South African road trip ideas not too far from your hometown
Nothing soothes the soul quite like a good old fashioned road trip. With so much...
14 November 2024 
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It’s said that everyone should experience AfrikaBurn at least once. If 2025 is your year, you’ll need to know a few things ahead of the time – and you’ll want to secure a 4×4 rental to navigate the rocky, sandy Tankwa Karoo.
AfrikaBurn is Africa’s official Burning Man festival. In 2025, it will take place from 28 April to 4 May. Each year, thousands of participants gather in the Tankwa Karoo in South Africa to create and showcase art, put on eclectic performances, and simply live with a sense of community and collaboration. Read on to learn more about the event and how you can get there safely.
People gather around an art installation at AfrikaBurn. Photo: Afrikaburn
AfrikaBurn’s organisers call it many things: a participant-created movement, an experiment in inclusive community building, decommodification, creativity, self-reliance, and radical self-expression, and a chance to invent the world anew. The truth is, different people attend for different reasons.
Artists come to collaborate and express themselves through their work. Some people come to practise generosity, establishing themselves as “gifters”, while others simply come for a good time and to watch massive wooden structures go up in flames. Ultimately, they’re all united by 10 guiding principles.
As people begin to gather, the ephemeral Tankwa Town emerges from the barren desert, creating a festival-like space where nothing’s for sale and everything’s about generosity. However, most people know AfrikaBurn as a festival where people dress up in eccentric outfits, drive pimped-out Desert Mutant Vehicles, and shed the technological aids of modern life to adopt a simple, carefree lifestyle.
Each AfrikaBurn event focuses on a particular theme. Last year, the theme was “CREATION”, while this year, the theme is “Out Of The Blue”, celebrating “anything under the sun and anything under the sea”.
“It’s the clouds in a blue Tankwa sky and the whirlwinds of dust and smoke,” the website reads. “The aching cold winds that blow through Quaggafontein, chased by the rays of the sun. The rain, the hail, storm clouds and thunder. The lights in the sky, and the shadows on the moon scattered like mist.
“Something else, something out of the ordinary, and something out of the blue. Something.”
People watch on as an art installation goes up in flames at AfrikaBurn. Photo: Afrikaburn
The focal point of every AfrikaBurn event is the burning of enormous combustible works of art. Artists and organisers ensure that each burn happens safely and responsibly – that means you can’t just rock up and burn things! In fact, organisers encourage artists to create works that can be dismantled and repurposed. Central to this is the idea that the venue must be left exactly as it was found, without any litter or rubble. As a result, the event hosts a diverse collection of artworks from sculptors, painters, and even performance artists.
Not all of the art is stationary, either. Many attendees design and build incredible Desert Mutant Vehicles for the event, but there’s a catch – to drive one, it must be significantly modified and licensed by the Department of Mutant Vehicles. There’s a 10 km/h speed limit and, as organisers put it, “if your car looks like a car, and doesn’t invite participation, it won’t be allowed to drive around”.
AfrikaBurn isn’t a music festival. There aren’t any headline acts and there isn’t any set lineup. Performances take place at the discretion of artists, whether it’s just a guy with a guitar or a prominent musician who’s also here to enjoy the vibes. Things are very experimental here, so a lot happens spontaneously.
Within Tankwa Town, attendees are encouraged to develop their own Theme Camps. A Theme Camp could be a yoga class, water station, or a dancefloor and some can get quite large. Other notable AfrikaBurn events include The Dance of 1,000 Flames, the biggest fire dancing jam in South Africa. This usually happens on Saturday night, right before the art installation burns.
You can learn more about AfrikaBurn and all its wonderful aspects here.
An abandoned car in the Tankwa Karoo. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mutant Vehicles aside, you’ll need a capable vehicle to get to the Tankwa Karoo. The region’s roads are notorious for absolutely destroying tyres on any vehicle that’s not cut out for off-roading. You could get away with driving a high-clearance vehicle, but 4×4 rental is undoubtedly your best option.
Last year, organisers warned that the R355 road was in the most dangerous condition it’s ever been in. They strongly suggest following these rules to stay safe:
We’ve picked five 4×4 rental vehicles that we think will be perfect for Afrikaburn 2025. Take a look!
4×4 Nation Wide
This highly-capable, camping-equipped Ford Ranger Single Cab 4×4 comfortable seats up to two people, making it the perfect vehicle for couples wanting to camp in the Tankwa Karoo. It boasts a 160 l fuel tank, so you won’t need to worry about filling up too often, as well as a full kitchen with the following equipment:
A roof top tent completes the camper setup, including towels and bedding. Plus, if you get stuck in the desert, you’ll have access to a full 4×4 recovery kit.
Toyota Land Cruiser Double Cab 4×4 Luxury Safari Camper
If you really want to up your off-road game, opt for the “Master of Africa” – the Toyota Land Cruiser 79. This chunky, solid 4×4 is perfectly capable of tackling anything the Tankwa Karoo has to throw at it, thanks to upgraded suspension, all-terrain tyres, and Toyota’s tried and tested 4×4 system.
Standout features include:
You won’t know just how incredible the Suzuki Jimny is until you drive it yourself. This compact 4×4 can go just about anywhere without guzzling too much fuel. The five-door model has much more room inside, so this one has been converted into a home on wheels that’s perfect for two people, with a roof top tent and plenty of camping equipment in the boot.
Other features include:
If you plan on hauling along your own camping equipment, you can also go for a standard 4×4 like the Isuzu D-Max Double Cab. South Africans love this bakkie – it’s tough, simple, and hard-wearing, so the Tankwa Karoo will be no problem for it. It boasts a 2.5 l diesel engine with a 66 l fuel tank and comfortably seats five people. Plus, you can store all your equipment and luggage in the load bin – all without breaking the bank.
A light show at night at Afrikaburn. Photo: Afrikaburn
The absolute best thing you can do for your Afrikaburn adventure is to secure 4×4 rental ahead of the event. Whether you’re driving from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, or Bloemfontein, Drive South Africa has a wide range of 4×4 vehicles available for hire.
You can even use our handy search tool to find camping equipped 4x4s and RVs that can double as your festival accommodation. We’ve also put together a handy AfrikaBurn Vehicle Guide.
Ready to take the next step? Check out all our Drive South Africa 4×4 rental options.
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