AfrikaBurn is not just an event—it’s a radical act of imagination and community brought to life each year in the stark, otherworldly landscape of South Africa’s Tankwa Karoo. Born in 2007 as a uniquely African interpretation of Burning Man, it has evolved from a modest gathering of visionary artists and pioneers into one of the world's most powerful regional burns.
At the heart of Afrikaburn lies a temporary city, built by its inhabitants where commerce disappears, creativity flourishes, and a gift-based culture takes root. Here, there are no spectators, only participants: each person contributes their own fire to a shared blaze of expression, kindness, and collaboration. In this vast, dusty expanse, AfrikaBurn becomes a sanctuary from the ordinary—a space to reconnect with the earth, with others, and with the boundless potential of human connection, all while leaving no trace behind.
My week at Afrikaburn absolutely blew my mind. It was one of the ultimate experiences of my life and a photographer's dream. So amazing to experience it with Russell and our fantastic group.
Here, as mind joggers, are the highlights of the week we spent there.
Our wonderful group
- Rob and Dawn: Afrikaburn veterans
- Russell
- Brandon, Shane and Kayley
- Bev and Tony: Dawn's sister and husband. Campers extraordinaire with loads of gear to enhance our comfort.
- Tristin and Ryan: Rob and Dawn's son and girlfriend.
- Hayley and Wouter: Fellow photographer and birders.
The trip there
- Staying at Fynbos Farm on Sunday with Antony and Jo on the way.
- Delicious lunch.
- The steep pass.
- The bumpy, tire munching gravel road. Driving at 30km per hour.
- Stopping at the padstaal and meeting our first fellow Burners.
Arrival
- At the entrance, Russell’s car wouldn’t start. Disaster! A friendly fellow Burner helped us out and it turned out the battery cord had come loose. Easily fixed. What a relief!
- The wonderful, excited vibe while we waited in the ticket queue.
- Losing my virginity by striking the gong and rolling in the dust.
- Our first sight of the Afrikaburn town as we drove over the rise.
Witnessing the Afrikaburn principles in action
- Radical inclusion, Gifting, Radical self-reliance, Radical self-expression, Communal effort, Civic responsibility, Leaving no trace, Participation, Immediacy, Each one teach one
Theme Camps
- Funky Ethiopian tea
- The Pancake People
- Garden of Weeden where we played pool and air hockey
- Atypical bar drumming, strawberry smoothie
- Birthday Suits for showers in the nude
- Sunrisers for morning coffee
- The Purple Spanking booth
- Greece Monkey
- A wonderful Burlesque show, especially the delightful smile of Daisy Derriere
- Lost & Found: Finding my lost hat and powerbank. Then getting to return the favour by handing in a head torch.
My favourite art installations
- The Angels
- Dead canary in a cage
- The Bubble station with Russian revellers in big coats
- Scratch (The giant ball)
My favourite mutant vehicles
- The Elephant
- The Rhino
- The Porcupine
- Pirate Ship
- The little arachnid (that attacked me!)
The environment and setting
- The sublime vistas of Tankwa Karoo
- Sunrise and sunset
- The communal loos where you looked out
- Road names: 3ish, 7ish
- The kites flying over the camps
- A couple of mini dust storms
- The relief when it got cooler after a couple of sweltering days.
- Playing on the rotating wheel in the desert.
The Burns
- The Clan burn, so intense there was a tornado
- The Scratch (ball) - a slow start, then explosive.
- Hour Glass
- The Pot
- The Ego Check, revealing a heart built into its frame. My ego element to release: Self-consciousnes.
- Dog and Owner in memorium of Mack and Sally
- Naked runs round the fire after the Burns, including Juanita who ran every time.
People connections
- Asking people if I could take their photos. “Your costume is super cool”
- The favourite opening to all strangers "Are you having a good Burn ?
- I felt I was witnessing humanity at its best — a spirit of generosity and openness that made the desert feel like home.
- Cam and Lauren.
- People getting jiggy in the desert including the polyamory discussion.
Giving
- The Purple Pancake Palace back in action for a day.
- Giving away tequila shots in Mexican hats at The Binnekring.
- Brandon's excellent speech about aliens.
- A stranger gifting a leopard necklace to Russell.
- Russell volunteering as a fire marshal.
- Setting up a tattoo station.
- Russell’s Shit Show
Photography
- Ask people if I could take their photos, loving portrait photography.
- Get names and contact details for the rainbow girl, sparkling angel, dancing guy etc.
- The extraordinary costumes
- The amazing clouds
- Sunrise and sunset
- The art in different light and at night
Camp life
- Rob mapping out the camp site.
- The comfort of shade through giant white stretch sheet.
- Tristin, The Boss, instructing us when we erected the stretch sheet.
- Playing Joking Hazzard
- Brandon, the snack king
- Russell's lost and found for items he left around
- Putting on temporary tattoos. My owl.
- Putting on costumes to go out.
- Shots: Jaegermeister, Koeksister, Meltert, Tequila, Amarula, Rhino
- “Is that the title of your sex tape?”
- Shower off vehicle
- Sitting around the fire and midnight snacks (e.g. toasties)
- Meals: Quinoa, Beef stew, Summer rolls, That red curry, Spag bol, Lentil curry
- A massage from Dawn when my neck was sore.
Presence
- Spending a full week at the Afrikaburn (Monday to Sunday)
- No internet access.
- Immediacy, in the senses. A sensory feast.
- Walking an average of over 20 km a day.
Breakthrough in being less self-conscious
- Ask if take photo. Birthday suit shower. Connections. Comfort with nakedness. Gifting.
- Ego Check
The trip home
- Stopping at all 3 padstaals including a dip in the pool.
- Decompression
- Tire graveyard
- All the 4x4 vehicles stopped along the road.
- Dust, dust and more dust.
- Supper at the Wimpy.
- Driving home from Worcester.
