This year, iconic music festivals OppiKoppi and Rocking the Daisies will be collaborating for their 2017 festivals. OppiKoppi takes place between at the 5th and 7th of October, while Daisies takes place from the 5th to the 8th of October.
American rap superstar Joey Bada$$ will be performing in South Africa for the very first time as he performs at both Oppikoppi and Daisies.
Local icon Black Coffee will also be one of the headline acts at both festivals alongside the likes of Flume and Two Door Cinema Club.
A press release of the announcement earlier in the year read: “It’s the first time in the history of SA where two promoters will work together on this scale, to create explosive experiences, regardless of which event fans choose to attend.
"The combined attendance at both festivals is expected to reach 45 000, as fans descend on Darling and Northam for two of SA’s biggest music and lifestyle festivals.”
With such an extensive and diverse line-up, both events will be expecting huge audiences. With their dates coinciding, deciding on which to attend won’t be an easy task, but attending both is still an option, so long as you plan well (and you've got the budget).
Daisies is held at Cloof Wine Estate in the Western Cape, while Oppikoppi is held near the mining town of Northam in Limpopo. One is far north, and the other at the southern tip of the continent, so it would certainly be quite a trek to try do both.
For those headed to Oppikoppi, there are plenty of scenic routes you can take to turn the drive up into an interesting road trip. Be sure to pack your braai stand and gas stove so that along the way you can prepare yourself some boerewors, lamb chops and pap. Also, make sure you pack some Pronutro as a quick and easy early morning breakfast.
Usually held in the second weekend of August, Oppikoppi will this year be instead held in the brisk warmth of spring.
Colloquially, OppiKoppi is Afrikaans for "on the hill". Located at foot of a hill, the camping area at the festival has been known to get a bit chilly at night. So be sure to pack warm, and get yourself a tent that is reliable and spacious enough. For Daisies, it would be smart to arrange accommodation as soon as possible.
With less than a month left, space is running out fast. The Daisyland Honeycomb Suites, Daisyland Queen B’s and Daisyland Greenfields are already sold out. However, if you prefer general camping, which is included in your festival ticket, then be sure to bring your own tent and bedding.
These may also come in handy if you’re travelling a considerable distance down to the Cloof Wine Estate. Also, if you really want to make the most of this experience, it might be a good idea to take the scenic route through the garden route, the wine route or Chapman’s peak.
Tenting with strangers can be tricky, so it’s important that at whichever festival you decide to attend you stay vigilant and stay safe.