Glamping vs camping – what’s the score? Essentially, glamping is posh camping, otherwise known as ‘glamourous camping’. It’s an opportunity to enjoy outdoor fun coupled with a stunning destination or location (on a cliff, in the bush, on the banks of a river…) and finished off with luxurious accommodation. Think of ordinary camping – you’re half way there because you’ve got a great outdoor location and you’ve purchased a very expensive build-it-yourself tent from a camping shop which looks easy to assemble (but you’re too embarrassed to say that you need to read the instructions and you’re still struggling). It’s all looking good and you’ve finally got yourself set up and ready to go. Then you remember that there’s no toilet or bathroom so to speak, that bugs have now started to invade your sleeping area, the wind has picked up and blown out your campfire, your campfire dinner has been hauled off the fire by some rabid animal… and now you’re trying to remember what it is you love so much about camping. South African’s know how to get it right

If you’re keen to be one with nature and you love the amazing outdoor destinations that South Africa boasts, why not try glamping? Glamping in South Africa isn’t a new concept. In fact, we think South African’s probably perfected it. Luxury tented accommodation is something that South Africa has become famous for as part of the wildlife tourism experience both domestic and international travellers enjoy when they visit us. And it’s fair to say that in many cases, this sort of tented accommodation comes with a steep price tag. But when you take regular camping and you add luxury to the mix, you’ll quickly realise just how special glamping can be. Let’s put that statement into perspective:

5 Benefits of glamping in South Africa

Benefit 1: There’s a bathroom. For you camping purists, turn away now. We think a bathroom is the key ingredient to successful camping because everyone wants to do their business without the fear of being stung, bitten or eaten alive (which could happen if you had to bathe in the river…#JustSaying)

Benefit 2: You have electricity. And with electricity comes hot water for your bathroom, hot food and mood lighting – sounds quite romantic (*cheeky grin*)

Benefit 3: You can have staff. And with staff comes the promise of cocktails, gourmet meals, delicious snacks, packed picnic baskets, freshly laundered linen…do we need to go on?

Benefit 4: Safety is simple. The chances of your tent being blown away, washed away or torn up by wild animals is unlikely. That’s a real plus.

Benefit 5: Location, location, Location! You see, you’re still able to take that healthy hike, picnic in the meadow, fish or cycle at the stream or enjoy a romantic camp side sundowner because your luxury tent is still in a super cool location. (Just with lights and 5 course meals and a cocktail menu….)

Where can you go glamping in style in South Africa? 

www.southafrica.net offers up some exciting options (plus we’ve added in one of our own). These glamping opportunities definitely require a little saving….but they are so worth the money…

Gorah Elephant Camp in the Addo Elephant National Park (Eastern Cape) offers 11 luxury tented suites each with private bathrooms, a personal chef and a large veranda to enjoy the sweeping views of the African plains.

Marataba Safari Lodge at the foothills of the Waterberg Mountains (Limpopo) offers guests luxury accommodation in canvas and stone suites, each with their own private viewing decks.

ThandaPrivate Game Reserve on the KZN north coast offers 14 superbly appointed luxury tented suites, each with private sundeck and en-suite bathrooms. The 15th tent called the Jabula Tent is particularly suited to bridal couples and honeymooners. (Our headline picture shows some of the splendour of this tent – it’s breath-taking)

The Airstream Rooftop Trailer Parkat the Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town offers a different kind of glamping in so far as the accommodation is not of the tented variety. Instead, airstream trailers have been remodelled and individually decorated to a high standard. This fun accommodation option on the rooftop of a hotel in central Cape Town truly sets the mood for a fun-filled night on the town. Is it glamping or is it extreme caravanning? Whatever it is…its heaps of fun.

It may cost a bit more to go glamping than to go camping (ok, a lot more) but the experience of having the outdoors plus a posh and fun indoors is definitely worth a try. Have you gone glamping in South Africa? Tell about your experience – we would love to hear from you.

(Image credits: from various above mentioned hotel websites plus http://www.granddaddy.co.za/rooms/category/trailers and  www.granddaddy.co.za. Main image / header via www.thanda.com)