AfriCamps Garden Route: Boutique Tents in Endless Nature

The magic of the Garden Route comes to life from the comfort of these boutique tents.

The stretch of road that winds its way from Witsand in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape is known as the Garden Route, arguably one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Flanked by verdant forests, craggy gorges, sprawling nature reserves and plunging valleys – with lakes, white-sand beaches and dreamy lagoons dotted along the way – the 300-kilometre-long expanse is home to a slew of small towns, the most well-known of which are Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Sedgefield, Oudtshoorn and George.

While there is no shortage of pricey hotels, resorts and villas all vying for holidaymakers’ attention (especially in the coastal resorts of Plettenberg Bay and Knysna), one of the most authentic and rewarding ways to experience the region’s peerless beauty is an immersive stay in nature.

Which is where AfriCamps comes in. These spacious, custom-designed boutique tents, located on a series of beautiful farms and estates throughout South Africa, are fully furnished, with everything you need for a blissful stay in nature: decked-out kitchens, comfortable bedrooms, braai decks (with ridiculous views) and large showers. Indoor fireplace and electric blankets? Check!

Of the 11 AfriCamps in South Africa, there are four along the Garden Route, which we test-drove on a six-day glamping trip to the area that included a night at AfriCamps Kam’Bati (Swellendam), a night at AfriCamps Klein Karoo (Oudtshoorn), two nights at AfriCamps Oakhurst (Wilderness) and two nights at AfriCamps Ingwe (Plettenberg Bay).

It was a holiday that will be etched in our five-year-old son’s heart and mind forever. The endless array of adventures and activities on each of the farms we stayed at – from mountain-biking along dusty farm roads to canoeing, swimming in the farm dam, hot-tubbing at night, swinging from the tallest trees and feeding farm animals – had him rapt from dawn till dusk. The stuff that lifetime memories are made of…

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati, Swellendam

This family-friendly farm epitomises idyllic country life, where swimming, canoeing and fishing in the Breede River, playing mini-golf or doing a scavenger hunt will keep children entertained for hours, while adults catch up with friends around the fire.
The boutique tents are situated in a patch of forest, where you’ll be lulled to sleep by the sound of a gurgling river, and awake to the sight of ducks ambling down to the shore. Swellendam is a short drive away, and the Breede River offers intrepid explorers a trip into nature.
Distance from CT 2.5 hours
The lodgings

five boutique tents, each with a fully equipped kitchen (stove and microwave) and en-suite bathroom
each tent has two extra-length queen-size beds and a single bunk bed (sleeps five)
each tent has a spacious deck with outdoor seating and a built-in braai area
private outdoor wood-fired hot tub next to each tent
air conditioning and electric blankets

Things to do

three swimming pools with water slides
putt-putt course
pool lounge
jungle gym
canoe on the Breede River
vegetable garden
guided farm tour
fishing
hiking trails
wine farms in the Overberg
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Cape Agulhas
explore the nearby town of Swellendam

Good to know Breakfast and braai baskets are available at an additional charge.
There is also an on-site shop (open daily) and a bar (only on weekends once restrictions allow).
Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Cost From R1 340 per night for two adults (depending on season)
CHECK AVAILABILITY + BOOK DIRECT

AfriCamps Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn

Separated from the Great Karoo by the Swartberg Mountain Range, the Klein Karoo is a semidesert landscape bathed in blissful solitude. Surrounded by spekboom trees and aloes, the tents here are positioned around a dam on a working ostrich farm, offering an accessible gateway into this fascinating world.
Distance from CT 5 hours
The lodgings

12 water-facing boutique glamping tents
each tent has two extra-length queen-size beds and a single bunk bed (sleeps five), fully equipped kitchen and en-suite bathroom
private deck with outside seating and braai area, air conditioning, electric blankets and an indoor wood-burning fireplace

Things to do

guided stargazing
meerkat encounter
tour of the working ostrich farm
Karoo drive
Cango Caves
numerous restaurants, including Buffelsdrift Game Lodge restaurant, Nostalgie Restaurant and Karoo Pot

Good to know Breakfast and dinner baskets can be delivered to your tent at an additional cost.
Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Cost From R1 190 per night for two adults (depending on season)
CHECK AVAILABILITY + BOOK DIRECT

AfriCamps at Oakhurst, Wilderness

After the turnoff from Hoekwil, you’ll arrive at Oakhurst Farm where a treed dirt road takes you all the way to the spectacular glamping area. What travel brochures don’t mention is the All Saints Church – a magnificent Cape Dutch-style building hidden among the trees along the way – fit for a wedding! Divinity aside, this is an adventure lover’s paradise, with farm walks, a pump track (where chickens and pigs have right of way!), archery, a farm dam, a waterfall, and much more. Oh, you must order a Shelly’s chicken pie from the onsite farm shop – utterly delicious.
Distance from CT 5 hours
The lodgings

eight boutique tents each with a fully equipped kitchen (stove and oven) and en-suite bathroom
each tent has two extra-length queen-size beds and a single bunk bed (sleeps five)
each tent has a spacious deck with outdoor seating and a braai area
air conditioning, electric blankets and a wood-burning indoor fireplace
private wood-fired hot tub

Things to do

fishing and canoeing on the dam
mountain-biking
guided horse-riding
archery
hiking trail to the nearby waterfall
pump track
farm pool
massage treatments in the comfort of your own tent
Oakhurst Dairy to watch cows being milked and calves being fed
nearby beaches
hang gliding
paragliding
Wilderness Lakes Art Route
nearby craft markets

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Cost From R1 340 per night for two adults (depending on season)
CHECK AVAILABILITY + BOOK DIRECT

AfriCamps at Ingwe, Plettenberg Bay

The Crags, 20 kilometres from Plettenberg Bay, is peak Garden Route: lush forests, whooshing waterfalls and gorges where rivers flow through the mountains. It’s also an animal lover’s paradise. During our stay, we were greeted each morning by a herd of regal impala, who would saunter around our backyard browsing and grazing.
The elevated tents at this AfriCamps site offer spectacular views of the Tsitsikamma Mountain Range and surrounding valleys. It’s the perfect base for exploring Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Don’t feel like venturing out? Do the 2.5km Couch Potato hike around the reserve.
Distance from CT 6 hours
The lodgings

six boutique glamping tents with a private deck, fully equipped kitchen (stove and microwave) and en-suite bathroom
each tent has two extra-length queen-size beds and a single bunk bed (sleeps five)
each tent has a large deck with outdoor seating and a pit braai
air conditioning and electric blankets
three tents feature their own outdoor wood-fired hot tub

Things to do

swimming pool
Couch Potato walking trail
farm dams
Monkeyland
Birds of Eden
Jukani Wildlife Centre
Hog Hollow Horse Trails

Good to know Breakfast baskets and traditional South African braai baskets can be delivered to your tent at an additional cost.
Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Cost Boutique Tent: From R1 190 per night for two adults (depending on season)
Boutique Hot Tub Tent: From R1 490 per night for two adults (depending on season)
CHECK AVAILABILITY + BOOK DIRECT

Uncover more of the Cape’s hidden gems – subscribe to our weekly newsletter.