CAMPING
Camping is one of the easiest ways to escape the city, slow down, and experience South Africa’ s incredible outdoors without spending a fortune on a luxury hotel.
The trick for first-timers is simple: don’ t try to become Bear Grylls on your first weekend.
START SOMEWHERE EASY Look for a campsite with electricity, clean ablutions, running water, and, ideally, a shop nearby. Wellequipped campsites are perfect for beginners because you get the outdoor experience without feeling abandoned in the wilderness.
And please, test your tent before you leave home. Your garden is a much better place to discover that you have no idea how the poles work than a campsite at 7pm, just as the sun is disappearing.
PACK SMART, NOT YOUR ENTIRE HOUSE For your first trip, you don’ t need enough equipment to launch an expedition to the wastes of Antarctica. Start with a decent tent, sleeping bag, mattress, torch or headlamp, camping chair, basic cooking equipment, cooler box, sunscreen, insect repellent, and warm clothing.
Bring more water than you think you’ ll need, and keep meals simple. A braai, rolls, eggs, instant noodles, or a one-pot pasta dish are your friends. Nobody is expecting a five-course tasting menu when you’ re cooking next to a tent.
86 INBOUND SA / OCTOBER 2026