There are some awesome festivals around the world and these look fantastic!
With more than 3000 ethnic groups and some 2000 different languages, the African continent is the very embodiment of cultural diversity. Combine this fact with the amazing biodiversity and natural beauty of the continent along with incredible features such as the Kruger National Park and the city of Cape Town; planning a holiday in Africa becomes an opportunity not to be missed!
Let’s explore our top seven cultural festivals from various countries across the continent to give you an idea of the immersive and exotic experiences you can expect to encounter when you visit this magical place.
Africa is the festival continent. Throughout the whole continent, colourful and vibrant festivals range through musical, religous, cultural and harvest to name just a few.
In this section we have included just some of the festivals and events that are happening – we shall be adding more regularly.
Mombasa Carnival – November, Kenya
Kenya’s largest annual festival, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, is a carnival of floats, costumes, music and dance that perfectly showcases the region’s cultural diversity. Traditional and contemporary musicians perform, and the streets are lined with stalls offering all sorts of local delicacies, such as fresh coconut milk and the brewed concoction known as mnazi, which is made from coconut sap.
Participants often dress in traditional kikoy and kanga, and the parade finally winds its way down to the beach at Fort Jesus for a boat regatta!
Festival of the Dhow Countries – July, Zanzibar
The Gerewol Festival – late September, Chad
If you’re up for having your beliefs about marriage and gender roles challenged quite a bit, then this has to be one of the most interesting cultural experiences a traveller can experience. Each year the nomadic Wodaabe tribes gather at the end of the rainy season, usually during the last week of September, for what has been described as the world’s most competitive male beauty pageant!
During this week-long festival, tribes gather on foot, via camel or donkey to come together to dance, feast, and most importantly – attract a lover or mate. The men, who carry a small pocket mirror with them at all times, spend hours preparing their clothing and makeup for the Yakke dancing – in which three female judges each pick a winner who will carry acclaim and fame for years.
The Wodaabe are polygamous, and it is the women who take the lead in partnerships. During the dance, a woman who wishes to be ‘stolen’ from her current husband by a more attractive mate taps him on the shoulder to indicate her choice. Being witness to the Gerewol festival is a rare opportunity for travellers to broaden their cultural horizons, and definitely worth planning a trip around!
Abu Simbel Festival – February and October, Egypt
Fans of Ancient Egypt will adore this festival, which takes place twice a year on October and February 22nd. The magic of this festival is all in the timing – at these two times of the year, the sun aligns with the entrance of the Abu Simbel temples honoring Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari, to illuminate two of the three statues within – leaving Ptah, the god of the underworld, in darkness.
Interestingly, the entire temple had to be moved when the Egyptian government made plans to dam Lake Nasser in the 20th century. This was achieved by cutting the monument into massive blocks for transport, each weighing 30 tons! Needless to say, there was some careful maths involved to get the temples to align again as they used to, although in the process the day had to be moved forward. Originally, the alignment would have occurred on the 21st of October and February.
Today the festival is celebrated by accompanying traditional Nubian dances, live music, and plenty of street food outside the venue – and it might be one of the coolest additions to an Egyptian holiday!
The Wildebeest Migration
The Wildebeest Migration in East Africa, also known as “The Great Migration” takes place between Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara and is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet.
Thousands of wildebeest and zebra’s migrate between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, constantly driven by their search for fresh grazing. The massive herds are closely followed by predators (lion, hyena and cheetah), making the most of every opportunity to catch their next meal.
The precise timing of the annual wildebeest migration depends on the rains. It is a very unpredictable and spontaneous natural event, with calving season taking place in the Serengeti between January and mid-March. The wildebeest migration starts to head towards the Western Serengeti in May or June. The best time to see the migration is generally between June and August when the wildebeest congregate and prepare to cross the famous Grumeti River.
If you are in the Masai Mara you can expect the wildebeest to make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August & September and remain in the Masai Mara between October & November. Between the end of November and January the wildebeest gradually begin their migration from the Masai Mara back towards the Serengeti.
Recommended Trips
Great Wildebeest Migration Lodge Safari, Tanzania
This safari allows you to witness the very best of Tanzania. You will revel in all the wildlife viewing opportunities on the fabled plains of the Serengeti, around Lake Manyara, Tarangire & Ngorongoro11 Days – USD $5,770
Bayimba International Festival of Music and Arts
The Annual Bayimba International Festival of Music and Arts – a vibrant platform to celebrate the power of Music and Arts in Uganda.
Sauti za Busara music festival
Features a rich variety of African music from the region with more than four hundred musicians participating over five days in historic Stone Town.
Festival of the Dhow Countries July
East Africa’s largest cultural event, takes place in Zanzibar in magnificent, historical venues along the waterfront of Stone Town. The festival celebrates the unique cultural heritage of the “Dhow” countries: the African continent and the Indian Ocean region and their global Diaspora.
Mwakakogwa Festival – July/August
A traditional festival to celebrate the local New Year. It is mainly practiced in the Southern Unguja, particularly in Makunduchi. Originating from Persia and brought here by early, Immigrants, Mwakakogwa is marked by sacrifices, dances, and the actual field fighting. In addition to the tourists from abroad, it draws participants from the whole of East Africa.
