red sands of Kalahari Desert. This African event is, clearly, not for everyone.

• Combine the Kalahari Augrabies Marathon with 20-Day Overland Tour - Cape Town to Victoria Falls via Augrabies

Hermanus Whale Festival

How many festivals are centred around the celebration of and conservation of a single species? The Hermanus Whale Festival is all about how man can live in harmony with nature and help to protect the southern right whale. There’s live music, food stalls, artisans, a vibrant street parade, a 10km fun run and plenty of entertainment for the kids. As it’s the only eco-marine festival in the world, there are also educational films and exhibitions. Best of all is the whale watching, and the festival date coincides with when the whales come close to the shore. The Hermanus Whale Festival is over 30 years old and attracts more than 100,000 visitors, making it one of the best festivals in Africa.

• Combine the Hermanus Whale Festival with 4-Day Cape Town Adventure Package - Cape Peninsula, Winelands & Hermanus

October Festivals in Africa

Morija Arts and Cultural Festival, Lesotho

Lesotho, African safari

Morija is an educational centre located south of the capital Maseru in Lesotho. This African festival, which is the highlight of Lesotho's festival calendar, takes place in the village each year early in October, and features dance, food, fashion and concerts. Visitors can stay in guesthouses, from which they can venture to see the local museum and craft centres or go on guided hikes or pony rides into the countryside of the lofty mountain kingdom.

• Combine the Morija festival with 12-Day Lesotho and South Africa Safari

November Festivals in Africa

Ficksburg Cherry Festival, South Africa

Ficksburg is the cherry capital of South Africa, and the cherry-picking festival has been running since 1968. The music line-up is plentiful and varied, with an international act each year, and local celebs like the Soweto String Quartet. The real highlights of this African festival are the cherry tours and cherry product competitions, with a host of other attractions such as equestrian events, beer fests, veteran vehicle displays, a golf classic and a half marathon. Nearby is an asparagus farm, a chocolate factory and there’s riverboat cruises through Thaba Sediba private nature reserve.

• Combine the Ficksburg Cherry Festival with 12-Day Durban to Cape Town Overland Camping Tour via Ficksburg & Lesotho

December African Festivals

Smoking Dragon Festival, South Africa

Nestled in the Northern Drakensberg, the Smoking Dragon Festival, hosted by Amphitheater Backpackers, is a celebration of nature and local talent against the backdrop of the stunning mountain range between South Africa and Lesotho. Probably one of the smaller festivals in South Africa, Smoking Dragon is known for its natural beauty. Highlights of the area include the world's most extensive consolidation of cave paintings, the second-highest waterfall globally, and the largest forest in the Drakensberg. Over New Year's Eve, the festival transforms this premier hiking destination into a vibrant showcase of music across four stages. Providing a serene escape, the Smoking Dragon Festival is one of South Africa’s most unique small festivals.

• Combine the Smoking Dragon Festival with 9-Day Self-Drive South Africa Safari - Durban to Port Elizabeth

Plan an African Safari with a Festival Twist in...

With so many fantastic festivals in South Africa, as well as African events to choose from, it is worth planning your African safari with a festival twist added.

The safari tours listed with the events above are just examples to show you one or two of the options available. There are plenty of other trips to choose from and our South African safari experts are whizzes at creating tailor-made safaris on a budget.

At no extra cost, get African Budget Safaris to design a bespoke safari for you that includes the local events you would like to experience - talk to one of our safari experts.