AfrikaBurn, held every April in the arid Karoo semi-desert four hours' drive north of Capetown, is Africa's answer to the U.S. Burning Man festival.
Surreal desert landscape —
AfrikaBurn, held every April in the arid Karoo semi-desert four hours' drive north of Capetown, is Africa's answer to the U.S. Burning Man festival.
Sarah Duff
Crazy sculptures aren't the only bare bones facet of this event. AfrikaBurn participants must bring everything they need to survive for the week.
Strange days —
Crazy sculptures aren't the only bare bones facet of this event. AfrikaBurn participants must bring everything they need to survive for the week.
Sarah Duff
The AfrikaBurn festival springs up literally in the middle of nowhere. After it's finished, everything is dismantled and the site returns to wilderness.
Build it and they will come —
The AfrikaBurn festival springs up literally in the middle of nowhere. After it's finished, everything is dismantled and the site returns to wilderness.
Sarah Duff
The gigantic sculptures and bodypainted revelers resemble props and extras from dozens of different movie sets.
Robot rabbit —
The gigantic sculptures and bodypainted revelers resemble props and extras from dozens of different movie sets.
Sarah Duff
For many participants, attending AfrikaBurn is a life-changing experience -- it's hard to come out of a week in the desert without looking at the world in a different way.
Different way of looking at things —
For many participants, attending AfrikaBurn is a life-changing experience -- it's hard to come out of a week in the desert without looking at the world in a different way.
Sarah Duff
Many people bring bicycles to get around the huge festival site. Others arrive in weird customized vehicles like this this big, purple snail.
Mutant vehicles —
Many people bring bicycles to get around the huge festival site. Others arrive in weird customized vehicles like this this big, purple snail.
Sarah Duff
Money is no good at the festival. The only thing to buy is ice. Otherwise AfrikaBurn runs on a gifting economy in which everyone is expected to give something to others. Like a ride.
A gifting economy —
Money is no good at the festival. The only thing to buy is ice. Otherwise AfrikaBurn runs on a gifting economy in which everyone is expected to give something to others. Like a ride.
Sarah Duff
AfrikaBurn has been running for nine years, increasing in size each year --<br />9,000 people, some dressed as boats or mermaids, attended the 2014 event.
Boat man —
AfrikaBurn has been running for nine years, increasing in size each year --
9,000 people, some dressed as boats or mermaids, attended the 2014 event.
Sarah Duff
Out of 130 regional events scattered across the globe affiliated with Burning Man, AfrikaBurn is the largest. Aficionados say it comes pretty close to the vibe of the original Burning Man events before they became hugely popular.
Capturing the Burning Man vibe —
Out of 130 regional events scattered across the globe affiliated with Burning Man, AfrikaBurn is the largest. Aficionados say it comes pretty close to the vibe of the original Burning Man events before they became hugely popular.
Sarah Duff
The festival culminates in a fiery display as many of the huge structures are torched.
Flame on —
The festival culminates in a fiery display as many of the huge structures are torched.
Sarah Duff
For those that can tear themselves away from the bonfires and dance floors, the night skies over the Karoo reward with incredible starry displays.
Big skies —
For those that can tear themselves away from the bonfires and dance floors, the night skies over the Karoo reward with incredible starry displays.
Sarah Duff