Photo: Bram Lammers
Table of Contents
If you want to get to know a country’s culture, a surefire way to do that is through their music. Blending a love of art, community, and of course music, Bushfire Festival is a perfect way to get to know Eswatini, as well as the other corners of Africa which all come together for this magical weekend.
Included on our fabulous Cape Town, Kruger and Bushfire Festival trip, you can head to a music festival like no other. You may have been to your fair share of European music festivals, but trust us, Bushfire Festival is a beautiful beast of its own. Interested? Duh, who wouldn’t be. With the help of Jiggs Thorne, the Bushfire Festival Director, we created a guide to Bushfire Festival so you can convince your friends to come with you and have the best time ever.
What is Bushfire Festival?
MTN Bushfire Festival is one of Africa’s best known music festivals which brings together cultures from all over the continent in a celebration of togetherness, beauty, and community. Rooted in African cultures – with a heart based in Eswatini – Bushfire has always embraced the eccentric and wholesome, giving space for local and international artists to come together.
More than just a music festival, Bushfire also includes interactive activities like drumming sessions, craft workshops, spoken word poetry performances, etc. branching all the facets of local art together. It’s a family-friendly festival as well, meant to inspire people of all ages from all over the world.
“Our call to action, “Bring Your Fire”, encourages every individual to join the collective effort to enact positive social, economic and environmental change in a sustainable manner.”
Image source:Bram Lammers
Do locals and travellers come together during the festival?
Yes!
“We coined a phrase, “The Juncture of Hum”, to try to describe the ineffable vibe created by thousands of people coming together, each bringing their own individual tune, as it were, and the consequent interplay creating a giant resonance – a single ‘hum’ that includes what every participant brings to the gathering. That moment when you realise over 20,000 people are all in sync; collaborating to create a feeling of togetherness that is unique and ephemeral – it has a deep spiritual quality to it.”
“There’s something for everyone at MTN Bushfire, and you never know who you’ll meet and create lifelong friendships with!”
When is it?
Bushfire Festival dates for 2026 have not been officially announced yet, though it’s likely it will take place around the same time as 2025’s festival: 30th May – 1st June 2025
What is the lineup like?
With six different stages, Bushfire Festival offers a range of shows and talents that suits party-lovers of all tastes. From an electronic dance stage at the Firefly Stage, intimate shows filled with heart and soul at the House on Fire Ampitheatre, and jaw-dropping physical and musical acts at the Cirk Stage – this festival is about as unique as they come!
You’ll get to hear local Eswatini talent, as well as acts from the broader African continent, and international DJs and performers as well. It’s a true melting pot of cultures that’s sure to open up your musical horizons.
2026’s lineup is not yet confirmed, but here are some names from 2025’s to give you a taste:
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Jägermeister Brass Cartel
- Jembaa Groove
- Queen Mabebeza
“Each of the five permanent stages – the famous MTN Bushfire Main Stage, intimate Amphitheatre Stage, electronic Firefly Stage, conscious Bring Your Fire Zone Stage, and educational fun KidZone Stage, as well as partner environments that include stages – reflect the eclectic nature of the festival’s programming, showcasing world-famous acts next to little-known hidden gems. Additionally, the festival showcases a wide variety of multidisciplinary performances; dance, poetry, theatre, aerial acrobatics, comedy showcases, and much more.”
What to pack for Bushfire Festival?
Since the festival is in Eswatini, you can expect temperatures to be between 13-27°C (55-81°F), so make sure you’re prepared for the heat and sweat.
On top of your usual festival attire, these are some extra bits to pack and items to keep in mind:
- A small bag: Something you can easily carry around with you all day that fits your phone, water bottle, wallet, and other small items you might need.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cap: You’ll be outside most of the day of the beating sun, so sun-protection is a non-negotiable! Plus, you’ll look extra cool rocking the sunnies.
- A power bank: It’s always a good idea to have a portable power bank on you so you can charge your phone as you go without worries of running out of juice.
- A good pair of shoes: With all the walking and dancing you’re going to be doing, good shoes are essential.
- Ear plugs: If you’re camping on site, these will be a great essential, ensuring you block out as much noise as possible for your beauty sleep.
- Reusable water bottle and bags: Bushfire Festival is committed to eliminating single-use plastics, so make sure you bring your own reusable items with you! This is also just good festival practice to keep your partying sustainable.
Accommodation options
Festival goers at Bushfire have the option between on site camping or glamping for the duration of the festival, or off-site accommodation ranging from hostels, hotels, and Airbnbs are also available.
Camping
You can either bring your own tent and set up in the BYO or BYO IN THE FOREST zones, or you can hire an already-set-up tent in the Tent Village, Forest Fire Tented Camp, or Canvas Camp areas.
Glamping
If you’d like to camp in style and with more privacy and comfort, then Bushfire’s glamping option at Harambee Hotel is the one for you. There is high demand for this option, so booking as early as possible is recommended.
Psst… If you travel with Contiki you get this option included!
Off-site
Off-site accommodation is to be sorted at your discretion, though Bushfire’s website has many resources to help you find the best local options.
Travelling with Contiki
If you hop on our Cape Town, Kruger, and Bushfire Festival trip, not only will your festival tickets be sorted for you, but your camping tickets will be as well!
Image source:Bram Lammers
Some top tips:
- Download the app: The festival has an app that you can download beforehand! This will help you with planning, looking at the map, etc.
- Cashless: Bushfire Festival is totally cashless, so make sure you have your Apple/Google Wallet and contactless payments ready!
- Accepted currencies: Speaking of money, currencies accepted at the festival are Swazi Emalangeni and South African Rands.
- Vaccines: If you are travelling to Bushfire Festival from a country where you may be at risk of getting yellow fever, you MUST have a vaccination and bring proof of it with you.
A sustainable festival
“It’s important to realise that we are much more than just a music festival. We are committed to becoming Africa’s leading sustainable festival. This aim lies at the core of all MTN Bushfire’s activities, partnerships and performance programming, since the very first festival in 2007. This sustainability focus won us Best Responsible Event at the WTM African Responsible Event Awards in 2017.”
“MTN Bushfire has a broad range of programmes that support our local community, empower disadvantaged women, children and youth in Eswatini, create platforms for social dialogue around the burning issues of our time and develop the local and regional music industry and creative economy as a whole. We encourage all our participants to bring their fire – and have fun doing it too!”
Jiggs, what is your favourite part of the MTN Bushfire festival?
“The festival brings people together from all over the world together in a spirit of unity and a celebration of diversity. Each year we host over 23,000 attendees from over 50 different countries in a peaceful, inclusive atmosphere. The spirit generated around this meeting point of people and cultures is the real takeaway from MTN Bushfire; that diversity in lifestyles and perspectives makes us interesting and is a strength that enriches all our lives.”
