Beneath the Baobabs Festival
30th December - 1st January
Kilifi, Kenya
A vibrant celebration of music, culture, and connection under ancient trees and open skies.
Beneath the Baobabs Festival is a boutique destination festival set along the coast of Kenya, where international and African artists come together in an intimate, open-air setting beneath towering baobab trees. Blending electronic music, live performances, art, and wellness experiences, it offers a unique escape that connects global audiences through culture, nature, and community in Kilifi.
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Where to stay?
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Book our on site accommodation
For a more elevated stay, we offer a limited selection of permanent accommodation, two cottages and four safari tents set within the grounds.
These spaces provide added comfort and privacy while keeping you immersed in the festival atmosphere.
A minimum stay of 5 nights applies. -
Whatsapp the Uncover Concierge - Our official travel & accommodation partner
We’ve partnered with UncoverAfrica to make your journey seamless from start to finish.
From transport and accommodation to curated travel experiences, their team can tailor your trip around the festival.
Let them handle the logistics, so you can focus on the experience. -
Festival-Ready Tents
Arrive to your tent set up and ready to go. Our Festival-Ready Tents, available from 30th December (4pm) to 2nd January (10am), offer a comfortable and hassle-free stay for two. Each tent is fully equipped with beds, mattresses, linens, seating, and lighting—just bring yourself and settle in.
Please note: festival tickets must be purchased separately.
Available to book from May 15th -
Bring Your Own Tent
For those who prefer to camp their own way, you're welcome to pitch your own tent on site at no extra cost. Enjoy the freedom of the festival while staying close to the action, surrounded by nature and the Baobabs. Simply arrive, find your, and make it home for the weekend.
Our Resident Artists
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![Ghedi]()
Ghedi
Ghedi is an Ethiopian-born, African-raised DJ and producer celebrated for his eclectic blend of Afro house, 3 step, gqom, house, and forward-thinking electronic sounds. Moulded by Addis, Berlin and Nairobi, he bridges global club culture with deep cultural roots, creating immersive sets that connect diverse dance floors.
A resident DJ at Beneath the Baobabs Festival - where he's helped to shape the curation of the main stages and ring in New Year celebrations with his signature sound - Ghedi has also brought his dynamic energy to stages across the region and beyond. -
![Lemi]()
Lemi
Lemi is a producer, DJ, and events curator operating between Kilifi and Nairobi — a force shaping Kenya's electronic music scene from two of its most vital creative hubs.
His sound moves fluidly across Afro-house, 3-Step, and Afro Tech, crafting dancefloor experiences that are both energetic and deeply musical — a sensibility that carries equally into his productions and his curation of spaces that reflect his artistic values
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![Music in Kilifi]()
BBYY.ontheisland
BBYY. On The Island is a music producer, DJ, and writer based in Mombasa, known for crafting hypnotic, emotionally rich soundscapes that blend experimental textures with East African rhythm and global club culture.
Through original productions, edits, and a secret online mix series On The Island Radio, she builds worlds that are both intimate and expansive—where vulnerability meets groove, and strangeness is celebrated.
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![Best Djs Kenya]()
Xan Woods
An up-and-coming artist and producer, born in Kenya with a groove that's impossible to refuse.
His music has traveled and evolved with him, carrying energy, people, and culture through every track he plays.
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![Djs in Kilifi]()
Heka
Heka is the sonic embodiment of ancient mysticism, crafting music that is both hypnotic and psychedelic. His sound is a journey through rhythm and consciousness, fusing pulsating tribal beats with ethereal melodies and mind-bending textures to create immersive auditory rituals.
Beyond his own projects, he is the lead engineer at Baobab Studios, engineering transformative recordings and shaping soundscapes that honor cultural heritage while pushing sonic boundaries.
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![Djs in Kilifi]()
Soulfud
Soulfud is a passionate and vibrant DJ from Kilifi, Kenya.
In just over two years behind the decks, she has built a strong reputation across East Africa’s underground scene for her eclectic sound and magnetic stage presence by blending electronic funk, house, melodic techno, afrohouse, afro-tech, and afrocentric sounds.
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![Best Djs in Kenya]()
Shangatatu
Shangatatu is a multi-hyphenate brand featuring the pioneer- Ian Luganje Ziro, his art and merchandise creations, lastly, Ian’s musical interpretation in Dj format and music production.
Shangatatu is a vibrant creative born and rooted on Kenya's coast channeling positive frequencies through African dance music, merchandise and art into hypnotic, tribal soundscapes that speak to both ancient rhythm and modern freedom.
Beyond the Music
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![Tradtional Mijikenda]()
Lutsaga Project
Preserving Mijikenda music with respect, fairness, and community ownership.
A funded project of social responsibility, Lutsaga pays all participants for their performances, ensures royalties are distributed fairly, and returns master recordings to the communities themselves.
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Sustainability
Beneath the Baobabs Festival proudly bans all single-use plastics, and we encourage everyone to join us in eliminating these pollutants from our everyday lives. Let’s come together to make a positive impact on our environment and build a sustainable future.
We are proud to be the first “Carbon Neutral Festival in Africa.” By estimating and offsetting our emissions, we contribute to the protection of hundreds of acres of forest through our partner, Wildlife Works.
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![Kisima - Wellness]()
Kisima - Mind, Body & Soul
Find balance between party and wellness at our dedicated Kisima area. Immerse yourself in a world of holistic practices, workshops, talks, therapies, and art.
Engage in meaningful discussions, foster human connections, and experience personal growth in a space filled with peace, creativity, and mutual understanding.
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![Recording Studio Kenya]()
Baobab Studios
Our on-site recording studio and independent label, nurturing bold sound and emerging talent from the coast and beyond.
Set within an off-grid environment, it blends analog warmth with digital precision to create and release music shaped by place, culture, and experimentation.
FAQs
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Beneath the Baobabs is located 5 kilometers South of Kilifi, on the Mombasa Malindi Highway, Kenya.
FROM ABROAD
If you are flying from abroad, the easiest is to fly directly into Mombasa International Airport, only 60km away from us. Alternatively, you can fly to Nairobi and come down by train, bus, plane or road (see below).FROM NAIROBI
BY PLANE
This is by far the quickest way to get to Beneath the Baobabs from Nairobi. Our closest airport is Vipingo, which is accessed through direct flights from Nairobi. Alternatively, Mombasa and Malindi are the next closest airports to fly into from various airlines.Have a look at Jambo Jet, Skyward Airlines, Kenya Airways and Safarilink for flights.
BY TRAIN
If you’ve got a bit more time on your side, you can travel by SGR — It now takes 5 hours by train from Nairobi to Mariakani (or Mombasa). Train tickets cost up to KSh1500 for a standard ticket and Ksh4500 for a first class ticket.
Mariakani and Mombasa are both similar distances from Kilifi. If you are booking a shuttle to Kilifi, book your train to Mombasa. If you are getting a taxi from the train station we suggest Mariakani as you rule out the risk of Mombasa traffic.
Book early as the train will sell out.BY BUS
Various bus companies make the 8-12 hour journey all the way from Nairobi to Kilifi. Most take online bookings whereas others allow you to phone in. Book directly via Mash, Tahmeed or Dreamline bus companies. These will drop you in Kilifi Town.BY CAR
Head down the Mombasa highway from Nairobi turn off at Mariakani towards Kaloleni, continue until you meet the Mombasa-Malindi highway. Turn left on the highway and Beneath the Baobabs will be a right turning in 1.5km Opposite Mnarani Secondary school.
FROM MOMBASA / MALINDI
BY TAXI
From Mombasa and Malindi airport: Daytime taxi pick-ups are normally Ksh 5500-6000.
BY MATATU
If you are coming by bus or matatu, jump off at Naivas Supermarket Kilifi. From there, motorbikes and tuk-tuks will be able to take you to BTB for about 400-800ksh -
Most visitors to Kenya are required to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before arrival. The process is straightforward and completed online, with a $30 application fee. We recommend applying at least a week in advance of travel.
Only use the official website for ETA application. -
Just like most areas of Sub Saharan Africa, the Kenyan coast is an endemic area for malaria. Kilifi is also home the prestigious Kenya Medical Research Institute funded by the Wellcome Trust, a major centre for clinical and epidemiological research on malaria. Thanks in large part to KEMRI, hospital admissions for malaria in the area have decreased these past two decades. Prophylaxis to prevent malaria remains recommended while you are in a malaria zone. If you’re traveling from overseas, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a reliable source of advice if you must decide which Prophylaxis to take:
We also encourage you to monitor the most recent medical advice concerning Yellow Fever – depending on where you plan travel before and after visiting Kilifi a Yellow Fever vaccine may be required.
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December on the coast is warm, tropical, and vibrant. Expect daytime temperatures around 28–32°C, with warm evenings and occasional short tropical showers.
Pack plenty of suncream, hat and light clothes. If you are camping on site, a rechargeable portable fan is recommended. -
We endeavour to make Beneath the Baobabs accessible to all. As such we will always have Accessible Parking available – usually we will let you drive into the event site.
For large public events these spaces must be booked in advance to ensure sufficient space, please contact us.
Please let us know of any specific requirements in advance to ensure we cater to your needs best we can. This can include a pre-event site visit for those with wheelchairs or mobility restrictions to ensure specific needs are met.
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We have ample parking on site. Parking is located just as you enter the site, about 400m from the main arena. There will be security watching the cars during events.
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Festival Tickets are non-refundable. We allow the transfer of tickets after a private arrangement of sale.
We have community pages on facebook that allow you to find buyers for those tickets.
Once a ticket is sold, you must access your Quicket account and transfer the ticket on their platform.We recommend that the seller transfers the tickets only after they receive the payment.
Join our community and stay in the loop.
Get updates on ticket announcements, lineup drops, special offers, and a glimpse of what’s coming next at Beneath the Baobabs.