Mzanzitravel Local Travel Inspiration Issue 11

Summer Holidays
With so much natural beauty around us – mountains, nature
reserves, rivers, 2,800km of coastline, ancient forests, huge
dams and an ever-changing topography – it is no wonder that
most South Africans passionately love the great outdoors. And
so, it is natural too that many of us just love camping.
Pitching your tent in a forest clearing high up in the mountains. Or parking your
caravan just meters away from the sea. Coming back from a mountain hike or a
day’s snorkelling in the tidal pools, you chuck a few logs together and light up a fire.
Friends and family draw up their camping chairs. With steaming hot mugs of coffee
in hand or with some super-grade lamb chops and boerewors sizzling on the coals,
you swap stories under starry skies. Few things can beat that.
South Africa is blessed with an abundance of really cool camping sites and
caravan parks. Due to their popularity, if you haven’t booked a year in advance, you
will struggle to still find a vacancy for these coming summer holidays, especially
along the coast and at the popular inland resorts. But don’t give up: there might
still be an opening here and there. Otherwise, start planning for Easter, or the
winter holidays, or for next summer. To give you a taste of what’s on offer, we
have put together a list of ten of our favourite camping sites around the country.
But remember, there are many, many more to choose from, all just as good as any
on our list.
Most camping sites and caravan parks will require an upfront holding deposit when
booking for the high season. In the low season periods you seldom need to book.
But phone and make sure anyway. Prices charged vary significantly from place to
place; some charge per person, others per camping site. Others charge a site fee
with a fixed number of people covered, plus a per-person fee for additional people.
Along the coast and at dam resorts you’ll probably pay more to be close to the
water, than if you took a stand in one of the back rows. Camping fees can range on
average from as little as R50 per person per day to R180, while stands can cost
on average between R120 to R400 per day, usually allowing 2 to 4 people with an
additional small charge per additional person. In nature reserves you may have to
also pay a park fee, while some places charge a fee per vehicle brought in – but
these are usually quite low and very affordable.
These days, unless you’re really roughing it out in the wilderness like on a hike,
most camping sites and caravan parks come with plug-in electricity and clean,
well-maintained ablution blocks and dishwashing facilities. Many have an on-site
shop and laundry facilities. Whatever your choice, you’ll still find a camping holiday
to be one of the best you’ll ever have at the lowest cost possible. The scenery,
relaxation, healthy outdoor environment, outdoor activities and good friendship
come free. And moms and dads will hardly know the kids are there!
So, let’s go visit our top 10
favourite camping sites.
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp, Garden Route National Park
1.
One of the best-kept secrets in South Africa, is the absolutely stunning camping
sites and chalets at Storms River Mouth within the Garden Route National Park,
operated by SANParks. Park your caravan or pitch your tent just meters away from
where the Indian Ocean waves pound the rocky shores, or opt for a spot closer to
temperate, indigenous forests and fynbos just behind the caravan park. Here you
can kayak up the river, dwarfed by the cliffs of the gorge on either side. Or go on
long and unforgettable coastal hikes. The Tsitsikamma Section of the national park
– the name means “the place of much water” is a paradise of forest, mountains,
cliffs, wild coastline, rivers and inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish. Some of the
local inhabitants include dolphins and porpoises, southern right whales, African
black oystercatchers, Knysna louries, the Cape clawless otter – the source of the
name of the nearby famous Otter Trail - and blue duikers. Camping stands are on
lush green grass, some in the shade of trees, some with electricity. There’s an
onsite restaurant and shop, while the nearby Storms River Village also offers fine
restaurants, a few shops, canopy tours and other things to do. And all of this is a
stone’s throw away from Plettenberg Bay and Jeffreys Bay.
• Contact: SANParks Tel +27 (0)42 281 1607 or Tel +27 (0)42 281 1607; Fax
+27 (0)42 281 1843; or go to Web www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/
camps/storms_river/.
Augrabies Rest Camp, Augrabies Falls National Park,
2. Kakamas
If you’ve never been to the awesome Augrabies Falls, called the Aukoeribis or
“Place of mighty noise” by the original Khoi inhabitants of the area, or explored
the vast veld of the surrounding Kalahari region, this is you chance. The caravan
and camping sites are in a shaded area, with an onsite shop and restaurant,
communal camp kitchen with two-plated stoves, and sinks, communal ablution
facilities, laundry and ironing room – excellent facilities in the best tradition for
which SANParks is known. Go view the falls from the various viewing platforms,
go on hikes along the river, do a game drive, enjoy some mountain biking, do the
3-day Klipspringer Hiking Trail or 5km Dassie Nature Trail, or just laze away the
time with a book or beer in hand. Advance booking is essential, and the site is
closed October to March due to extreme heat. All camping site have power points.
• Contact: Tel +27 (0) 54 452 9200; Fax +27 (0) 54 451 5003; Web www.
sanparks.org/parks/augrabies.
The Point, De Bakke & Santos, Mossel Bay
3.
For more than a century the town of Mossel Bay has been a favourite, traditional
camping choice for farmers from surrounding districts and people who live further
inland. Today the town’s three prime caravan parks attract people from all over
the country, as well as from neighbouring countries. All three are situated almost
at water’s edge and have excellent security and facilities. At De Bakke you can
also hire thatched chalets. Santos is the largest of the three and stretches from
De Bakke to Santos Beach, two of the safest and most popular Southern Cape
beaches. At The Point small kids can swim in the Paddling Pool, while older kids
between 10 and 100 can swim in The Poort tidal pool. The area is also popular
with surfers, divers and anglers. The town centre with malls, shops, restaurants
and bars is walking distance away, while there are a number of fine restaurants
right there at The Point. All camping sites have electricity, communal drinkable
water taps and braai facilities.
• Contact: Mossel Bay Municipality Tel & Fax at +27 (0)44-690 3501;
Website Booking & Rates www.mosselbay.gov.za/book-caravan-sitepoint-caravan-park.
MZANZI TRAVEL| www.mzanzitravel.co.za|ISSUE 11 | 63