Suzuki has just announced that the Safari Town Festival will make its triumphant return to South Africa this year.
The Suzuki Safari Town Festival was dreamt up in 2023 as a complement to the annual Jimny Gathering, allowing the public to enjoy a fun-filled weekend regardless of what car they own.
The first festival took place in September 2023 in the town of Clarens in the Free State, creating a meeting point for thousands of people and hundreds of Jimny models from across the generations.
The event was a massive success, and Suzuki has now declared that the festival will make a return this September, presumably due to popular demand.
The second festival will take place on the weekend of Saturday, 27 September, and the location has been changed from Clarens to the Karoo town of Outshoorn in the Western Cape.
“The first Suzuki Safari Town Festival exceeded all our expectations – the energy, the turnout, the sense of community. It set the tone for something truly special,” said Henk van der Schyf, event organiser.
“For 2025, we’ve taken everything people loved and turned it up a notch. More music, more adventure and more ways to celebrate the spirit of Suzuki and the beautiful Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. We can’t wait to welcome everybody back.”
The Japanese automaker stated that the event will be held at the historic Oudtshoorn Recreation Ground and will feature a line-up of homegrown musical talents.
A few of the performers confirmed for the event thus far include Jeremy Loops, Spoegwolf, Karen Zoid and the Port Elizabeth rap sensation Early B.
A live concert is not the only draw of the event, however, as Suzuki and the festival organisators have arranged a wide selection of food and beverage vendors, including craft bars, a beer garden, and wine bars.
There will also be a children’s entertainment area and a large screen to watch the rugby, meaning the whole family can get involved.
Aside from the music, live entertainment will be provided by comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout, who us returning as Suzuki Safari Festival’s official MC.
The company reiterated that, while the coinciding Jimny Gathering event is tailored for owners of the Jimny and other 4x4s, the Safari Festival is open to the public regardless of whether they own a Suzuki.
“Suzuki is a brand for all South Africans. While we have some exciting activities planned specifically for Jimny owners, we also wanted to make sure that everyone visiting Oudtshoorn for the weekend can join in the fun,” explained Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager at Suzuki Auto South Africa.
Tickets for the event are as follows:
- Bambinos (Kids under 2) – Free
- Juniors (Kids under 12) – R60
- Teens (Kids under 18) – R100
- Adults – R250
- Adult Early Birds – R200
Individuals can order their tickets online at www.safaritown.co.za.
Suzuki’s world record
The inaugural Suzuki Safari Town Festival set a world record in 2023 for the “most vehicles to switch on their lights simultaneously.”
The accolade, which was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, saw 787 Jimny SUVs gathered in one place to achieve the unusual feat.
The event also saw the appearance of Hisanori Matsushima, the manager of the Automobile Styling Department at Suzuki Motor Corporation, who is responsible for the design of the current-generation Jimny.
“It was a privilege to host Matsushima-san at the South African Jimny Gathering,” said Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto.
“While he is well versed on the global success of the Jimny, it was great to introduce him to the fun and friendly South African Jimny fans and show him how his creation is used by adventure-seeking fans to explore every corner of our beautiful country.”
2023 Suzuki Safari Town Festival and Jimny Gathering
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