The camp

Mahala is a theme camp at AfrikaBurn, and almost a thousand people have passed through it.

We are Mahala49 s

You are part of all of it.

Thu22AprArrive

Fri23AprArrive

Sat24AprBuild

Sun25AprBuild

Mon26AprBurn

Tue27AprBurn

Wed28AprBurn

Thu29AprBurn

Fri30AprBurn

Sat1MayBurn

Sun2MayStrike

Mon3MayStrike

* Arrival on Thursday 22 or Friday 23 April 2027 is still to be confirmed.

What's included with our camp

One main dinner a dayEaten together, and water for the week (seven litres a day).
A bell tent to rentPitched before you arrive (or bring your own).
Your coilEvery member wears one: a copper coil wound on the same grooved ring as the temple's heart, a small piece of the temple that carries its pattern.
The communal spaceThe kitchen, a chill and cuddle-puddle zone, long dining tables, a piano.
Activations through the weekThe fireside at the Blissful Drift (the camp's boat), the Lotus Mahal (our temple tent), sound journeys, the theatrical dinner, and whatever you bring to it.
Building The Seed togetherThe camp's art piece.
Incredible people and epic vibesCommunity calls through the year, build days in Cape Town, the camp circle on the playa, and the Great Unpack in Cape Town after the burn.

Camp mates raising the Lotus Mahal, the camp's temple tent, on the open playa — Raising the Lotus Mahal

Two builders lifting a coloured lattice finial up to the top of a tent — Lifting the finial

The golden finial on top of the Lotus Mahal, with bunting, against a blue sky — The finial against the sky

A camp mate smiling beside the hand-painted schedule board — The schedule board

Two camp mates in costume relaxing on a blue sofa in the shade — A sofa in the shade

A crew on and around a dune buggy at sunset — The buggy crew

A circle of people sitting under the shade tent in golden light — A circle in the shade tent

Camp mates gathered round the lotus fire pit beside the boat — Round the lotus fire pit

Musicians playing inside the tent while people lie and listen — Music in the tent

People lying together on cushions inside the tent, resting — Resting together

A camp mate sitting still in meditation inside a bell tent — Sitting still

A procession of robed figures carrying staffs and lanterns across the playa — The procession

A figure in a red hooded robe holding a staff with a woven heart — The heart staff

A figure in white holding a tall spiral staff hung with macrame — The spiral staff

A camp mate in a yellow shawl holding a bowl at a wooden door — A bowl at the door

The whole camp at dusk under a rising moon — The camp at dusk

The Lotus Mahal lit from within at night, with the moon above — The Lotus Mahal at night

The Lotus Mahal glowing under the moon — Under the moon

The MAHALA gateway at night, a lantern hanging in it and a spiral of rope before it — The way in

Camp mates cheering on top of the dune buggy — Joy on the buggy

Two builders with tool belts sharing a laugh on the build site — The builders

The painted bow of the Blissful Drift, the camp's boat — The Blissful Drift

A camp mate shading their eyes in the golden evening light — Golden hour

The whole camp gathered together for a photograph on the playa — All of us

Camp mates in silhouette on the boat deck against the sunset — Sunset on the Drift

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What you bring

Your own breakfast and snacks
More water, if seven litres a day is not enough
Camping gear and warm layers for the nights
Your AfrikaBurn ticket

Your AfrikaBurn ticket is bought separately, from AfrikaBurn, and is not part of the camp fee. Setup arrival Thursday 22 or Friday 23 April (to confirm). The burn runs Monday 26 April to Sunday 2 May at Quaggafontein. Strike Sunday 2 and Monday 3 May; everything comes home. Camp fees depend on where you travel from: you see your figure once you have told us, in one, two or four instalments.

What skills do you bring

Building and carpentry
Electrics, lighting and power
Sound, DJing and music production
Live instruments and voice
Art, painting and decor
Kitchen and feeding the tribe
Healing, bodywork and breathwork
Ceremony and space holding
Movement, dance and performance
Logistics and getting things done

Camp mates choose theirs when they apply.

We live by six SACRED agreements

SSeeking understanding before interpretation
AAssuming good intent
CChoosing presence over reaction
RRadical responsibility for what we feel
EEmpowered expression of our needs
DDiscernment of gossip as distortion

Flower of Life53 s