3 Oaks Gaming transports us to the heart of the savanna with 3 African Drums, a visually stunning slot that puts a unique twist on the popular Hold and Win mechanic.

This game is built around collecting three different Diamond symbols, each linked to a powerful bonus modifier that kicks off during the feature round.

With gorgeous African wildlife serving as the high-value icons and a medium-high volatility setup, this title offers an engaging and often explosive play experience that we found incredibly satisfying.

Game Features at Glance

RTP: ≈96.00%
Volatility: Medium-High
Progressive Jackpot: No (Features 4 Fixed Jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major, Grand)
Max Win: Up to x2,000 spin value (Grand Jackpot)
Game Provider: 3 Oaks Gaming
Game Theme: African Safari / Wildlife

How to Play 3 African Drums

3 African Drums uses a standard 5×3 reel setup with 25 fixed winning lines.

To collect prizes, you need to match three or more identical animal symbols—like the powerful Lion or the swift Leopard—from left to right.

The crucial element in this game is the trio of colored meters located above the reels.

Each time you land one of the special Diamond Progress symbols (Green, Red, or Yellow), you fill the corresponding meter.

Collecting enough Diamonds of any one color is the key to triggering the enhanced Hold and Win bonus game.

Game Features

The primary feature is the advanced Hold and Win Bonus, which is powered by the three collected modifiers. When triggered, you start with three respins, and any new Diamond symbol that lands resets that counter.

The key to the big wins lies in the three activated features: the Collect feature (Green) gathers the value of all visible Diamonds into one prize; the Double feature (Red) expands the game to two full 5×3 reel sets, effectively doubling your opportunity to collect prizes; and the Multi feature (Yellow) adds a multiplier of up to x5 to random Diamond prizes on the grid, with multipliers potentially increasing on subsequent spins.

If you manage to fill all 15 positions on the original grid (or either expanded grid) with Diamonds, you collect the coveted Grand Jackpot prize. For those eager to jump straight to the action, the option to play the feature is available.

Our Verdict

We found 3 African Drums to be an exceptional entry into the African-themed slot category, mainly because of how intelligently the three modifier drums enhance the Hold and Win feature.

The choice and variety of the bonuses—especially the Double feature’s ability to create two playing fields—make this game feel far more dynamic than similar titles.

While the medium-high volatility means the journey to the bonus might take a little patience, the potential for stacking features is certainly worth the pursuit. The immersive theme and feature-rich gameplay make this a highly recommended experience.

If you had a blast on this safari, you might also enjoy the rhythms of 4 African Drums, the royal roar in Lion Gems, the wild chase in Black Wolf, the sun-soaked spins of Mad Hit Savannah, or the exotic journey in Safari Sun.