Glamping in the Garden Route

“Glamping, what on earth is glamping?”

I’ve heard this statement, or rather this question, a thousand times. I watch the expressions on people’s faces change as I relay my story in detail. Most South Africans look at me oddly and ask, “Why?” I simply have to smile and shake my head. We are so hardcore. Truly, we are. But having said that, it’s my greatest pleasure to share my take on glamping and a few of these unique places in the Garden Route with you.

Glamping stands for “glamorous camping,” and yes, there is such a thing. Imagine being someone who really loves the outdoors and being in nature, but doesn’t quite have the gear required to camp somewhere extraordinary. Throw in a bit of, “I’m not so sure if I’m made for this kind of thing,” or “I don’t like the schlep.”

Tented accommodation in remote areas began mostly in game reserves, but the idea soon evolved within South Africa’s travel industry, and a number of these unique lodgings opened across the country. A tent with a touch of glamour, a touch of style, and a lot of practicality.

In the space of a month, I’ve travelled and delighted in some of these outstandingly unique places, relishing the simple comforts of sitting on a camping deck and looking out across distinctly different scenic views at a number of Garden Route locations. Each offers its own fusion of rustic charm and luxury, blended with comfort and outdoor relaxation. 

Here are a few of the places that I have visited in the Garden Route region:

Africamps

AfriCamps is a product designed with the nature lover in mind, and they now have several tented camps all over South Africa. Here in the Garden Route, they boast three camps in different locations: Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay, and Oudtshoorn. I had the pleasure of visiting all three and experiencing their unique style of glamping. They have really taken the climate, camping behaviour, and each location into consideration.

The Klein Karoo is the semi-arid sister of the Garden Route. It lends its own charm, and there is always something about this mountainous, stone-riddled landscape. It murmurs of deep-rooted folklore, ostrich farming, and murmured fables.

Early mornings at AfriCamps are for meerkat sightings. The crisp mornings in the Karoo smack of solace and bossie smells as we find our way to the den of these furry little tunnelers. A patient wait rewards you with agile little figures slinking out at dawn to warm their bodies and yap their warnings across the rocky topography.

At dusk, it is the antelopes’ turn to echo their barks through the back-set hills while you sip your glass of wine. The Klein Karoo is a place where the ostrich is king and painted mermaids fill the stone caves. There is always mystery here.

Teniqua Treetops

Hidden on the mountain slopes of the coastal region, neatly settled among the trees, you’ll find Teniqua Tree Tops. This treehouse destination is so completely different that it fascinates every visitor who escapes to the Garden Route.

It’s here that you’ll have coffee every morning with the Knysna Turacos and share in the soothing ease of the forest. Surrounded by giants such as the Outeniqua Yellowwood and Real Yellowwood, both a tad older than your great-grandparents, you can’t help but wonder what mysteries they must have witnessed.

You simply can’t help kicking off your shoes and relishing the green panoramic landscape stretched out before you.

Soul food at its best.

Reflections Eco Reserve

Reflections Eco Reserve Situated in the Wilderness Lakes area, between Sedgefield and Wilderness, it is a birders’ paradise.

The lakes form an intricate coastal system, and these tented chalets are positioned so that you can leisurely enjoy the early morning bird activity over the water while being entertained by the jubilant sounds of warblers, cisticolas, and other reed dwellers and fynbos wanderers as you breathe in the fresh fragrance of the surrounding fynbos.

It’s a wonderfully niche establishment with a very personal touch from owner Tim. Spend some time with him, and you won’t regret it. He loves sharing his knowledge of the birds, plants, geology, archaeology, and the fascinating history of the area spanning the last few thousand years.

Grootvaderbosch Cape Nature

Tucked away in the folds of the Langeberg Mountains near Heidelberg lies one of the Garden Route’s forest getaways. It lingers in a space that quietly draws you in, between its towering trees and lush green surrounds. I truly have to say that this is one of the most untouched forest ecosystems I have stepped into in quite a while.

Besides the “unwanted” redwoods that arrived with the explorers of another era, very little influences these wooded slopes and their unique biome. This is one for the traveller who enjoys birding and is prepared to spend time waiting for that special sighting of the day. It might just be the elusive Narina Trogon

CapeNature has added its own touch of comfort here with their modern, yet earthy, glamping tents that blend into the landscape without taking anything away from it. I woke up to birdsong instead of an alarm clock and enjoyed my morning coffee on the deck with a mountain view straight out of a storybook. It’s a practical space with uncomplicated comforts. I loved this stay. It’s a hiker’s dream.

Things to know about glamping

1. They are fully equipped for cooking and include bedding, towels, and hot and cold-water showers.
2. Most operate on solar power.
3. They are all unique and close to nature, so don’t expect televisions or other modern entertainment.
4. Most offer Wi-Fi.
5. Every one of them offers a unique experience, so go and enjoy it.
6. They are perfect for nature lovers looking for a very different kind of getaway.

A last thought from me about glamping: Yes, it’s different. It’s practical and unique. But above all, it’s a whole lot of fun and something you’ll never regret. As a matter of fact, it might just become your favourite way of travelling.