If you haven’t heard the word “glamping” yet, be prepared to hear it a lot more often in the future, because it’s the latest thing when it comes to camping and overland experiences. This is overlanding in style, and Africamps are the folks who brought the concept of glamping to Africa.
11 Africamps, 5000km, 6 Weeks
In early March 2020 we were finalising plans an epic overlanding trip, visiting all 11 Africamps properties, from Hoedspruit in the far north of South Africa, right down to their southernmost camp at Swellendam in the Southern Cape. And then the whole world went crazy, and countries, including South Africa, went into lockdown. So that put an end to that idea, temporarily as it turned out.
We spent 4 months of that year cruising the canals of the Midlands in the UK, (that post is here), and in September when things began opening up again in South Africa, we returned home and resumed our conversation with Africamps. Within a very short space of time it was all arranged, camps were booked and an epic overland road trip began. 5000km over 6 weeks, visiting all 11 Africamps properties across the country.
An Overland Trip Of a Lifetime
Starting from Africamps at Hoedspruit, gateway to the northern Kruger National Park, we traveled south, through the beautiful Panorama Route to Hazyview. Africamps at Mackers, Hazyview is ideal for day trips into the Kruger being only 30 minutes from Phabeni Gate.
In Kwazulu Natal we stayed at White Elephant Safaris, their newest camp (at the time of our visit), and Gowan Valley, slap bank in the centre of beautiful Midlands Meander. Heading back to the Western Cape, where the majority of the camps are located we visited Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness, Oudtshoorn, Robertson, Wellington, Stanford and finally Swellendam.
Why Glamping?
Let’s face it, camping is one of those things that people either love or hate, there is very little middle ground. Glamping may be the answer. You can leave all your gear at home and still get the full camping experience. The smell of the canvas, the sound of the wind flapping the tent, the outdoor aspect but without the downsides of camping, like pitching a tent, trekking your dishes to the ablution block to wash up, sharing showers and communal cooking facilities or sheltering from the rain in a tent or caravan.
Telling the story with video:
The trip is best experienced in video, they are short, only around 5 minutes, you can binge watch the whole series here ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Subscribe
We travelled as guests of Africamps, who graciously offered our accommodation, with no strings attached. Other travel costs, food, drink and excursions were at our own expense.
Head over the the Africamps website here, you can check live availability and book in realtime, it’s easy and secure, take it from me, I’ve done it 11 times 😉
Until next time, safe travels.
Leave a reply