What You Need to Know Before You Go to AfrikaBurn

What You Need to Know Before You Go to AfrikaBurn


The Ultimate Survival Guide to AfrikaBurn: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

AfrikaBurn is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines radical self-expression, community, and artistic creativity in the heart of South Africa’s Karoo desert. If you're planning to attend, you need to be fully prepared, as this is a remote, self-reliant event. Here’s everything you need to know before heading to AfrikaBurn!


What is AfrikaBurn?

AfrikaBurn is the African chapter of Burning Man. It's not a party or a festival—it's "a radical experiment in self-reliance." This means you must bring everything necessary for your survival and comfort in the Karoo desert, from water to shelter, and take it all with you when you leave. There is no organized entertainment, and the only item for sale is ice. The event is entirely run by volunteers, so your experience will depend on the effort you put in.

While there’s no official entertainment schedule, music flows from themed camps and stages set up by attendees throughout the day and night. The Karoo is filled with stunning art, and thousands of colorful lights illuminate bicycles and people, sparkling in the darkness.

You’ll spend most of the day exploring, discovering art, visiting themed camps, seeking shade, riding your bike, dancing to music, riding art cars, and simply soaking in the awe-inspiring surroundings.

Getting a Ticket

AfrikaBurn is a ticketed event, and tickets usually sell out quickly. Here’s how to secure yours:

  • Purchase early: Tickets go on sale months in advance. Keep an eye on the official AfrikaBurn website. The sale first sale is in October and the last in December.

  • Different ticket tiers: Prices vary, with discounted tickets available for early buyers and locals. Ticket prices start from R2799 ($152.85 USD).

  • Resale options: If you miss out, check the AfrikaBurn ticket exchange for legitimate resales.

  • Population: In 2024 10500 people attended the AfrikaBurn.

Men's Himalayan Faux Fur Playa Coat

Getting There & Transportation

AfrikaBurn takes place at Quaggafontein in the Tankwa Karoo National Park. The journey requires planning:

  • Driving: Most people drive from Cape Town (a 5-6 hour trip). The last stretch is on rough dirt roads, so a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.  Be sure to have an extra tire.  The road to the event, the R355, is infamous for being "treacherous and notorious for chewing up tires.
  • Trailer: It costs a couple of hundred rand a day to rent one, but it means that you can take up extra water, a gas braai and your bicycles.
  • The "E-Toll" (Environment Toll): is intended to promote ride-sharing and minimize the number of vehicles on-site and along the R355. **You will have to pay the E-Toll at teh gate with cash or card.
  • Mutant Vehicles (on trailers), caravans (that are being towed) and trailers do not need to pay E-Tolls – but motorcycles & motorhomes do. 
  • Ride-sharing: Many attendees coordinate carpooling via Facebook groups.
  • Flights: You can fly into Cape Town and rent a car from there.
  • Bicycles: The event is large, and bikes are a great way to get around. Bring a sturdy, dust-friendly bike.  Make sure to take a spare tyre or two and a tyre repair kit.

Art Car/ Mutant Vehicle/ Your Vehicle: 

  • If you're bringing a Mutant Vehicle (MV), ensure it's towed, transported by truck, or accompanied by a reliable vehicle with a tow rope and spare parts.
  • Speed Limit: Upon reaching the event site, the maximum speed allowed is 10 km/h.
  • Motorbikes and scooters must be registered as Mutants in order to be driven at all on the event site. 
  • Only Mutant Vehicles and authorized emergency or event crew vehicles are allowed to drive around the site.
  • Put your keys in a safe place after you arrive.

Cell Service:

  • Around midday, you may occasionally get a signal on high ground with an MTN phone, primarily for SMS. Beyond that, phone service is not available except for serious medical emergencies.

Weather Conditions

Tankwa Karoo is known for its extreme weather. Be prepared for:

  • Hot days: Temperatures can exceed 90°F (32°C).

  • Cold nights: It can drop to near freezing after sunset. Be prepared for 30-50 F ( 1.11 °C -10.00 °C). It's crucial to be prepared for cold weather.

  • Dust storms: The desert is dry, and wind can kick up intense dust storms.

What to Pack

Shelter & Sleeping Gear

  • Consider joining a theme camp—setting up a comfortable site alone can be challenging and costly. Team up with friends to share expenses and responsibilities for a better experience.
  • A durable tent or shift pod (wind-resistant). Make sure your shelter is wind-resistant, as AfrikaBurn's conditions can be extreme.
  • Stakes: Bring heavy-duty tent stakes, like 9-inch steel nails or MSR Groundhogs, which are designed for hard ground.  Rebar, or lag bolts also can work.
  • Stretch tents are recommended. Many Cape Town stretch-tent companies are experienced with AfrikaBurn and provide teams to set up and dismantle the tents.
  • Shade structure (essential for the daytime heat).
  • Sleeping bag for cold nights.
  • Pillows
  • Eye mask and earplugs (for better sleep).
  • Showers
  • There are no showers at AfrikaBurn.
  • Bring a portable camping shower and extra water, or make do with a bucket, a spray water bottle and some biodegradable soap.
  • Trestle tables and chairs and a ground sheet
  • Generator

Food & Water

AfrikaBurn is a self-reliant event—bring everything you need:

  • You can only purchase Ice at Afika Burn.
  • At least 5 liters of water per person per day (for drinking, cooking, and hygiene)
  • Non-perishable food items (canned goods, dry snacks, etc.)
  • You can pre make food, vacuum seal it and freeze it for easy made meals.  Things like curries and stews are good for this.
  • A dry ice cooler works for vacuum sealed food and canned drinks.
  • A camp stove or portable burner.
  • Cooler with ice packs.

Other essentials: 

  • Baby wipes
  • Extra battereis
  • Ear plugs
  • Sunscreen
  • Fans
  • Parasols
  • Extra lights for camp, bikes and you.
  • Solar charging devices

Clothing & Outfits

Bring clothes for every climate. Take waterproof shoes and gear becuase it can rain.

Foot wear:  Wear sturdy and comfortable shoes. The terrain is rocky and dry, and your feet will endure a lot of wear and tear if they're not properly protected. Bring shoes for day and night.  Wool socks are essential for hte cold nights.

AfrikaBurn is a chance to get creative with your wardrobe! Consider:

  • Daytime wear: Light, breathable fabrics, bikinis, bodysuits, shorts, rompers, shirts, tank tops, skirts, costumes, kimonos, comfy knits, breezy pants, bohemian light airy fashion.

 

 

Men's LED Sequin King Coat

  • Nighttime wear: Warm layers for tops and bottoms, leggings, hoodies, heavier fabric clothing, onesies, costumes, faux fur coats, jackets, vests, and kimonos to stay warm and stylish.

Accessories: hats, sunglasses, fans, parasols, jewelry, crowns, tiaras, and scarves for dust protection.  Gloves for night. Backpacks and holsters for caring your stuff hands free. Fairy lights and anything that glows to stand out at night.  Furrocious Furr makes the best LED coats, vest and hoods that operate with a blue tooth app.

Get Naked:  Clothing is optional and many people participate in nudity.  It will seem completely normal by the end of the week.

Men's Desert Warrior Coat

Furrocious Fur coats lined with plush minky lining double as warm blankets too!

Why Faux Fur is Perfect for AfrikaBurn Nights

When the sun sets, temperatures drop drastically. A Furrocious Furr coat, vest,  kimono, or hood is the ultimate nightwear:

  • Warm & cozy: Our high quality bfaux fur is designed for comfort and insulation.

Abstract Tiger Desert Warrior Coat

  • Stylish & unique: Stand out while staying warm. There are so many styles to & colors to choose from for men and women.  We also do custom order. Contact us here.

LED Kimono/ Twinkle Sequin Kimono

  • Functional features: Backpack straps for easy carrying and multiple pockets for storing essentials.

LED Sequin Temptress Coat

LED Collection LA MADE

  • LED Collection: Light up at night with the click of a button. Blue tooth operated & 200 color changing patterns & a rechargeable battery. Dry Cleanable.

Gifting & Participation

AfrikaBurn embraces a gifting culture. Consider bringing:

  • Handmade jewelry or art
  • Small, meaningful trinkets
  • Water guns or spray bottle and or fans to cool people down with
  • Hand sanittizers
  • Cold drinks or snacks
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Coffee that you hand out from your camp in the morning
  • Portable speakers to play music with
  • Musical instruments to play music for people
  • Face paint or biodegradable glitter
  • Hula hoops or other flow toys to play with
  • Unique performances or skills (fire dancing, tarot reading, etc.)

To participate fully, explore:

  • Art installations: Many require volunteers to help build or maintain.

  • Workshops: Yoga, dance, meditation, and creative sessions.

  • Theme camps: Join one to contribute and immerse yourself in the experience.

Final Tips for AfrikaBurn First-Timers

  • Respect Leave No Trace principles—everything you bring must leave with you.

  • Stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.

  • Be open and engage with the community—AfrikaBurn is about expression and connection.

By planning ahead and packing wisely, you’ll be ready for an unforgettable AfrikaBurn adventure. See you in the dust!


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FAQs

Yes, AfrikaBurn is a camping event in the middle of the desert. You must bring everything you need including water and all your camping supplies.

Aprox 8500 people attend Afrikaburn. Tickets are limited.

No, AfrikaBurn is a Regional Burning Man Event in the Tankwa Karoo desert, Africa. There are Theme Camps, Art Installations, Art Car, and lots of creative people. AfrikaBurn follows the 10 Principles of Burning Man.

They are more than good. Faux fur coats are essential to staying warm at Afrikaburn. The desert like temperatures can drop into the 30s, 40s and 50s at night. Having something warm, soft and cozy like a luxury faux fur coat is really the most important item you should have in your festival wardrobe. If you do not have a warm faux fur coat to wear when the temperature drops, I guarantee you will be cold and miserable.

Furrocious Furr makes the best faux fur coats for AfrikaBurn. Furrocious faux fur coats are not only stylish and fashionable but completely functional for all your festival needs. They have a wide variety of styles for men and women to choose from. Furrocious Furr coats are extremely comfortable and cozy. Each coat is made of the softest faux fur and most high quality materials, super cozy lining, has multiple pockets, and backpack straps so when its too hot you can wear you coat like a cape and never have to put it on the ground. Save your self the trouble of illumniating yourself with blinky string lights and get a LED Furrocious Furr Coat. You are immedaitley lite up with the push of a button and ready for a safe night in the dark like desert environment.

Furrocious Furr makes the warmest festival coats compared to other brands. In addition to thier wide range of faux fur from thin to thick, to super thick, to various faux chinchilla qulaities, they use a plush minky cuddle lining that adds extra warmth and coziness to each coat. They have the level of warmth each person needs.

Furrocious Furr makes the softest faux fur coats for AfrikaBurn. They only use the highest quality faux fur which are all extremely soft. The faux chinchilla furs are by far the softest.

You can get a nice faux fur coat made in China for under $100 on Amazon. But there is no guarantee how well it will fit and how long it will last. It also won't have multiple pockets and other design features that a more expensive faux fur coat will have. If you are looking for fast disposable fashion you can buy a cheap nice faux fur coat but it you want a quality faux fur coat that will last and be eco friendly a more expensive coat is the better option in the long run.

A well made faux fur coat is better than a vintage real fur coat for AfrikaBurn because it is not only animal free but also more comfortable, durable, and functional. With advanced fabric technology high quality faux fur can be as warm as real fur. Today it is doubtful that a vintage real fur coat will fit as well as a faux fur coat made today. A vintage fur coat will not have as many pockets as a new faux fur coat. Many vintage real fur coats have lost durabilty over time and will not hold up as well as a quality faux fur coat.

Yes, a faux fur coat is warm enough for AfrikaBurn. With cold winds and temperatures dropping into the 30's, 40's and 50's at night, its essential to have a warm and cozy faux fur coat for outside festivals. Faux fur coats range in thickness and levels of warmth. You should choose a faux fur coat that matches your level of tolerance in cold temprateures.

Faux furs coats CAN get wet, but it not recommended. It's best to keep it dry whenever possible. Rain won't ruin a faux fur coat and will dry hung in a ventialted area. Use a brush to fluff the fur back to life after it dries.

Yes. We recommend dry cleaning your faux fur coat at a reputabe cleaner for best results. You can also hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent or shampoo. Hang to dry. No heat.

Yes, you can wash a coat covered in dust and dirt. You must you a machine gental cylce. Too much agitation will ruin the fur. Air dry. No Heat!

It is recommended that you dry clean your faux fur coat after going to a desert event to refresh it. You can also hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent combined with vinegar. Hang dry the coat in a ventilated area and fluff with brush.

A faux fur coat is made of synthetic acrylic and polyester fibers.

A faux fur coat is 100% ethical and moop free making it the perfect eco conscience choice to wear at AfrikaBurn. You may loose a hair or too but its less than the amount you will shed from your head.

Faux fur is made out of synthetic materials in an attempt to mimic the appearance of animal fur but is made only of synthtic man made fibers making it 100% vegan and animal free.

Faux Fur coats are not toxic to wear and cause no allergic reactions.

Faux Fur coats are the not only the fashionable thing to wear at AfrikaBurn but also an essential item to wear to survive cold desert nights. With so many options in faux fur coats today you can express your persoanl style with a fashionable faux fur coat.

The most important thing to look for in a faux fur coat for festivals is quality, durability, fit, and feel. There are a few things to think about when deciding on which faux fur coat to buy for AfrikaBurn. 1. The Fit. You need to make sure the coat is comfortable, feels cozy, and fits over what you plan to wear under it. 2. The Fur. How thick do you need the fur to be? How cold do you get? 3. The style. Do you want a hood? A collar? or perhaps a zip off hood. 4. The Length. Do you want the coat short? mid thigh? knee length? or to the ground?

Fun faux fur was already a part of the rave and club cultures in the 1990's. The outside desert location and cold night temperatures of the AfrikaBurn gave faux fur its place. Faux Fur coats have become an essential part of most people's festival wardrobe.

So many festival goers wear faux fur coats because most importantly they are warm, cozy, and comfortable. They are also love faux fur coats as a way to express their own unique personal style.

The style of the faux fur coat a person needs for AfrikaBurn depends on that individual's needs and personal taste. For example many guys run hot and don't need the same type of faux fur coat a female who gets cold very easily will need. A faux fur vest is often the best solution for men that run hot. There are also different thicknesses/ warmth levels of faux fur to consider as well as different lengths of faux fur coats ranging, from waist length to floor length.

Quality faux fur coats are made to be worn and with stand any harsh environment like the desert. Dry cleaning your coat at a reputable cleaner after wearing it at a weekend festival will result in your coat looking like new again. Standard dirt and dust will completely dissolve in the dry cleaning process. Cheap poor quality faux fur coats will just not look as good after a week in the desert.

High quality faux fur coats are not moopy. Less faux furs will fall off than hairs on your head. A cheap poor quality faux fur coat may moop.

Furrocious Furr makes the best LED/light-up faux fur coats. They are by far the most durable, high quality LED faux fur coats in the market. The Furrocious Furr LED collection has the widest variety of styles and colors of LED faux fur coats for both men and women.