Out of Africa Festival
Come join us this Summer 29th June 2024 for our first ever African festival here at Drovers. 80% Sold out so hurry and book now
Accommodation 1 Safari tent has just become available. due to a cancellation. Hurry and book it now.
Book the last Safari Tent here (sleeps 4 in 2 separate bedrooms. available for 2 nights Fri & Sat.
We still have 50 tickets left so hurry and book now
Book Your Festival Tickets here
Celebrating all things African. Most of you know we are South African. And when you come from Africa the African drum still beats strongly in your blood. When we left our corporate lives in London behind and bought Drovers Rest Farm, near Hay on wye, on the border of Herefordshire and Wales, we tapped into our African roots to add that unique touch that is us. So anyone who has visited us, knows we definitely have the African vibe. From our luxury Safari Tents, to cooking all our feasts over the fires, just as we did in Africa. And we always have a lekker warm welcome for all our guests.
This event has a fantastic line up of artists and is set to be a real Jol. This also brings diversity to the countryside something we are really passionate about. We will have gorgeous african street food (samoosas, roti rolls, bunny chows, boerie rolls, pap and vleis, puto arancini balls with chakalaka, melk tart, peppermint crisp tart, koeksisters to name a few), african craft stalls too for you to enjoy. The Sat All Day event will be from 11.00am-10.30pm with acts starting at 2.00pm Tickets are £50 pp. Our Headliner will be launching her book at this event too
Weekend accommodation with additional African activities is available on the Farm for a 2 night minimum stay from Friday, so you can enjoy the African vibe for longer. More information below. If you are staying onsite you do not have to purchase a car parking ticket. But only 1 car is allowed per accommodation
PJ Powers – will be headlining our Out Of Africa Festival. She is one of the 100 most famous living people in South Africa, and Brand South Africa calls her one of the top most influential people in 30 years of freedom and democracy!!
In South Africa PJ Powers is legendary, most recently welcoming back the Springboks from their successful world rugby cup win, with a performance that included her iconic rendition of The World in Union. As well as being a much loved musician and songwriter, she has been a political activist joining the ANC at 17. She formed a close friendship with Nelson Mandela after he sent her a letter from prison which, amongst other wise words, said, “You have made a tremendous impact on and off the stage, and you are one of those young people on whom the country pins so much hope.”
PJ personally selected Drovers Rest for her performance, always enjoying links and supporting other Africans such as she found at Drovers Rest. She has close affiliations with Herefordshire through family and friends with an emotional pull to the county and is excited to perform to an exclusive crowd at the end of the month, where she will also be announcing the publishing of her book and will be interviewed by a prominent journalist during the afternoon. PJ says “My soon-to-launch Coming Home single with the Mzansi Youth Choir (finalists at America’s Got Talent) will have one of its first outings at the Out of Africa Festival and I can’t wait to perform this and many other songs from my repertoire at this amazing venue.”
Kasai Masai
Their music reflects their journey from the rural to the urban world. They mix the infectious dance grooves of Soukous, traditional Congolese folkloric music, and of course their own contemporary style and Kasai Masai magic
Nickens Nkoso – Vocals and Percussion – Known to his fans at the Voodoo King, Nickens is a hugely experienced singer, songwriter, musician and band-leader.
Otis Lumumba – Guitar – Master Congolese guitarist, Otis regularly performs with Kanda Bongo Man, Kasai Masai, as well as pursuing his individual musical projects.
Claude Bula – Bass – Arguably the finest Congolese bassist in Europe. Claude has huge experience playing with many of the finest musicians of his generation, including Kanda Bongo Man
Jeannot Bel – Guitar – With several Soukous albums to his name, Jeannot Bel needs no introduction to Soukous fans in the UK, Europe and in his home country of Congo. The ease with which he crafts his mesmerising guitar riffs is second to none.
Jean Claude Mulamba – Drums – The rhythmical engine and soukous heartbeat of Kasai Masai, Jean Claude’s infectious grooves are the stuff of dance-floor legend.
Landing Mane
Landing Mané is a musician and dance choreographer from Sénégal in West Africa. He started really young and toured the world before settling in the uk. He runs all kind of workshops: educational, teacher training, community and corporate.
Landing is a versatile musician and dancer with innate talent for performing and teaching with an energy which inspires joy to all .
Modou Ndiaye
Modou Ndiaye aka Mamadou Cissokho is a member of the famous Cissokho family of Griot musicians from Southern Senegal. Master Kora player, singer songwriter, drummer and percussionist with a superb repertoire of rhythms, Modou plays a variety of West African instruments, ranging from djembe, sabar, calabash and talking drum to his leading instrument - the 22 stringed Kora (The West African Harp!)
Idrissa Camara
Idrissa Camara is a dancer and choreographer originating from Guinea in West Africa. He has made the UK his home and is founder and director of Ballet Nimba, an african dance theatre Company which he founded in 2010. Idrissa is also a music recording artist having produced an album Sogay with his company's musicians and more recently he has turned his hand to film making producing the short documentary Fare Ta.
Aida Diop
Dancer, Singer, Choreographer. Aida, was born within a Lebou traditional family (the fishing community of Senegal), started dancing Sabar at a very young age. Together with other artists, they formed the group 'Jappo' meaning 'together' in Ouakam (Senegal). From this group, Aida was scouted by Landing Mane, one of the nation’s leaders of Senegalese dance and music, who became her mentor and teacher.
Mohamed Gueye
Mohamed offers a range of excellent services from highly energetic and mesmerising performances with his traditional West African ensemble Mbolo Percussion, to facilitating team building workshops, to teaching people of all ages about the various instruments he plays, at the same time educating his students on the rich culture of Senegal
Amadou Diagne
Instrumentalist, Composer, singer, songwriter, Amadou Diagne has the traditions of West Africa at his fingertips.
Amadou Diagne can trace his music roots through a long family line superbmusicians and praise singers. A former full-time member of L’Orchestra National du Senegal, Amadou regularly performed as a percussionist in concerts, cultural events and on television for the top West African stars, as well as becoming a busy session musician on the vibrant Dakar music scene.
Where are we?
The farm is a 16th century working organic farm. Nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountains on the border of Wales & Herefordshire, just outside the famous book-town of Hay on Wye.
- 3 hours from London
- 2 hours from Bristol
- 1.5 Hour from Cardiff
- 3 miles from Hay on wye
- 13 miles from Hereford
Coming by train. Direct train from Paddington and then book a taxi to arrive on the farm .Taxis info below
Staying on-site
It’s always better to stay on-site. This way you can really let your hair down and fully enjoy the festivities for longer
To book click on this link. Change date to 28th of June and book for 2 nights. Once you have booked your accommodation don’t forget to book your festival tickets. And share share share. Let’s make this African Festival one to remember.
Book Your Festival Tickets here
The Cottages sleep 4 in 2 separate bedrooms and are £450 each for 2 nights.
The Safari tents sleep 4 people in 2 separate bedrooms and have a heatings source. A woodburner and electric blankets on the beds. £350 each for 2 nights
The Bell Tents sleep 2 -4 people and have cool showers and toilets in converted Shepherd Huts and a communal kitchen to make tea and coffee are £250 each for 2 nights
Cottages
We have 3 converted Cottages.
Drovers Cottage – sleeping 4 in 2 bedrooms, a super king and twin ensuite rooms
The Shepherds Shack – sleeping 4 in 2 bedrooms, 2 double ensuite rooms
The Cart-House – sleeping 4 in 2 bedrooms, a double and a twin with large shared bathroom
And Safari Tents
We have 6 Safari Tents in a beautiful wild flower meadow
These sleep 4 in 2 separate bedrooms, On a proper double bed and 2 singles. Proper mattresses, Egyptian cotton linen, towels, and duck feather duvets and pillows are provided. Fabulous showers. They are are more like canvas cottages. Very substantial. With Lounge/Dining room, log burner and electric blankets. Click here to see more
Pop Up Bell Tent Village
We are able to put up a pop up bell tent village for extra accommodation, once our permanent accommodation is booked up. This is located in another wild flower meadow with its own cool showers and toilets in converted shepherd huts. We have 10 of these.
They sleep 2-4 in one room. Proper beds, Proper mattresses, Egyptian cotton linen, and duck feather duvets and pillows are provided. You just need to your own bring towels. As it’s one room. This can be configured for just 2 people, so no need to share. Communal kitchen. With electricity so you can get glammed up. Click here to see more
Overflow Accommodation
If you didn’t manage to get into the onsite accommodation, here is our recommended accommodation list for overflow.
Llangain Farmhouse and Barn Sleeps 10
Walking distance. Call Anne Gladstone 07803 504438
Down the road. Email Sally llanerchfarm@gmail.com
Down the road Email Sally sal.budd@googlemail.com
In Dorstone village. Email Selina selina@randallfox.co.uk
On Hardwicke Road email stay@westbrookcourt.co.uk
Hotel in Hay on wye
To Search other accommodation on Air BnB or Booking.com look in Dorstone or Hay on wye
Book Your Taxi Early
Make Sure to Book your Taxi to and from your accommodation early. As Uber has not hit rural areas yet and they are in limited supply. We are a green establishment and prefer guests staying off site to leave their car at their accommodation for safety reasons as well. Walk if you are close by or coming by horse or quad bike is fine by us
Hay Taxi Bus 01497 820444
Glasbury Taxis 01432 621002
A2B Taxis 01874 65 88 99
Julie’s Cabs 07899 846 592
Radnor & Kington Taxis 07831 898 361
Blue Line Taxis (from Hereford) 01432 343435
What to Bring
Drovers Rest Farm is in a rural location, as such we recommend bringing along the following.
- The ground outside is graveled and the path to different areas on the farm can be uneven, so high heels can be tricky. Great for inside the posh barns, we recommend bringing some comfortable shoes too for outside
- I have learnt that in the UK always bring warm clothes, umbrellas and waterproofs. A throw for the evening is great for star gazing beside the fire pits at night.
- Bring Towels if you are staying in the Pop up bell tents (for the permanent accommodation this is provided)
- Torches if you planning on seeing the night wild life or star gazing. Wellies or outdoor boots to walk around the farm visiting with the animals
- Bring everything you need to get festival ready
Directions
Part of the charm is that we are off the beaten track and being located in a spectacular setting means it’s a teeny bit harder to find.. The post code does NOT get you here so do follow directions using google maps here
Or if you use What three words flown.widely.yield. You will find brown tourist signs closer that are clearly signposted Drovers Rest. Our Lane is a no through road through the woods. Our resident buzzard does like flying low over your car, thats his way of welcoming you!
We are a green venue and limit the number of cars. So please car share as much as possible or leave your cars at your accommodation (if staying off-site) and taxi it in and out. It’s also safer for our neighbours and yourself.
The Bar
The Bar at Drovers is fully stocked with local beer, fizz, cocktails, G&Ts, wine, shots etc.
We take cash, cards and bribes!
No alcohol is to be brought to the event.
