South African music lovers are spoilt for choice when it comes to music festivals, from the internationally acclaimed Oppikoppi, to a family affair like Splashy Fen and the award-winning eco-friendly Rocking the Daisies.

The mix of eclectic music and under-the-stars camping in Woodstock style which is characteristic of all these festivals is proving to be a winner in the country, with attendance numbers growing each year.

Locals and overseas visitors alike turn up in droves to enjoy the vibe. While some, like the RAMfest, are still in their infancy, Oppikoppi turns 18 this year and Splashy Fen came of age in 2011.

Festival goers delight in much more than the music though, because each event has its own unique character and attractions. These range from the Oppikoppi bushveld to the majestic Drakensberg vistas of Splashy Fen and the unrivalled Cape beauty at Rocking the Daisies.

Oppikoppi 18

From its small beginnings in 1994 as an Afrikaans music festival, this event has grown into one of South Africa’s most popular music happenings, and has also caught the attention of the international market.

Voted as the fourth-best music festival held outside the UK by British newspaper the Daily Mirror in 2008, over the years the festival has established itself as a 'must-do' event in the eyes of its zealous followers.

Like its name, which is a variant of the Afrikaans "op die koppie", meaning "on top of the hill", the Oppikoppi experience is as diverse as its loyal supporters.

Each year offers a different theme such as the 2011 Unknown Brothers, 2010's Smoor verlief (completely infatuated) and sexy.crooked.teeth of 2009, hinting at the off-the-wall Oppikoppi experiences one can expect.

This year Oppikoppi 18 celebrates its new-found maturity.

And expect to hear and to respond to the Oppikoppi festival cry regularly. It is simple yet effective: anyone shouting "oppi" will get a raucous and enthusiastic "koppi" reply from all within earshot.

A firm favourite is the Couch competition which takes place throughout the three days and involves a couch makeover, the more creative the better. Judges select the best couch of the day and give the winners some time on stage with the performing artists.

If you have never been to Oppikoppi, chances are you will be told by most of the regular attendees that “you have not yet lived”. Indeed, for the faithful the festival has become "a near religious experience", notes the Oppikoppi Facebook page.

This year, Oppikoppi will be even bigger with Hilltop Live organisers planning to expand the festival to accommodate 18 000 people.

Dust and thorns

Affectionately referred to as “Mordor” because of the dust and thorns attendees have to contend with, in a way these inconveniences have just added to its popularity.

And while most opt for the do-it-yourself experience of putting up their own camp sites, the Kreef Hotel has become an institution in its own right, over the years providing excellent temporary accommodation at Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen, Rocking the Daisies and recently the RAMfest.

The word 'hotel' is a misnomer; festival goers stay in prepitched tents, albeit with a choice of accommodation, from the luxurious Caviar option which includes a camping bed, bedside table and table light, to the Threesome option, a tent with three mattresses.

An initiative started by Chris Kreef in 2001, the hotel is referred to by its founder as a "zero point five star tent hotel for the cream of the scum".

At the least, patrons can expect hot showers, security, an excellent buffet breakfast and pristine portable toilets as part of the package.

The Kreef Hotel also offers a "play and stay" option to artists which allows customers to rub shoulders with some of South Africa's top performers around the fire.

Oppikoppi 18 takes place from 9-11 August 2012 at its regular venue, Oppikoppi Farm in Northam, Limpopo province.

Splashy fen

South Africa's longest-running music festival is Splashy Fen, established in 1990 by Peter Ferraz and his wife Almary after they attended the Festival of the Flower Children at Woburn Abbey in the UK back in 1967.

Bowled over by this experience, Ferraz dreamed about creating a similar experience here South Africa.

Some time later he bought a farm outside the dairy community of Underberg in the Mzimkulu River Valley in KwaZulu-Natal. Surrounded by the magnificent Drakensberg mountains, Ferraz realised that this was the perfect venue and he and his wife set about making their dream a reality.

He recalls on the website: “We realised immediately that the farm was perfect for a music festival with its natural amphitheatre, great acoustics, breathtaking mountain vistas, winding river and lots of fields for camping. No one could ask for a more ideal setting.”

From its early beginnings as a folksy festival for the family, Splashy Fen has grown into one of South Africa's premier outdoor festivals. While the organisers promise that the basic recipe has not changed, what has changed is the spectrum of music genres on offer, not just folk and rock, but pop, dance and other contemporary styles to appeal to the broadest possible audience.

The festival is not just about music. Viewed as a total outdoor experience for the family, it offers craft stalls, children's entertainment and a number of adventure activities including a drive up the Sani Pass, the notoriously difficult road linking between South Africa and Lesotho. Sani Pass is also famous for having the highest pub in Africa at its summit.

This year's featured act is Zulu guitarist Madala Kunene. No stranger to the Splashy crowd, he’s played 11 festivals so far. Joining him are Van Coke Kartel, Lark, Arno Carstens and Albert Frost, Tidal Waves and a host of other groups and artists.

Splashy Fen takes place from 5-9 April 2012 at the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.

Page 2: Rocking the Daisies, and AfrikaBurn