It’s time to start planning your MTN Bushfire experience ahead of the 17th edition, taking place from 31 May to 2 June 2024, at the iconic House On Fire performance venue in the Malkerns Valley of Eswatini.
Every year, this conscious international festival of music and the arts welcomes over 20,000 Fire Starters from over 60 countries to a celebration of diversity and social inclusion in a family-friendly atmosphere.
MTN Bushfire is one of Africa’s largest multicultural gatherings, illuminating the transformational power of the arts through our call to action for positive social and environmental change, Bring Your Fire. The festival is renowned for its eclectic programme featuring some of the finest musical and artistic talents from across Africa and around the globe.
In a new, exciting development this year, the festival is treating early camping arrivals to an exclusive programme in the Bring Your Fire Zone on Thursday 30 May and the chance to be part of the festival’s #GreenYourFire call to action for positive environmental change.
Arriving early for the festival’s Thursday programme means less queuing at border entry points to Eswatini and at the festival’s camping check-in. It also offers Bring Your Own campers the opportunity to pick a prime spot, for example under a shady tree, close to the ablution blocks or by the gates to the Festival Main Arena. The Thursday programme promises to be a memorable start to another explosive festival weekend!
Campers will enjoy a safe and seamless experience with numerous upgrades to the campsite.
#GreenYourFire will come alive, once again, in the camping space and across the festival zones through this year’s improved sustainability efforts and programmes.
The overall size of the campsite has been substantially increased and campsite amenities at MTN Bushfire have been upgraded. The campsite has further upgraded toilet facilities with more toilets including a compostable toilet block, convenience stalls for food, WiFi and airtime, and other upgrades. Additionally, the Camper Car Zone has doubled in size and is now closer to the festival. More shuttle vehicles will be made available from the camping carpark to the campsite.
MTN Bushfire’s normal high level of security will be further enhanced with upgrades such as a designated campsite clinic for any emergencies, and a fixed police post within the site to prevent any issues.
Sustainability & Rewilding
As MTN Bushfire continues to Green its Fire by reducing the festival’s carbon and waste footprint, all bars continue to provide recyclable cups and the festival and campsite’s overall recycling systems are being further developed in collaboration with eco-conscious festival partners. (Please use the correct bins for all waste at the festival!). Festivalgoers are encouraged to carpool and use the festival’s Park n’ Ride shuttle to avoid traffic congestion and to reduce the festival’s carbon footprint.
Campers will also enjoy an immersive, elevated nature experience with the 300 trees planted over the years by All Out Africa. All trees planted in the campsite are indigenous and propagated on Malandela’s Farm by Malandela’s Indigenous Nursery.
The extension of the campsite areas through the conversion of the farm’s sugarcane fields to grassland and indigenous trees are part of the rewilding programme for sections of Malandela’s Farm.
More farmed sugarcane fields have been rewilded through the planting of indigenous trees and grasses, a process that is ongoing.
Family Friendly
Family campers will once again have their own secure and family-friendly camping areas, with the Family and Rush Adventures camps having exclusive gate/route access to Main Arena; shorter, more direct – cutting the distance they have to travel to one-quarter the distance – perfect for those little Fire Starters as they head to the MTN Bushfire KIDZONE.
The MTN Bushfire KIDZONE will be filled with stimulating and fun-filled activities ranging from storytelling, sculpting and music workshops to high-energy lawn games. Each year, the festival works with a special theme for the zone, that inspires creativity, engagement, and skills development for young people of all ages. This year’s theme, “African Safari” is an environmentally conscious, fun and interactive theme centered around conservation of wild African flora and fauna. KIDZONE partners, in collaboration with festival goers, will explore rewilding themes and assimilate natural habitats through various activities offered in the space.