Advertised as South Africa’s Friendliest Festival, Splashy Fen Festival did not disappoint.

It takes place every year over Easter weekend and welcomes 7 000 people of all ages.

This festival was always going to be a tale to tell, seeing as my friend Rosie and my ticket were bought for us and the whole weekend arranged for us by an almost complete stranger…

However the festival itself made a huge impression on us.

You can bring your own food and booze on site…

I am used to European money-making-machine festivals. Where on top of your ticket you pay for the campsite,  for your car…where food and drinks are often obscenely over priced.. and one weekend, or often one night, for some heavy drinkers, can exceed a months’ rent.

It is a 3 day festival that costs 60€ for the ticket + 4 nights camping.

I was left wondering how Splashy makes any money – when all festival-ers can access the site, even the main stage, with their own alcohol. Even better, if you are sick of your warm bottle of vodka-orange, a double vodka mixer with ice, and most other drinks cost only about 2€… and a shot of is 1€!

There were an uncountable amount of food trucks, from Chinese, to bacon and egg rolls (YES), to local potjiekos, multiple things on sticks, doughnuts… All again very reasonably priced.  You can even enjoy some free pancakes & sweets at the RedFrogs tent…

Extra plus, multiple brands hand out freebies, from Vitamin Water, to Axe deodorant – and other festival survival products.

From Saxophones to bongo drums…

Splashy Fen Fest is an artsy, instrumental explosion. Showcasing mainly local South African bands, the music and stage presence of all of the acts I was lucky enough to see, blew my mind. Good Luck was probably my favorite new discovery.

 

You can sing Karaoke, play ping-pong, watch the fire jugglers. There was even a Costume fashion show… Anything and everything you could dream of wanting at a festival was available.

You are also allowed to light camp fires wherever you like.

You Splashed me.

The highlight of the festival for me was the River stage. It’s name speaks for itself but just to help you imagine in.. It’s a stage located on the side of a river, where bands play during the day whilst festival goers hop on inflatables and cruise down the river’s rapids. BLISS.

 

It was a wet, muddy first couple of days, where wellington boots, or “gummies” were the go-to festival apparal. But the sun was shining on day 3 and made for the perfect river cruise day.

The People YAH…

In full festival spirit, every single person there was happy, friendly and so welcoming. There was never a dull moment, and even queuing for the bathroom or hot shower made for a good laugh.

We personally lucked out and spent the 3 days with some of the kindest, most generous, and hilarious group of humans.

Splashy Packing list:

• Wellies (“gummies”)
• Warm waterproof clothes + hot summer outfits (the weather is 100% unpredictable)
• Bathing suit
• Inflatable boat and or other floating device
• Alcohol – camel pack recommended
• Tent + camping gear
• Fire wood