As a volunteer-driven event and organisation, AfrikaBurn offers many ways in which anyone can participate. A good starting point would simply to ask yourself what it is you’d like to do, and see where that skill or contribution would fit. Take a look at the following areas, find one that suits you, and then step up, rock up and prepare to have a lot of fun.
For a start there’s a host of volunteer roles that need filling at the event each year – and there’s a full list below where you can read about those, and sign up. You can pick your own shifts, and choose what suits you.
If you’re not sure what you want to volunteer for, no problem – you can hop on over to the Volunteer Facebook page, and check out what they’re looking for right now, or get in touch with [email protected] and they’ll help you find your niche.
There’s many areas we need assistance with, but there’s three major areas with the most guts and glory. That’s Rangering, Sanctuary and DPW. Check them out below:
Tankwa Town Rangers are participants who volunteer a portion of their time at AfrikaBurn in service of the safety and well-being of the AfrikaBurn community. Rangers – also known as The Orange – act as non-confrontational community mediators, providers of reliable information, facilitators of public safety, and promoters of the eleven guiding principles upon which AfrikaBurn is based.
Day and night, pairs of Rangers can be found walking and bicycling throughout Tankwa Town, engaging with the community, enjoying the art, and helping participants respond to situations that can range from directing people to the nearest loo to finding lost children, managing burn perimeters, and supporting overwhelmed participants.
Rangers are not a security force. Our event has accredited security that are hired for the period, and they are there to lock down the gate if required and back up the Rangers under extreme circumstances. Within Tankwa Town. ‘law and order’ is maintained by two assumptions. First, Radical Self Reliance means that each participant is responsible and proactive in terms of their own well-being and, in terms of Participation and Civil Responsibility, proactive in terms of the well-being of others. Second, the volunteer-based Ranger organization takes responsibility for working with participants to identify risks, dangers, or hazards, then working with the appropriate departments to minimize, manage, or mediate them.
Becoming a Ranger entails coming to a five-hour training session and then signing up for at least one shift at the event. The more shifts, the more events, the more experience, and the more roles you learn, the more you can contribute to your AfrikaBurn community as well as your own communities and workplaces.
Rangers work within one or more of six organisational roles at the event:
Dust Rangers form the core of all Ranger services. These Rangers walk around, talk to people, visit, interact with AfrikaBurn and all its art, advocate for the 11 Principles, and apply them with compassion where and if needed. These Rangers are the eyes and ears for the whole Ranger crew. They know much about Tankwa Town because they see it all first!
Specialise in helping participants through difficult situations that have a strong emotional or internal component. Green Dots are patient listeners who seek to hold space for participants undergoing inner transformation or experiencing internal or emotional distress.
Fire Perimeter support burning art projects by managing a perimeter between participants and open flame. They work closely with the artists and Fire Safety to organise, train, and deploy Rangers around a burn site.
Knowledgeable and experienced support in the field for other Rangers by offering face to face advice, backup, and coordination support.
Supporting Rangers on shift. At Ranger Headquarters, Tortoise – the call sign for Shift Leads – monitors the Ranger radio channels. When needed, they secure resources to support situations and communicate with other departments to ensure timely response to incidents.
Ranger One is a very special role for seriously experienced and capable Rangers. As the top Ranger on duty, they advise the Shift Leads on complex issues and work with other departments to deliver the best response possible to difficult community situations.
With our city population growing each year, we need more Rangers in Tankwa Town than ever before. We are always looking for qualified Rangers to staff over four thousand hours of shifts during the event.
If you, or anyone in your camp or crew, are interested in stepping up, please feel free to join us at the various training dates planned throughout the year in various South Africa cities, or join us at a training at the event. We all hold the space together, and together can we hold it right.
Have further questions about Rangers? Mail us on [email protected]
Interested in becoming a Ranger? Check out the following Training dates below.
These dates and times are still to be announced.
All training sessions happen in the Training Tent at Off-Centre Camp.
When they’re open, you’ll be able to click below to sign up for shifts.
It’s a calm place of safety where anyone having challenging experiences in the dust (and at our events elsewhere) are able to be helped.
Participants can often become overwhelmed by the extreme desert conditions: wind, dust, soop (sound out of place), temperatures, intense partying and the stress of camping.
Radical self-reliance when things get hectic can look like leaning on camp mates, neighbours and friends, asking for help, and figuring out ways to prevent common challenges before they happen. Sanctuary, created by both the org and the community as a gift of support to Tankwa Town, is one of the places to come and ask for help.
Sanctuary offers a safe and supportive space at Off Centre Camp between Medics and Ranger HQ, to regain balance through peer support and practical help with wellbeing like rest, refreshments and care. Sanctuary also works with the operations team to put prevention strategies in place to reduce future community challenges.
There are 4 roles open to volunteers that meet the approval criteria:
Shifts are 24/7 beginning when the gates officially open, and ending on the Monday of Exodus, 6 hours long:
6:00 to 12:00
12:00 to 18:00
18:00 to 24:00
24:00 to 06:00
To sign up for a Sanctuary shift you need:
NB: It would be super if you had previous harm reduction, medical, mental health, and/or psychological counselling experience (psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, registered counsellors and social workers most welcome).
Registration for 2025 will open soon.
Green Dots are our mobile Sanctuary crew who are there to catch you if you wobble out in the wilds of Tankwa Town. Green Dots cruise the dust keeping an eye out for participants who are lost or overwhelmed by their experiences or environment.
Green Dots provide the TLC or guidance needed to find the right direction home. Other participants who may be in need of more professionalised support can be chaperoned over to Medics and Sanctuary where the community care team offers a calm space, counselling and / or medical care if required.
Should you have experience in trauma counselling, harm reduction or looking to up-skill your Dirt Ranger skills, you’re more than welcome to volunteer. Mail [email protected] to apply.
(just be aware that in order to volunteer as a Green Dot, you’d need to train up as a Ranger first).
DPW are our Department of Public Works, and they’re spoken about more over here.
To make Tankwa Town function smoothly takes a small army of volunteer to fill over 3,000 shifts – and every year we have an amazing showing by many people, but there are always a lot of shifts left open that you could help with.
Afraid not: our event takes place on a private nature reserve, which means that no pets of any kind are permitted. RIP Maffy The Rat, 2011.
There are loads of reasons – firstly, it’s great fun and you get to meet loads of people. Volunteering also gets you involved in the do-ocracy that creates the magic of Tankwa Town. Volunteering also embodies the principles of gifting, civic responsibility, decommodification – and best of all you’ll feel great for doing it.
Please email the volunteer team – or alternatively, sign up at the event by heading over to the Volunteer booth at Off-Centre Camp to see what needs doing.
The great feeling that you are a huge part of team. You might also receive a MOOP bag and various items depending on how many shifts you complete.
Oh, and a network of close, connected friends from around the planet. People you’d never meet in the default, with whom you’ll do things that you never thought possible.
Hell, yes! It’s the best way to learn about how things work, meet new people and complete your experience.
Absolutely: all the available shift descriptions can be found below. Still uncertain? Mail [email protected]
Sorry, no. Only by having volunteers fill over 3,000 shifts can we keep ticket prices as low as possible.
For sure – we welcome it. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to find out how.
Depending on what your skills are and how you wish to volunteer, we’ll find activities in your area and match you. Please email [email protected] and let them know of your wonderful offer.
Head to Off-Centre Camp 15 minutes before your shift starts and check in with the friendly Volunteer Booth crew.
Absolutely, yes. Head to the Volunteer Booth at Off-Centre Camp and find out what is still available.
One beauty about volunteering is you get to choose how you would like to gift your time. You’re welcome to volunteer for anything that interests you.
Shift times vary from 2 hours to 6 hours, depending on what you choose to do.
Yes in two ways, either by attending a briefing beforehand – which some portfolios do, and others you will be shown the ropes when you arrive.
Yes, and details can be sent to you. The details will also be here on our site and if you missed any of those, then go to the Volunteer Booth and find out when the trainings are scheduled.
For info on our Ranger Training dates click here, and for info on Sanctuary Training click on over this way.
Take a look at the list of registered theme camps here and contact them directly.
Sure – mail [email protected] and they’ll get back to you.
Yes. We hold a few before the event in Cape Town and in Joburg. We’ll be putting those dates on our site, on social media and also will email you directly. You can also keep an eye on upcoming Volunteer Days at our HQ on the Volunteers At AfrikaBurn Facebook page.
Yes you may. You can either change it yourself through sign up genius on line before the event or come straight to the Volunteer Booth at Off Centre Camp. However please, no changes if there are less than 24hrs before your shift
Consider doing one at another time or looking at the many other volunteer roles available.
That’s easy. Sign up together or come speak to the Volunteer Booth crew at Off-Centre Camp.
When shift lists on our Participation page are open, you can check shifts and who else has signed up.
If you’re at the event and cannot remember come to the Volunteer Booth at Off-Centre Camp anytime – the shifts are on a notice board right next to the Booth.
Check up on the sign up genius page, when you log in, it will inform you of the shifts you have signed up for. Any problems please write to [email protected] or come along to the Volunteer Booth at Off-Centre Camp at the event.
Yep, we (possibly maybe) have an airstrip, and it needs to be staffed by capable aircraft lovers. Sound like the thing for you?
Volunteer here soon.
Contact [email protected] for more details.
Working here means you’re the reception desk for arriving artists and theme camps, both registered and unregistered. You’d get to help them locate their designated spots (or find them one). This is a great way to meet the people that create the magic of Tankwa Town.
Volunteer here soon.
more information: [email protected]
CHILLAZ, situated at the epicenter of the Off Centre, exists as a hub and a platform for all artists, performers, and creatives looking for a stage in dusty Tankwa Town.
Chillaz is looking for volunteers to fill various roles during their event, including stage manager, technical support, fluffers, artist booker, and stagehands.
Volunteer here soon! Chillaz Signup
Love the smell of LRP in the morning?! Why not hitch a ride on the back of a butterfly, a bumblebee or a unicorn? Come meet the builders, artists and creators, get to know them and be inspired to maybe build your own. So get on the highway, point yourself our way, DMV awaits.
Volunteer here soon.
Our DPW are responsible for creating the key infrastructure of the event: roads, signage, toilets and much more. Like getting your hands dirty? Your skills will be put to good use working with the DPW.
In order to take on the role of being DPW crew volunteer, you’ll need up to five weeks free time out in the Tankwa Karoo.
Read more about DPW here, here and here. The form is on one of those pages – consider finding it the first part of your application process.
Beyond chopping vegetables and preparing meals, it’s an invitation to shape the communal spirit and radical self-expression that define AfrikaBurn. Join a family of like-minded individuals, where every task contributes to the vibrant tapestry of this temporary city in the Tankwa Karoo.
Volunteer here soon!
When people arrive with Tankwa stars in their eyes, this is the crew that processes them and their tickets. It’s a great way to meet loads of people, and share in the stoke of arrival. Sound good? It is good.
Volunteer here soon.
You shall not pass!
A shift in the Box Office takes you out of the desert elements for 4 hours and puts you into the hot seat at one of the Box Office windows, scanning the many burners arriving in the desert into Tankwa Town.
Some shifts are extremely busy, and some are quiet, so be prepared to work both eventualities. It’s always fun working a Box Office shift, and we invite you to join the Box Office furniture. You may even get a shirt out of it!
Send an email to: [email protected]
Bubbly? Enthusiastic? Fancy welcoming the citizens of Tankwa Town with a smile, song or dance? Perfect. Get to dress up and welcome, orientate and inform people as they arrive.
Volunteer here soon.
They dish out the coolest – and only – product sold in Tankwa Town. It’s a great way to meet people, and earn the undying admiration of thirsty and hot burners.
Volunteer here soon.
Ice Ice Baby
Every year, behind the scenes, the hard-working Kitchen Crew swings into action to keep the AB staff steady on their feet 24/7 by keeping them fed and well-hydrated. Even if you’re a kitchen novice, come and help prep, serve, and of course, clean up. You’ll have unique, behind the scenes, interactions with folk from all over the world who make AB happen.
Volunteer here soon!
This one’s for those who love our desert enough to want to stay on, and experience it once the crowds have left – and help to make sure we really do leave no trace.
Click to volunteer for Leave no Trace when the form is available
Our Just In (e) booth is where all the missing things are collected. From lost cameras to lost minds, you can find it all here. Shifts involve manning the booth, receiving lost items and logging them and then reuniting people with found items.
Volunteer here soon.
The Tankwa Karoo is a pristine environment, but all the stuff that hits the ground has to be removed, and despite the fact that AfrikaBurn is a Leave No Trace event, some people don’t read – or sometimes forget – the manual. Which is when MOOP happens. (Matter Out Of Place)! Got some karma to earn?
Volunteer here soon.
In keeping with our core principle of ‘leave no trace,’ we are firmly committed to the responsible management of waste.
The art of waste separation and recycling is a pivotal element of our overarching sustainability mission, and its success depends on the dedication and collaborative efforts of individuals like yourself.
Volunteer here soon!
Rangers aren’t the police or security, but rather there to make sure everyone has a good time and doesn’t get hurt. They’re active participants in the community, who promote awareness of what AfrikaBurn is all about and point out potential hazards. Rangers walk about, engage with the community and mediate where necessary.
So if you enjoy assisting others, guiding the odd burner through a difficult circumstance and generally enjoy keeping the peace, you’re Ranger material. But bear in mind you must be calm, flexible and have a sense of humour.
Meet up with Rangers here: Info & Training Page
Learn a little more about them here, here, and even here.
It’s the place where anyone can go if they’re having a hard time, or feeling overwhelmed. If it’s a physical or psychological challenge people are facing and it’s too much to handle, our Sanctuary crew will be on hand to assist in a calm, peaceful space. And you’re welcome to join the team. Contact Sanctuary here: [email protected]
*Please note you need to have done Sanctuary training to be able to volunteer.
For info on Sanctuary (and a link to sign up, if you have the required skills), head here.
Voted ‘Most Satisfying Crew in 2022’, these are the peeps that roll around in the morning making sure that the loos are stocked and clean and ready to go!
It’s a SUPER fun few hours (especially on the days that we find deposits from the Gifting Fairies) and you get to rest easy in the knowledge that YOU have taken care of some shit for the day.
Throne Crew shifts are arranged via the volunteer booth
Ever wanted to spend some time at the nerve centre, and encourage people to sign up for shifts and help burners volunteer for what they want to do to make this event what it is?
Volunteer for volunteer shifts at the volunteer booth here when they become available.
Once we all get back from the desert and have shaken the dust out of our hair, then it’s normally time to gather again at our Decompression. However in 2022, there simply wasn’t capacity in the core operations and volunteer teams – so we’re looking for community members to take the Decompression to the next level. It’s supposed to be like a massive family picnic, with art and music and all the cool things you find in Tankwa Town.
Interested in helping out? Want to launch the new Decompression? Mail [email protected] or mail [email protected] if you just want to help out.
If you’re looking for a theme camp, artwork or mutant vehicle crew to join, we’re busy working on a new solution to help people find their places. Please email [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] if you would like to volunteer on projects. They’ll be able to assist you.
Our event and community are built on active participation. You’re welcome to raise your hand at any time and put yourself forward and get involved. Apart from our main annual event in the Tankwa Karoo, there are also others like Decompression and Streetopia where you could pitch in.
Visit the Portfolios Section for contact details and get in touch to find out how you can get involved in the organisation, or contribute to various ongoing projects. You’re also welcome to consider joining the organisation as a Member in order to provide oversight, guidance and input. Read up on how the organisation is managed, and how you can become a Member.
You can also fill out the Volunteer form online or email [email protected] and a volunteer coordinator will get back to you.
There are a bunch of other ways to unleash your imagination. So, if you plan on creating a Theme Camp, building an Artwork, bringing a Performance or driving a Mutant Vehicle around, we have loads of info about these:
Been bitten by the art bug? Got an idea to get out, and a dream to chase?
Let’s get you started!
Keen to create a community space where anyone can collaborate and participate? Check out more of the available info here.
Art car? Mutant Vehicle? Mobile artwork?
If it’s got a motor and you can’t lift it with your arms, you need to read here.
Raising money for your project can be hard. We’ve put together a host of tips and tricks to assist you on your funraiser.
If you’re looking to take photos or videos at the event, please read through the media guidelines, and consider registering.
Your gift should not be a reflection of, or associated with, your Default job. In Tankwa Town, nothing and no one is a product.
Website developed by The Brain, Claire Shaban, and The Tim Doyle
Download Privacy Policy | Event Disclaimer | Terms of Use
Download Cookie Policy | Download POPIA Manual
Copyright 2024 AfrikaBurns Creative Projects NPC (Reg No. 2007/020812/08)
