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For one week, 11,000 people moved into a city in the desert of Tankwa Karoo National Park, South Africa. This overstimulating space and time yielded art, music, and authentic human connection. I experienced AfrikaBurn.
After a short 2.5 days to acclimate to a new continent among fresh, quick friends, I climbed into the back seat of a packed car, prayed the treacherous R355 would not eat our tyres, and embarked on an unforgettable spiritual journey.
Objectively, AB means uncomfortable camping in the desert. But after I set up my tent and stepped onto the central Binnekring, I was assaulted by a unique sensory experience I didn't know was possible. I saw points of vibrant light and felt competing bass from far away amid swarms of people who were happy to talk to me - all transported from hundreds of kilometers away.
And I was promised an even greater intensity, since the city's population would nearly double over the next few days. What?
The following week yielded experiences beyond prior comprehension. I photographed a wedding. I fast-tracked deep connections with people I hope last a lifetime. I unlocked new reasons and ways to love myself. I developed a new appreciation for the fifth guiding principle of Immediacy: No idea can substitute for this experience.
