Our newly updated book Camp & Caravan gives you the latest information on where to find the best camping spots in South Africa.
Packed with information for each region and great overview maps, you will be able to spend many happy camping days around a roaring fire with the entire family.
Chapman’s Peak Cottages and Caravan Park
Chapman’s Peak Park offers a restful and easy getaway. One has the choice of camping or staying in a fully equipped self-catering chalet. All camp sites are well sheltered from the prevailing southeaster. The grass is green, the trees provide shade and the area is wonderfully spacious. All this is only 30-minute drive from central Cape Town.
Strandskloof Camping Site
Located amid beautiful milkwood trees and fynbos, nestled against the Franskraal Mountain with a view onto Dyer Island, Standskloof provides the camper with amenities true to the ambience of the Standvlei. The tranquil camp site is covered in grass, and all 50 of the plots have power points and water. The ablution facilities are immaculate and wheelchair friendly and are serviced daily. They include hot water, a laundry room with coin-operated washer and dryer and an outside washing line.
Witsand West and Middle Camps
Witsand is known as the Whale Nursery of Southern Africa, due to the record number of southern right-whales that migrate to St Sebastian Bay annually between June and November. It is the best land-based vantage point from which to view these 58-ton gentle giants of the sea. Witsand Caravan Park has two properties: Middle Camp is situated next to the beach. It has a lovely view, but offers no protection from the wind. West Camp is not a picturesque as Middle Camp, but it is more sheltered. There are ablutions with hot water and electricity at each site, as well as laundry and scullery area.
Mavuradonha Camp Site
This private camp site is perfect for a quiet breakaway weekend into the country. Peace and tranquility set the scene – wake up to the call of the Fish Eagle or the bark of the baboons, and decide if you just want to lie in or go for that long-awaited country walk. Bird-watching is fantastic, with over 150 bird species already spotted in Mavuradonha and the Sand River Bird Sanctuary. Large grassed camps are placed along the banks of the Groot River, whcih runs into the Gouritz some 40km downstream. The rustic ablution facilities have hot showers. The camp offers a true African feel in which to savour those brightly lit, starry Karoo nights.
Vensterklip
Vensterklip is a very beautiful place, located near Elandsbaai along the West Coast. It offers a wide variety of accommodation options, including a choice between private and overland (shared) camp sites. Vensterklip has direct access to Verlorenvlei, which hosts 500 different bird species, making it a bird-watcher’s paradise.
Urquhart Caravan Park
The Urquhart Park is one of the most popular caravan parks in the Karoo, offering lots of shade to campers, caravanners and picnickers. It is located on the outskirts of Graaff-Reinet below the wall of the Nqweba dam (formerly known as the Van Ryneveldspass dam). The park is surrounded by scenic mountains and impressive rock formations. It’s an easy drive to the Camdeboo National Park, museums, restaurants and shops.
Papkuilsfontein
The camp site at Papkuilsfontein is laid out 2km from the farm homestead, and situated in the transect of Renosterveld, Succulent Karoo and Fynbos. It offers lovely views of the Hantam’s mountains and the canyon cliffs. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and silence. The camp site has a huge lapa with sand-stone fireplace in the middle and reed shading on one side. A work surface and kitchen sink, with cold water only, are part of the lapa. The bathroom is a Sonkwas reed hut and has a hot shower, wash basin and seperate flush toilet. Shading consists of huge taaibos and kraaibos shrubs.
Tamboti Vreugde Guest Farm & Caravan Park
Tamboti Vreugde is a caravan park and bushveld holiday resort situated in the Dinokeng Big Five conservation area, just 45 minutes from Pretoria. There are various accommodation options at Tamboti Vreugde. In addition to a grassy caravan park, there are air-conditioned thatched chalets, a four-bedroomed guesthouse (called Bosveld Vreugde) and a camp site (with bungalows and ablution facilities) for youth groups or corporate team-building activities.
Sabie River Camp
Sabie River Camp is a family resort on the banks of the Sabie River, located on the outskirts of Sabie town, close to the Sabie Falls. Here you will fall asleep at night to the sound of gurgling water. The heated rock pool, open-air bar, rim flow pool and wooden deck overlooking the Sabie River are but some of the unique features of the camp. These are pre-erected self-catering tents (some on stills and wooden plaforms) as well as spacious luxury safari tents with en-suite ablution facilities and kitchenette. The boma is available for large groups, and there are also grassed and level camp and caravan sites. The modern ablution facilities are impeccably clean.
Koro-Koro Bush Camp
Koro-Koro is situated in the bush surrounded by green grass and trees. With its own heated swimming pool and playground nearby, the caravan park is a fun for the whole family. There are 31 stands and 16 family bathrooms in the main area of the park. For the camper who wants to get away from the crowd there are the “Bosstaanplekke – another 21 stands with 9 family bathrooms. These stands are more secluded but still within walking distance of all amenities. The latest addition to the caravan park is camp Haak-en-Steek, which features six stands with three bathrooms and wash-up facilities.
For over 600 other camping sites, buy a copy of Camp & Caravan here (also available in Afrikaans)
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