1. Survival at AfrikaBurn. a 4x4, and especially if you don’t. Exercise 2. BICYLES ARE NOT PUBLIC maximum caution. The last stretch of road is PROPERTY - please have respect for other Congratulations - you’re going to on a narrow farm road - please be patient when people’s property. AfrikaBurn! arriving as there may be a queue. 3. NOTHING IS BOUGHT OR SOLD IN Road Rules TANKWA TOWN. Thank you for buying a ticket to AfrikaBurn. It’s the only way to participate. Please let - All the normal rules of road safety apply. 4. AfrikaBurn is a LEAVE NO TRACE event everyone you know that: - We strongly recommend traveling in convoy. - there will be no rubbish bins or receptacles. - Drive up during the daylight! What you bring in, you take out with you. THERE ARE NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT - The last 100km is on dirt road. It has some THE GATE OF THE EVENT. bad patches, so drive carefully and slowly. 5. NO PETS ALLOWED. Please don’t arrive It’s tempting to feel like you’re almost there at the event with your pet, there is reason for Please take the time to read through this when you hit the dirt – you aren’t. It takes us not allowing them. Survival Guide. The info here is designed to about an hour and a half to cover the dirt help you and everyone else have a fantastic section, which is most treacherous part. experience. OK, now for the nitty gritty: 4. Participation - AfrikaBurn does not patrol the road, and is not able to provide assistance outside of the AfrikaBurn is not for sissies; survival at the If you want to broaden your participation in the event. event is all about self-reliance. This means event, there are ample opportunities. Ours is a - Note that cellphone coverage is patchy along you need to bring everything you need: food, society of activists and volunteers - if you see a the dirt road. water, shelter, fuel, and basic first aid. And job that needs to be done, roll up your sleeves - There is a tyre repair station just before the then you need to take it all back. Why? Because and do it. Keep this in mind: there is no “they” turn-off to Stony. Please note that this is not AfrikaBurn is a Leave No Trace event. in Tankwa Town. There is only “us.” There is an AfrikaBurn service and all transactions no mystical “they” who will appear to provide are between you and the service provider. As you prepare, remember that you are for your needs and clean up your mess. Help - There will also be a refreshment station responsible for yourself at all times. Don’t make us instruct others - if you see someone acting where the R303 meets the R355 (this is a burden of yourself and others due to lack of irresponsibly, introduce yourself and speak up. approximately 30kms up the dirt road and planning. Use lots of common sense. Tankwa But by the same token, don’t be a “participation 70kms from the turnoff to AfrikaBurn). Town is in the magnificent Karoo, where the snob”. Just because someone isn’t costumed or ground is exceptionally hard, and the shale-like visibly participating doesn’t mean they aren’t soil has a tremendous appetite for tyres. Bring 3. The Basics contributing. Get involved! a tyre repair kit and two spares if able. 1. Tankwa Town is a pedestrian environment Volunteering at AfrikaBurn is superb amounts 2. Getting to Tankwa Town. - NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED of fun. It engages you on whole levels that you TO DRIVE AROUND except for art would never have thought possible. AND it cars, bicycles, emergency vehicles and helps us tremendously. To volunteer for the Rule one? SLOW DOWN. Please bear in mind administrative vehicles. event go to http://www.afrikaburn.com/forms/ this is a deceptive dirt road which has claimed volunteer/ to volunteer AT the event, go to the lives so please drive calmly, even if you have A Volunteer booth at off-centre camp, which is at 6. Camping bearings. Binnekring Street and 6-ish Street. We always need help! To the uninitiated, Tankwa Town is laid out Camping Equipment At Tankwa Town in a horseshoe semicircle shape. The centre – The Gospel Of Rebar 5. Weather And Climate of this horseshoe is called the Binnekring; it‘s where much of the art at AfrikaBurn is placed. So. You’ve read this far and absorbed the reality that you have to bring all you need to survive to In the Tankwa Karoo, days can reach 40degC The road that fronts this empty (space is called Tankwa. Good start. For first timers, you need and nights can reach freezing. The area also “Binnekring Rd” - the cross roads are like to understand that at AfrikaBurn the ground experiences some of the most spectacular the hours on a clock, going from 10-ish Street is HARD unlike anywhere you’ve ever camped windstorms you’ll ever witness. The only through to 2-ish street. This way, once you have before. Not quite rock, but pretty damn close. predictable thing about the weather there is found your spot for the event, you will have an Bring along a hammer (at least ten-pound, but that it is unpredictable. Come prepared for all address. For example, you could be living at the bigger the better) and heavy-duty pegs. The eventualities. In 2010 and 2011 the weather “Binnekring and 3:30-ish” This year there will pegs that came with your tent? Won’t work; you was perfect, but if these were your first times be an additional Buitekring road. need something much stronger. Which is why in the desert, don’t be fooled into thinking the you need rebar - they are difficult to get in, but climate is benign. It might be, but it’s best to be Driving and camping is strictly prohibited so lovely to have in the ground, especially in a prepared. within the Binnekring. Once you have found your spot, put your keys away (in a safe place) windstorm. As AfrikaBurn is a camping community event – you’re now a pedestrian (or cyclist)! Rebar? that is all about participation, and because radical self-reliance is as important as radical TAKE NOTE: Rebar. It’s the name given to the round, self-expression, we do not endorse prearranged This year Tankwa Town will have clearly grooved, steel bar used to reinforce concrete. sort-all-your-shit-out-for-you package tours. designated QUIET AND LOUD ZONES. Camps Get some and have it cut to size – don’t use We also do not endorse people staying off- with loud sound systems are placed on the ends anything less than 15mm width. Rebar is an site and visiting on a daily basis. It hampers of the horseshoe – i.e. at 10-ish and at 2-ish. excellent way to anchor your tents, especially participation and increases traffic. In order to Please take this into account when you are Bedouin/freeform tents. When you’re whacking discourage this, we will be charging R50 per deciding where to camp – if you have children, it in and once it’s in the ground it’s dangerous, person to re-enter the site - cars will have to camp closer to the bottom of the horseshoe so cap all exposed ends with empty 1-liter park at the gate and people will have to walk (i.e. near Off-Centre Camp). For more on this, plastic bottles, cut tennis balls or old dolls to Tankwa Town. Please don’t argue with the please see section 9 titled ‘SOOP – Sound Out heads to prevent foot/leg injuries. Try to lovely people working at the gate. These are Of Place’ below. position your tent and any shade structures the rules. Finding your spot happens on a first come first- to present the smallest possible profile to the wind. The wind at Tankwa goes all over the And just a reminder: settled basis. The only reserved camping areas are for registered Theme Camps. These will be place, so if you walk away from your camp, keep an eye on the wind, but if forced to identify a THERE ARE NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT marked out. Please do not settle in a reserved prevailing wind, we would say that it is N-S. THE GATE OF THE EVENT. spot. If you arrive at night, consider waiting until morning to find your friends or get your For smaller tents, weight the interior corners of your tent or attach them to your vehicle. B 7. Safety • Minor asthmatic emergencies remove possessions. • Minor lacerations - When planning your camp, leave at least Basics... • Sunburn and other minor burn wounds three meters between flammable items. By • Stabilisation of any fracture way of example, have your tent three meters - Drink water regularly, especially if drinking from your generator, which should be three alcohol The following (and similar) injuries will be meters from your fuel. This applies to cars - Bring sunscreen and hat, and use them both stabilised and referred to the nearest hospital, and campervans as well. All camps storing - Bring dust goggles and a bandanna – dust with the patient to provide their own transport. fuel and or have an open fire, must have a storms are only fun if you’re prepared We recommend having a designated driver fire extinguisher on hand and visible. - Bring a torch (or two) and lights for your in your camp/group of friends in case of - You may not make fires directly on the camp.