Eastern and northern Africa offer tourists a variety of festivals, and most of them can be found in Africa’s top safari countries of Kenya and Tanzania, with several along the coast and some on exotic islands such as Lamu and Zanzibar. Just above Kenya, the festivals in Ethiopia reflect its deeply religious heritage, while the African events at the top of the continent provide visitors with a taste of desert culture.Africa is, after all, not just about its animals. East and North Africa are culturally rich and diverse destinations.

January

Timkat Epiphany Celebrations, EthiopiaTimkat is an African event that commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. This celebration is held in the ancient castle-filled city of Gondar, also known as “Africa’s Camelot”. Tourists throng to the event because of its vibrant colours, as the whole city is draped in Ethiopian flags and the faithful are also draped in yellow, green and red. The waters of the Emperor Fasilides bathhouse are blessed, and several other ceremonies take place.

Tourists can hike or cycle around the highlands before or after Timkat, and the magical island monasteries of Lake Tana are nearby. Ethiopia has many exceptional tourist destinations such as the ruins of ancient Askum and Lalibela, where churches are carved from rock, which are also definitely worth visiting.

February

Sauti Za Busara Festival, Tanzania: Sauti Za Busara is a two-decades-old festival that takes place in mid-February in Zanzibar’s historical Stone Town. It’s a platform for traditional African music and musicians from the diaspora, and because it’s organised by the non-profit NGO Busara Promotions, there’s an emphasis on developing the music industry, so networking sessions and workshops abound.

One of the top music festivals in Africa, the Sauti Za Busara Festival, features renowned headline acts as well as developing artists. Festival-goers can enjoy a myriad of activities in Zanzibar, from diving to touring through the forests, dhow tours, fishing and white sandy beaches, and Tanzania’s game parks are close to hand.

March

1. Safari Rally Kenya: The Safari Rally Kenya has been moved to the Easter Weekend, after being held in June for the past few years. It is the third leg of the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC), which hosts rallies across the globe, and is a true endurance test for drivers, complete with sand, mud, rocks and difficult river crossings.This African event, which has been running since 1953, has established a reputation as the toughest round of the WRC, making finishing the 5,000km an accomplishment in itself. Kenya is a unique destination for anyone who loves rally racing.

2. Kilimanjaro Marathon, Tanzania: Africa’s highest mountain – it’s nearly 6,000m tall – is a daunting challenge for climbers, and for more than 20 years the Kilimanjaro Marathon has also put thousands to the test. The competitors gather in Moshi, a town near the perpetually snowbound mountain, and can choose from standard and half marathons, or a 5km fun run.Moshi has many restaurants and pubs, which come alive during this African event, but hotel bookings should be made well in advance, as over 10,000 runners enjoy traversing the lower slopes of “Kili”. Some of the proceeds go to local charities, making this a worthwhile cause, and locals from the nearby banana and coffee plantations join in the fun. As for game parks – well, they practically surround the world’s biggest free-standing mountain, and Serengeti National Park is just a jog away.

April

Madajazzcar International Jazz Day, Madagascar: Maddajazzcar is a huge jazz celebration held in multiple venues across the capital Antananarivo throughout a fortnight. International musicians and singers and thousands of visitors attend the events. Beyond being a huge boost for jazz on an international scale, Madajazzcar has recently adopted an environmental dimension and has begun to collaborate with associations that recover and recycle plastic and paper.This African event is run together with several associations, including the Malagasy National Commission for UNESCO. Started by a group of doctors and jazz fans in 1988, Maddajazzcar has expanded to become the premier jazz event in the Indian Ocean region. The island is an ecotourism dream with multiple endemic species, so between taking in tunes there’s diving, the baobabs and the Andasibe Mantadia National Park.

May

Marsabit Lake Turkana Festival, Kenya: The Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani Town, near Lake Turkana, the world's largest permanent desert lake. This three-day African event celebrates not only the traditions of the Turkana tribe but also the cultures of several other communities such as the Samburu and the Dasannach. It’s a cultural feast for visitors to Africa, with music, dance and flamboyant traditional costumes creating a vibrant atmosphere, complemented by the local dishes and wares on sale.

June

1. Nosy Be, Madagascar: Donia Nosy Be Festival, Madagascar The beautiful life: that’s what Donia means, and Nosy Be, a small island above Madagascar is simply stunning; together this makes the Donia Nosy Be Festival the logical place for tourists seeking some spice. This African festival is a melting pot of Malagasy cultures, and in addition to music, there’s a carnival and several sporting events.Up to 50,000 people from all over the world converge for the tropical party of a lifetime in Hell-Ville stadium, built in 1994 by the pioneers of the festival, which is still going strong. After the festivities, find lemurs in the forests of Lokobe Nature Reserve, explore Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve or simply bliss out on the beach.

2. Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, Morocco: Held in the middle of summer and stretching out over more than a week, the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music is a showcase of spiritual music from not only North Africa but the rest of the world. Several top performers including Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar and Patti Smith have performed at Fez, and in addition to musicians, festival-goers can expect to see exotic sights such as whirling dervishes and Sufi chanters.The Fez Festival celebrates the power of music to bring people together and has been recognised by the United Nations for this. Travellers can book tours around the town of Fez, across the desert on camels and to visit historic cities such as Rabat and Marrakech.

3. Gnaoua World Music Festival, Morocco: The wonderfully mythical coastal city of Essaouira is the site where each year hundreds of thousands of fans gather to listen to the magic of Gnaoua music. This draws on a mixture of Berber, Arabic and African cultures and combines acrobatic dancing with music and spiritual chants, incorporating instruments that most Westerners have never seen or heard. World and jazz musicians join the Gnaoua maậlems and play with them on the myriad stages erected across the town, which is sprinkled with art and craft exhibitions.Essaouira has much to see and experience, including its medina which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, restaurants, wineries, the harbour and Orson Welles Square. It's also the wind capital of Africa, so if you’re feeling adventurous, gear up for kite and windsurfing.

July

Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania: The Zanzibar International Film Festival, or ZIFF, is a massive festival in Africa that promotes film and the arts. Discussions, screenings and workshops continue for more than a week, but there’s also a feast of music and parties, which is why more than 100,000 tourists flock to this African event. ZIFF is famous for its cutting-edge African and international cinema. It’s also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries, after the Arab sailing vessel that has been used in the region for centuries, which symbolises both tradition and travel.

August

1. Maralal International Camel Derby, Kenya: The International Camel Derby is held in the town of Maralal in northern Kenya. It’s been running for more than three decades and is starting to gain global notoriety for its adventurous spectacle. Visitors can watch the camel, cycle and donkey races and hire their beast of burden.There’s a campsite available, and it’s a great opportunity to watch both professionals and amateurs compete while you take in the local Samburu culture, as the event includes music and dance.

2. Bayimba International Festival of Music and Arts, Uganda: Uganda drums, festivals in Africa Uganda drums, festivals in Africa Held on Lunkulu Island, on Africa’s largest body of water Lake Victoria, Bayimba is a festival few are likely to forget. The mission of the Bayimba Centre for Visual and Performing Arts has always been to provide a platform for artistic upliftment, and since 2008 it has been doing just that. Top artists from Uganda and East Africa play music, dance, perform and tell stories in a feast of formats that make this the country’s number one event, and before the main festival, there are regional outreaches with art activities in some towns.Bayimba is only 40km from the capital Kampala, and this country is a tourist dream, with everything from the Rwenzori mountains to Murchison Falls to the gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

September

1. The Schweppes East African Concours d' Elegance, Kenya: Now in its 52nd iteration, the Concours d' Elegance is held in Nairobi and attracts motoring enthusiasts from across the world, who often dress up to the nines for the occasion. This has helped to put Kenya on the tourism map, as many who make the pilgrimage use Nairobi as a jumping point to visit Kenya’s nearby game parks, such as Aberdare National Park. This African event includes live bands, parades and entertainment for children, and in addition to vintage cars, there’s plenty of old machinery in the Heritage Collection section.

2. Kwita Izina Ceremony, Rwanda: Since 2005, the naming of baby mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park has attracted not only tourists but also researchers, conservationists, celebrities, athletes and locals. The ceremony, which has drawn international attention, takes place over a week. It’s about identifying each gorilla to help in their conservation and is based on the Rwandan custom of naming children before an audience of friends and family. There are only about a thousand mountain gorillas left in the wild, but the Rwanda Development Board, which hosts the ceremony, is determined to increase their numbers.The park has five Virunga volcanoes that can be hiked, while other activities include village visits and tracking golden monkeys. The tiny country of Rwanda is filled with mountains and surrounded by lakes, and it borders Kenya and Tanzania’s game-rich parks.

3. Meskel festival, Ethiopia: The Meskel festival is a mighty splash of colour, dancing and music, as hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Christians dressed mainly in white converge on holy sites and churches. It marks the finding of the “true cross” on which Jesus Christ was crucified and has been celebrated for six centuries. Meskel is held in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in September and involves the lighting of huge bonfires known as Demerra, replicas of the Ark of the Covenant called Tabots, and yellow daisies or Meskel flowers.Smaller ceremonies and bonfires take place across the country; Meskel is a national holiday and is a spectacle to behold, with brightly lit ceremonies extending into the evenings.

October

1. International Bagamoyo Arts Festival, Tanzania: Tanzania’s largest festival takes place just north of the capital Dar Es Salaam and the music, dance and other performances stretch out over a full week. Originally a tiny event held under a mango tree under the auspices of the Bagamoyo College of Arts in 1982, this African festival kept growing and now takes place in East Africa’s largest venue, the TaSUBa Theatre. Expect to see both traditional and contemporary artists, and take advantage of the learning platforms and mutual cultural exchanges.Bagamoyo is a coastal city that looks towards the island of Zanzibar, and it’s close to Saadani National Park, where you can meet wild animals on gorgeous unspoiled beaches.

2. Lamu festivals, Kenya: The island of Lamu is steeped in history and is host to a variety of festivals, the most famous being the Lamu Cultural Festival, which is held at the end of October and celebrates the Swahili culture. It features among others dhow and donkey races, the ancient game of Bao and Henna painting. At the same time, there’s the Lamu Yoga Festival, which offers many classes and meditations, some of them on the beach. For followers of Islam – or those who wish to know more about it – the Maulidi Festival is also celebrated on the island in October, held to mark the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Lamu has many historical sites and tours, but it’s also renowned for its relaxed, less crowded beaches, snorkelling, diving with dolphins and dhow trips – it's deservedly popular as a post-safari add-on.

November

Mombasa Carnival, Kenya: The streets of this coastal city come alive during the Mombasa Carnival, which features everything from floats to parades, with a feast of music and dance performances, both traditional and contemporary. Visitors can feast on local dishes at various stalls that feature demonstrations and choose clothing and trinkets from a host of stalls, as well as attend workshops that provide some close-up cultural interactions and lessons.Mombasa is surrounded by multiple tourist destinations such as Tsavo East National Park and Watamu Marine Park, so tourists have a huge variety of places to visit and activities to perform, and you can arrive directly via Moi International Airport.

December

1. Beneath the Baobabs Festival, Kenya: Built on the ideals of transformation and uniting people from diverse backgrounds, Beneath the Baobabs is a platform for East African music set beneath the continent’s most majestic, 2,000-year-old trees. Originally called Kilifi New Year, this African event has grown to now host five stages and bars. Get your dancing shoes on with Afro-house, hip-hop, drum and bass at this backpacker's dream, filled with decks and bomas. Leave no trace at this eco-friendly event, set just off the coast in Takaungu Creek.

2. International Festival of the Sahara, Tunisia: The International Festival of the Sahara is a celebration of Bedouin and Berber culture and heritage. Held in the tiny oasis town of Douz, this African festival attracts up to 50,000 people, takes place over three or four days and has been running for over 50 years. Participants from Tunisia and neighbouring countries display their prowess in camel and horse racing, and the Sloughi hunt with desert greyhounds is a big drawcard of this event. Experience Berber craft, culture and cuisine in the town, where the evenings are filled with concerts, theatre and poetry readings.

a) Festivals and Safaris: Madagasy musicians, African festivals with so many fantastic African events and festivals that are eco-friendly and aim to empower local artists, why not visit one of them at the beginning or end of your safari adventure?

It's a good idea to talk to an experienced African travel consultant who can keep you up to date with events and travel deals.

Related Destinations; explore these destinations mentioned in this post:

i) Kenya Great Migration in Masai Mara, Kenya

ii) Gorilla tracking Rwanda, Rwanda

iii) Ethiopian tribes, Ethiopia

iv) Baobab alley madagascar (1), Madagascar

v) Northern Safari Circuit, Tanzania, Tanzania