MTN Bushfire 2024

MTN Bushfire, well well well. 2024, we finally went! I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to go and talked myself out of it last minute. This year I told my sister I wanted to go, just as I was about to talk myself out of it again, her deposit was in and it was set and stone. WE ARE GOING TO eSWATINI!

In true Kgoshigadi style, I packed for every single weather condition imaginable. Hot? Super hot? Insanely hot? I had it covered. Windy? Cold? Freezing? I packed for that too. So I ended up with three bags or so. You can laugh!

30 May 2024, the day after voting, we packed our bags into a 16 seater and trailer and hit the road. We were due to come back on Monday, 3 June. We travelled with 9 other people; couples, friends and some solo travelers. By the time we arrived, we had formed a bond. One that would guarantee that we would have a good time; come rain or sunshine.

Day Zero (Thursday)

We arrived at the camping site around 7pm, the sun had set and we still had to set up our tents. The boys offered to do all the hard labour while we arranged a playlist. Two hours later, our temporary homes were up. Mattresses were inflated, sleeping bags were unfurled, and we were ready to embrace the festival/camp life.

The first night was hell for me! I was shocked at how loud the campsite was, everyone had a speaker and everyone had their speaker on full blast. Including our camp. I was in bed around midnight but the party was far from over. I desperately needed to sleep, thankfully our speaker died just after 1am. The noise everywhere else never stopped the entire time we were there. We slept with it and woke up to it. We are only on day zero.

Day One

The Showers and the Toilets

I woke up around 6am and crawled out of my tent to go to the loo and hit the shower. The timing was perfect because a few minutes after that the line grew longer by the second. The shower is a simple le’zenke structure (for a lack of a better description), but get this… The water only switched on for 20 seconds and went off again on a merciless timer. I guess the aim is to make your shower slightly uncomfortable, to encourage a quick and efficient shower. At least the water was hot throughout.

The toilets were pit toilets, I’ll tell you later what those were like by day 3. I don’t have any images of the shower or toilet, taking photos around that time was the last thing on my mind.

The Performances

Day 1’s lineup was a bit light on performances, starting at 7 pm, but we were there for the full Bushfire experience. We opted to explore the festival grounds beyond the main stage, and let me tell you, it was a feast for the senses. Stalls overflowed with delicious food and drinks, tempting souvenirs, and all sorts of festival merch. My heart did a happy dance when I spotted a dedicated vegan stall, and the food was delightful. 

The sunset, and we grabbed a quick change of clothes and headed straight to the Ballantine’s stage, the undisputed groove zone. Can you see why I packed all those clothes? Anyway, we danced the night away until midnight. The highlight of the night was seeing Jeremy Loops (SA) on the main stage, DJ Cedeea (Botswana) and Wasabee (Swaziland) on the Ballantine’s stage. We continued the party back at our campsite. Hey, if you can’t beat ’em, right?

Day 2

Day 2 was the heart of the festival – a whirlwind of incredible performances and endless activities!

Dressing Up

Now, let’s talk about the festival fashion – it’s a chance to express yourself and embrace the vibrant spirit at Bushfire. The event falls during Africa Month, and traditionally, attendees go all out with African-inspired regalia or creative costumes. I noticed fewer people following the dress-up theme over the years, but that didn’t stop me! I had a vision – a flower-filled outfit. The day before the trip, I snagged three bouquets of faux flowers, picturing them adorning a pair of shorts. Fast forward to that morning, and my handiwork was complete – a floral masterpiece, ready to bloom at the festival! Let’s just say, I was the flower attracting all the bees. I added a flower crown and I was good to go. This outfit? A total win. Right?

The Performances

Day 2 truly lived up to its hype– the main stage was a nonstop party! The first act we saw at night was Lloyiso, hitting the stage at around 9 pm. There was a bit of a buzzkill – a 20-minute wait before he actually showed up. The band was ready, the crowd was hyped, and there we were, all waiting patiently. Apparently, this is a recurring theme with Lloyiso according to those who’ve seen him perform live. But hey, the wait was worth it! He delivered a phenomenal set, and the crowd loved him. I have to admit, I was in my feels when we performed “Seasons” – that song had me singing along (and maybe even shedding a happy tear). Thankfully, the organizers kept things on schedule, and at 10 pm sharp, it was chai.

The night wasn’t over yet! At 11 pm, Thandiswa Mazwai, took center stage. She blessed us with a generous setlist, showcasing both her new album and fan favorites. An hour simply wasn’t enough – everything was on point; her outfit, her vocals, her band. The crowd, completely captivated, sang along to every song, and she even threw in a few dance anthems to keep the energy soaring. This performance left me wanting more – a solo Thandiswa concert sounds like a good idea! Everything about her set was pure perfection.

The night’s grand finale on the main stage was courtesy of the Grammy-nominated, Musa Keys. He brought the Amapiano vibes, but with a twist. Interestingly, his band layered their instruments on the original songs and it created a unique soundscape. I could hardly recognize the songs, not sure if that was a good thing or bad thing. But it was lovely to finally see him perform live. One thing is for sure, he has amazing stage presence. He even took off his shirt for us!

With hearts full and legs tired, we called it a night (well, technically morning at this point) and headed to the groove stage for one last dance before hitting the hay.

Day 3

By now the exhauster was kicking in, we literally went on 4-5 hours of sleep. If not less. But we were determined to soldier on, and groove until the end. This day’s lineup was a bit more relaxed, with the first act gracing the stage at noon and the finale happening at 8 pm.

Unfortunately, I missed Maleh’s performance. The group I was travelling with decided that the excursion would happen at the time of her performance. That ended up falling through, but hey, that’s the beauty of going with the flow, right? Instead of dwelling on it, I chose to focus on the excitement of seeing Makhadzi on the main stage. And she was phenomenal! The crowd absolutely adored her, I was pleasantly surprised at how the crowd knew her songs word for word.

There was this one particular song, “Gong Gong,” that turned things up a notch. Makhadzi pulled a guy from the audience and let’s just say, their performance was… well, it was a night he won’t soon forget. The poor guy even said he was “kinda single” before the whole thing – after that, his relationship status might be a bit more definitive. Lol.

After Makhadzi’s unforgettable set, my sister and I found a comfy spot to relax and catch up. Of course, the music never stops at Bushfire, and when we heard the iconic “Tshwala Bami” coming from the groove stage, we were back on our feet, ready for one last dance. The festival closed out at 11 pm sharp, and with weary legs and happy hearts, we shuffled back to our tents for one final night of groove.

Highlights

I had a fantastic time at the festival this year. The organization was top-notch, with everything starting and ending on schedule regardless of the artists who started late. And there was something for everyone, from a fun kiddies area to a photo booth and even pottery in the Amphitheater.

A big shoutout to the eSwatini tourism department for pitching in! They had traditional dancers showcasing the incredible Swazi culture, and their stalls were filled with info on the amazing places to explore beyond the festival grounds.

The best surprise of the festival was running into so many familiar faces! It was amazing catching up with people I hadn’t seen in years. Even better, some of them had access to hidden gems within the festival that made things much easier for me and my sister. They were kind enough to show us the ropes, which made the festival experience even more enjoyable.

Lowlights

I only found out later that there were other stages with amazing performers like Zoe Modiga. If only all the stages had gotten the same promo love. I only caught wind of three stages and discovered the rest as we went along. We found the Heineken and Jägermeister stages, which were pretty great!

By the end of day 3 the pit toilets were a stink bomb. It was unpleasant from every direction. In hindsight, knowing what I know now, I’d skip the BYO camping. Apparently, there were two sides: the “Alex side” (crowded, noisy) and the “Sandton side” (spacious, peaceful). These are the words of someone who has been to Bushfire a couple of times and has experienced both worlds.

With tents packed so close together at the BYO camp, conversations and music from neighboring campers easily bled into our own space. Looking at the other camping options afterwards, upgrading to a less crowded area next time is a no-brainer.

Another disappointment was the outstanding excursion that was supposed to be part of the tour package. It was a highlight I was looking forward to, so that definitely put a damper on things. However, the overall festival experience was so positive that it wasn’t a huge deal-breaker.

Would I do this again?

Absolutely. With some tweaks; upgraded camping and confirmed itineraries, and I’ll definitely do it again. This was a wholesome experience, definitely one for the books.

Nitty Gritty’s

Tickets: Look out for official prices on the Bushfire website. Festival ticket prices can vary depending on the type of ticket you choose (General Admission, Golden Lounge, etc.)

Drinks and food: Budget realistically for food and drinks. Bringing your own for the campsite is allowed, but there are festival vendors selling as well.

Pro Tip: Compare and Contrast. Travel agencies may offer packages that include festival tickets, camping, and even transportation. Compare prices on the Bushfire website with what travel agencies are charging to find the best deal.

Total Festival Fun: R10,000 – R15,000

This range is an estimate. Aim for R10,000 if you’re on a tight budget (be prepared to bring your own tent, food and drinks). If you plan on indulging in drinks throughout the festival, factor in extra costs and aim for a budget closer to R15,000.

Lastly: Dress up and embrace the festival spirit! Pack something fun and comfortable, you won’t regret it.

Will you be at the festival next year?