The best way to enjoy an extended family escape is to book flights to Durban (or anywhere else in the country) and glamp your way from province to province. While not everyone knows what glamping is, it’s certainly growing in popularity in SA.
Glamping derives itself from“Glamorous Camping” – luxurious outdoor fun. It’s a great way to get back to nature with the family without having to cart your camping gear around with you. What’s more is that glamping is a far cry from what camping is, or ever was.
Now that winter has struck South Africa in full force, being in a tent near a lake or out in an open veld is ideally not where you would choose to be. Glamping will allow you to authentically experience the tradition of outdoor campingwith a variety of luxurious amenities and extras that will give you the tented experience with all the trimmings. Imagine all the perks of camping without having to sacrifice all the creature comforts.
What is Glamping?
Glamping is commonly thought of a luxurious way of camping, where luxury and simplicity collide.
Benefits of Glamping
Gone are the days when the family is bribed and coerced intodragging the collection of tents and camping equipment out of the garage before washing them down in preparation for a family vacation. Nowadays, the family unit reaches a unanimous decision that camping is the type of experience they want sans the hassle, packing, and maintenance of equipment.
In short, the family majority wants an outdoor type of holiday experience without roughing it; exit left -camping, enter centre stage – glamping!
Why Glamp not Camp?
- There’s no need to own or maintain any camping equipment.
- You can book holidays on the spur of the moment and won’t have to spare a minute’s thought to arranging camping equipment.
- Some glamping sites even provide fresh food and meals, so you won’t have to carry food and supplies with you.
- Book flights to Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, East London, and Nelspruit – or anywhere else in South Africa.No towing a trailer load of camping gear across the country. This significantly reduces travel time, which often cuts into quality time with the family.
- Glamping provides the perks of a 5-star holiday without the associated cost of a 5-star resort or hotel.
There’s been a lot of buzz around glamping in the country of late with glampsites on offer in most of the provinces across South Africa. Whether you book flights to Durban, Cape Town, East London, or even Limpopo, you are bound to find glamping opportunities available to you.
Where to go Glamping in Winter in SA
As glamping grows in popularity, establishments from guesthouses to safari lodges – tepee camps to beach camps,are designing unique glamping sites with all the bells and whistles. We found a variety of top quality glamping spots in KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Western Cape, and Gauteng.
KwaZulu Natal
Booking flights to Durban gets you a little closer to some of KZN’s hidden gems. There are several spots you can do some glamping in the province:
- Monzi Safaris in St Lucia.
- King Fisher Lakeside Retreat in Trafalgar on the South Coast.
- Thandulula Luxury Safari Tents in Port Shepstone.
- Chinderera Eco Lodge Kosi Bay.
- The Little Wing Teepee Camp in the Drakensberg
Eastern Cape
Whether you take a leisurely drive to the Eastern Cape or book cheap domestic flights with one of the various low-cost airlines operating in the province, you won’t be disappointed when you book at any one of the following Glampsites below:
- Amakhala Game Reserve on the end of Bushmen’s River.
- Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve on the Wild Coast.
- Black Eagle Tented Camp at Kleinrivier Wilderness.
Gauteng
Jo’burg isn’t all about the hustle and bustle…many people head to the province for a bit of R&R. You can do some quality glamping at the following places:
- Bushwillow Tented Camp in Muldersdrift.
- Thorn Tree Bush Camp in Dinokeng Game Reserve.
- Amadwala Lodge, Honeydew
Limpopo
Most people travelling to Limpopo head into the Kruger National Park for some game viewing. If you want to do a bit of glamping to enhance the experience, here’s where to do it:
- Tamboti Tented Camp in Kruger National Park.
- BonwaPhala in Waterberg.
- Bukisa Private Bush Camp in the Valley of Olifants.
- Ngama Safari Lodge, Hoedspruit
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga also hosts a number of the main entry points into the Kruger National Park. To avoid the luxury lodges that seem to dominate the area, head to one of these top glamping spots:
- Hamilton’s Tented Camp in Manyeleti.
- Muluwa Lodge in White River.
- Rhino Walking Safaris in Skukuza.
Western Cape
Most people think that the Western Cape is all about Table Mountain and the ocean, but there’s so much more to the province. For a bit of glamping in the province, head to:
- Glen Eden Farm in Montagu.
- Le Petit Karoon Ranch in Oudtshoorn.
- Old Mac Daddy in Grabouw.
Conclusion
When the family is serious about going camping in winter (or summer of course, but you will need to find a reason other than avoiding the winter chill) take them glamping. Book your flights to Durban, Johannesburg, East London, Cape Town or anywhere else in South Africa, and gear up for a world-class camping experience.