[Image: Duncan Rawlinson / Flickr/CC]
Drawing inspiration from the global Burning Man festival, AfrikaBurn is a one-of-a-kind annual experience that began in 2007 as a small gathering of creative minds. Since then, it has blossomed into one of the biggest festivals in Africa.
Originally called Afrika Burns, it was renamed through a public participation process to “AfrikaBurn” in 2008 due to concerns about negative interpretation.
Surrounded by the vast dryness of the Tankwa Karoo desert, The Burn draws a diverse crowd, from bankers and lawyers to baristas and van-lifers, offering each the opportunity to let their creativity run wild and simply express themselves.
For one week, everyone can be anything at all – or nothing, if that’s your vibe.
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Beyond the Tiger Balm and trippy bicycles, it’s still a desert, so getting there and surviving the week with no city comforts does require some planning. Fortunately, the event encourages communal participation, but it’s still a nightmare to drive there.
Many a Burner has found themselves sand-clogged on the side of the road with a burst tyre from the treacherous Tankwa dirt roads leading into the venue. And it’s not just the Polo Vivos and Hyundai i20s that get taken down, but also the hardier Jimnys and Jeeps.
Those with friends in high(er) places have found ways to fly in, but it’s never really been all that easy or organised. Hell, that would be the desert dream, though, right?
Amazingly, this year, a little birdie told us that Air du Cup is on the ball, offering charter flights for Burners to a neighbouring farm with shuttles ready to take you to the venue! And yes, they’re apparently way more organised than that oke you met at Dalebrook with a hobby plane.
Air Du Cap offers the option to do a charter share, which means their travel partner charters the aircraft and lets you share.
You will still certainly fly in style, be it in an air-conditioned Beechcraft Baron or the Cessna 182, which will take half an hour or one hour, respectively, from the Cape Winelands Airport to AfrikaBurn.
Burners love a sharing moment, but there is also the option to book the whole aircraft for yourself if you’re the kind of laanie glamper we know you all are at heart.
You have to admit, gliding in like an angel and swooping out like a phoenix is probably the only way to experience all of the Burn.
Check out all the details and rates for your Air du Cap journey here, and be sure to share it with all your Burner buddies so that you can all have a blast in the sand without fretting about the roads.
The easiest way to book is through Whatsapp, at +27 76 980 3851, or via email at info@airducap.com
