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If you notice a sudden surplus of parking spots in Sandton or an eerie quiet on the streets of Soweto this weekend, look to the horizon. From the early hours of Friday morning, a massive, chrome-tinted migration begins: the annual SA Camp Fest pilgrimage.
While the destination is technically Bela-Bela, Camp Fest is a Johannesburg event "in exile." It is the culmination of thousands of hours spent in Gauteng workshops, where the VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group) faithful prep their Golfs, Polos, and Audis for the ultimate show-and-shine.
The 90-minute drive on the N1 North transforms into a rolling gallery of air suspension and custom builds, with convoys stretching as far as the eye can see.
For the Jozi car community, the journey is as much a part of the festival as the event itself. Roadside filling stations become impromptu park-offs, where owners swap stories before the final push to Forever Resorts. It’s a powerful display of South African car culture that proves you don’t need to be at the venue to feel the energy; you just need to be on the road.
No tent? No problem
And if you do feel the desire to hit the road, you should know that tickets for the official Forever Resorts campsites usually vanish within minutes of release, so you’re fresh out of luck for this year. But there is good news for the Jozi crowd, because Bela-Bela is practically in our backyard, you can experience the madness and be back in your own bed by midnight.
A "Polo Ticket" (the festival's cheeky name for a day pass) is your golden ticket to a 10-hour sensory overload. Arrive by 7:00 am to catch the high-stakes Show and Shine competition, where over 500 of the country’s cleanest builds compete for glory on the main turf.
When you aren't admiring custom engine bays, the day-trip allows you full access to the resort’s legendary waterpark, which is perfect for cooling off from the Limpopo heat.
While day visitors miss the late-night Afterfest clubbing, you still get the core experience: the music, the food, and the chance to see a lucky attendee win the custom-built Wolfsburg Edition giveaway car. It’s the ultimate high-octane Saturday, just 150km from the city lights.
Day-tripper tips
- Cost: R260 per person (Polo Ticket) on Quicket.
- Vehicle Access: If you want to bring your car into the main venue rather than the day-visitor lot, grab an AutoPavilion Vehicle Pass for approximately R220.
- The Vibe: Family-friendly by day, high-energy festival by afternoon.
SA Camp Fest Details
- Where: Forever Resorts Warmbaths, Bela-Bela.
- When: February 6–8, 2026.
- Why go: To witness the largest gathering of VAG enthusiasts in the Southern Hemisphere.
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