By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe
Imagine your bedroom, but in the bushes. With a bonfire outside, music playing, and stars above your tent. That’s exactly the idea behind Bonfire Weekend Camp, the winter getaway created by brothers Adam Saseka Khoza and Moses Khoza.
For five years, the camp has been inviting people to trade home comforts for three days in nature, without actually giving up the comforts.
“We call it Bonfire Weekend Camp because we are moving away from the comfort of our homes and we go to the bushes to camp. The interesting thing about our service is that we take what you find in your home and we bring it to the camp in the bushes,” says Adam Saseka Khoza, owner of Bonfire Weekend Camp and Saseka Travel and Logistics.
That means beds, bedding, electric blankets, charging points, mobile toilets and showers are all set up for you.
“The only thing that is required from our clients is an iron, the clients bring their own iron,” Adam laughs.
The camp runs from Friday to Sunday and it’s built like a mini-festival in the wilderness.
Friday kicks off with a pre-party, Saturday is the main event with adventure activities throughout the day, followed by an after party at night. Then Sunday wraps it up with an all-white party still in the bushes, still at the campsite.
“We do all the activities and later on we have an after party,” Adam explains. “We have the pre-party on Friday followed by the main event on Saturday, and then on Sunday we have an all-white party at the same venue in the bushes where we camp.”
While most people avoid camping when it’s cold, Bonfire Weekend Camp leans into it.
“We prefer to host our events in winter because it is proper to set up a bonfire, engage in storytelling and enjoy ourselves far away from home,” says Adam.
“We are doing it during winter time so that we can enjoy camping in tents and the bonfire, since Mpumalanga is very hot in summer.”
The concept was first introduced at Driekoppies Dam in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga. Now, the team is making it a seasonal home.
“We are saying that from now on we are going to have this event at Driekoppies Dam during June, July and August,” Adam confirms.
Beyond the parties, Bonfire Weekend Camp is also about adventure and connection. Guests get outdoor activities during the day, storytelling around the fire at night, and the chance to disconnect from the city while still sleeping on a proper bed.
The business sits under Saseka Travel and Logistics, which handles travel and tourism experiences across the province. For the Khoza brothers, Bonfire Weekend Camp is their way of introducing a new kind of tourism to the region.
“We are introducing this concept to the people of Nkomazi Local Municipality and Mpumalanga as a whole,” says Adam.
After five winters around the fire, the message is simple: come for the adventure, stay for the bonfire, and don’t forget your iron.
