AfrikaBurn 2018

Greetings from the desert!

AfrikaBurn is an annual event taking place 5 hours from Cape Town to the middle of nowhere in Karoo. You must bring everything with you as nothing but ice is available at the desert. Phone signal will cut off just as you reach the 2-hour dirt road which will try your car tires like nothing you have seen before. But I had my gang and a full car and we were prepared for an adventure of a lifetime.

I arrived at AfrikaBurn with no expectations, the whole event seemed so bizarre that I figured it better not to have any hopes or plans. The event was everything you could have imagined and more. A bit like the Mad Max-movie meets a music festival and fancy-dressed and naked people in the middle of the desert for an experimental anti-government, community working test with a lot of drugs, bonfires and techno music. Yet so much better.

There was an hourly burn from sunset and the last one at 6 am just before the sun rose. I was warned about the scorching heat during the day as well as the freezing breeze at night and it was even more radical than I could have imagined. It would have been rather easy to walk around with not too many strings on during the day but at night the bonfires and my six layers of clothing were absolutely necessary. At least the weather requires you to hold onto your buddies and carry around a water bottle at all times.

At night we danced the cold away in the dozens of theme camps that were holding parties. The area was huge, it was super easy to get lost and lose all your buddies. I think we spent quite a long time gathering our troops but surprising successfully managed to stay together. The only way to find other people or to communicate with one another is to leave notes at the chalkboards or at BurningMail. Most people reserve their camps before arriving and are then able to locate camp numbers from the maps.

There is a possibility to shower, either in a public naked shower (which is faster) or in a booth that allows you to have some privacy. Water is scarce so you are asked not to do it on daily basis, plus ain’t nobody got time to queue for that. I only showered on Saturday morning by having a 5-litre water canister poured on me while I scrubbed.

During the day, there are all sorts of events and workshops organised by volunteers. We mainly strolled around and explored the artworks.

There was a brilliant and vibrant silent disco. And apparently, a dance floor even 10 km from the main event to the desert.

At night the mobiles were running wild, playing music and carrying people as they went. You could always find the main event by following this fly around.

A part of our glorious gang 

When planning your outfits, bring as many lights as you can find and make sure that you also have dress-up for the cold, too.

We were up for about 20 hours a day and my hair was resembling a bird’s nest by the end, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

We met so so many awesome people and beautiful souls. We received these lovely friendship bracelets from some travellers who were looking to spread some joy around.

From AB with love,

Mira