8 must see African festivals

Africa never ceases to amaze with its varied mix of year round festivals, attracting tens of thousands of travellers from all over the world.

Whether it's parading on the streets of Zambia, watching cinematic gems in Zanzibar, or dancing to the mesmerising beat of Gnaoua music, Africa is bursting with energy and excitement and clearly worthy of its title as “the festival continent.”

Acacia Adventure Holidays has produced a round-up of eight of the most exciting festivals for 2008, giving their travellers the best excuses to party en route through Africa.

1. Electronica reaches its apex at the Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi from 10 October to 12 October, a fast-growing music event that features top-notch DJs from the UK and Africa on the palm-fringed shores of Lake Malawi. Those on the 22-day Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger overland tour departing on 03 October can groove to the festival beat as they spend two days in Kande Beach, a backpacker haven near Lake Malawi.

Travellers can choose to spend the night at the festival and watch the sun rise over the lake’s shimmering waters; or go back to camp in Kande Beach, with buses and taxis available for the duration of the festival. (The Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger overland tour costs £675pp + local payment from £172pp.)

2. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival from 28 March to 29 March is a star-studded event that features 40 world-class artists performing on five stages, as well as music workshops and photo exhibits. This is a perfect way to chill out before embarking on Acacia Adventure Holiday's action-packed 25-day Desert Tracker overland tour departing 05 April.

The tour operator also offers a 4-day city break in cosmopolitan Cape Town, with guided tours of the Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope, legendary home of the Flying Dutchman. (The Desert Tracker overland tour costs £695pp + local payment from £335p. The 4-day Cape Town City Stay costs from £125pp for a dorm-style room.)

3. After finishing Acacia Adventure Holidays’ 15-day Egypt Encapsulated adventure tour (departing 17 April) in Cairo, travellers can do the sun salutation against the dramatic backdrop of the Giza pyramids at the International Yoga Festival from 30 May to June 7. Participants from beginners to advanced students can learn about the ancient practice from leading experts, with Yoga gurus teaching travellers about traditional techniques, meditation and spirituality. (The Egypt Encapsulated adventure tour costs £425pp + local payment from £103pp.)

4. For ethnobeat enthusiasts, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Morocco (26 June to 29 June) is a great chance to hear and see performers play an entrancing rhythm from qraqeb (metal castanets), guembri (a percussive lute) and the ganga (drums).

The 21-day Ultimate Morocco adventure tour (departing 07 June) passes through the laidback port of Essaouira—once home to Jimmy Hendrix - at the start of the festival programme, so travellers can treat themselves to a taste of Gnaoua’s mysterious music and the relaxed vibe of the festival. (The Ultimate Morocco adventure tour costs £355pp + local payment from £336pp.)

5. Travelling cineastes can hit two birds with one stone on Acacia Adventure Holidays' 13-day Kenya & Tanzania Adventure, departing 02 July. With three days in sunny Zanzibar at the tail end of the trip, adventurers can sit back, watch a few movies and even vote for the People’s Choice Award at the Festival of the Dhow Countries (04 July to 13 July).

East Africa's largest annual event, the festival showcases outstanding films, and as this year's theme is "Cultural Crossroads", 2008 would be the perfect time to tie in with Acacia Adventure Holidays – a tour operator which gets travellers off the beaten track, maximising opportunities to meet the people of Africa. (The Kenya & Tanzania Adventure overland tour costs £595pp + local payment from £187pp.)

6. Zambia’s biggest annual celebration, the Livingstone Festival, takes place in late August, with musicians, thespians, jugglers and clowns filling the streets of the historic town right next to the mighty Victoria Falls. Travellers opting for Acacia Adventure Holidays’ 4-day Smoke That Thunders itinerary can join the merry-making and watch a benefit concert in the festival to help children orphaned by AIDS. (The Smoke That Thunders small group safari costs £295pp, with year-round daily departures. Festival dates to be announced.)

7. From July to September, adventurers on Acacia Adventure Holidays’ 9-day Madagascar Explorer might just be lucky enough to witness one of the Famadihana reburial ceremonies held during this period in Antananarivo. Complete with singing and dancing, the bones of dead relatives are dug up, paraded around the village and wrapped in a new shroud before being reburied—a festive Malagasy custom that may last several days. The old shroud is then passed on to a newly married, childless couple to cover their bed. (The Madagascar Explorer adventure tour costs £410pp + local payment from £224pp.)

8. With German influence still prevailing in Swakopmund, it’s no wonder that the Oktoberfest has become a huge celebration in Namibia’s adventure capital, complete with mugs of beer, bratwurst and oompah music.

Travellers on Acacia Adventure Holidays’ 41-day Cape Town to Kenya overland tour (departing 04 October and 18 October) can join the festivities in a coastal city that very much resembles a Bavarian village. (The Cape Town to Kenya overland tour costs £1,125pp + local payment from £348pp.)

The above prices include all tour highlights as listed in the brochure, transport, road tolls and taxes, camping and cooking equipment, most meals and services of tour leader and driver. Excludes return international flight, visas, departure taxes, transfers, flexible local payment excursions and charges to events and festivals.

For more information, visit Acacia-africa.com. All prices are subject to availability.