Mar 23, 2017
We rolled into Wolfkop Weekender Lilo River Flow 2017 early on the Friday afternoon, my campsite was situated on the grass embankment next to the river. The rest of the venue continued into a sandy forest which provided vital shade so that you’re not waking up in the morning sun. Then, when the sun went down, the forest turned into a parade of neon lights.
At 25, I felt as though I was on the younger spectrum of festival goers there. This translated into everyone having great campsites and thus being very well prepared to party. In my decade of attending festivals in South Africa, Wolfkop Weekender is right up there as one of the best.
Set about two hours from Cape Town, just outside of Citrusdal on the crystal and ever-flowing Oliphants river, enveloped by the Cederberg mountains, Wolfkop's stage was located on a long grass lawn embankment. With levels of chill areas either side of the DJ booth, mirroring a Boiler Room-esque feel, party goers danced surrounding the booth. And, all around the dance floor, as if living in Stranger Things, were lights orchestrated for two nights by a magnificent Swiss man named Tom.
In the day, the dance floor and the extended lawn behind it turn in to the biggest adult playground, a smorgasbord of inflatables and a river as if by God’s own design made for inflatable fun.
I kind of went into this party blind and at the last minute, not knowing too much other than taking an inflatable device is an essential. I had no idea who was playing, it turned out to be a selection of some of the finest DJ’s Cape Town has to offer. With such a stellar line-up it's hard to pick the standouts. The range from chilled daytime funk, to thumping Berlin house in the early morning. The artists came prepared and the response was always a vibrant and pulsating dance floor.
This is the festival you want to go to, really. The atmosphere and the spirit of the people throughout the party made it truly amazing. Everyone was open and engaging and the organizers do a brilliant job of creating a space where you can forget about the everything for a weekend and have the best time possible.
Written by Indie Shuffle festival correspondent: Lawrence Elliott Stent