Why camping in South Africa still captures the heart
The camping options in South Africa are as different as the land itself - and the best part is that there is no one right way to camp.
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Camping under the stars is one of the best ways to feel the South African spirit and is still one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to connect with the land, whether you're in the Lowveld bush, the Karoo plains, or the lush forests of the Garden Route.
Camping is where a lot of families make memories. Kids learn how to roast marshmallows, parents relax away from work and emails, and friends gather around the fire to tell stories late into the night. It’s affordable, adaptable, and gives you what hotels never will: the hum of cicadas, the eerie laughter of hyenas, and the deep breath of the sea on a moonlit shore.
The camping options in South Africa are as different as the land itself. Some people like the simple style, which includes a tent, a ground cover and a gas lamp. Others choose caravans or rooftop tents because they are easier and faster to set up. Then there are those who want all the bells and whistles, like solar panels, built-in fridges, and everything else they need to go off-grid in style.
The best part is that there is no one right way to camp, and if you ask any experienced camper, they'll tell you that the hardest part isn't the animals or the weather; it's putting up camp with your partner.
A long-standing joke says that the best way to test a relationship is to try to figure out the tent poles. Thank goodness modern gear is making this easier. It uses lighter materials and sets up faster, so you have more time to enjoy the outdoors.
SA might be one of the best places in the world to go camping
There are so many options, from national parks to hidden farm stays.You can spend one weekend looking out over a dam, the next in the fynbos mountains, and the next on the edge of the water. There is a campsite waiting for you wherever you go, and each one is unique and charming.
Camping has always been a part of our South African culture, and it will always be. It's only getting bigger as more people look for more affordable, healthy ways to get away from the city.
The magic is the same whether you're setting up a sleeping bag under the stars or pulling into a campsite with your fully stocked campervan: living simply and getting back to the basics, even if it's just for a few days.
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