If you love being immersed in nature, but still enjoy those small luxuries (like fresh linen and your own loo), glamping is the perfect solution. Don’t worry about pitching tents, setting up a mobile kitchen or dragging along your toolbox with outdoor gadgets – it’s been taken care of.
You can just rock up, start the braai, pour a glass of wine and relax at any of these glamorous camping spots in South Africa’s winelands.
Camp Canoe Tented Camp, Franschhoek Wine Valley
The new luxurious tented accommodation at Boschendal is the perfect addition to their long list of curated farm experiences. Now you can spend the night in a stylish canvas abode amongst the fynbos and olive trees and enjoy an all-inclusive service. Organic elegance at its best.
Sleeps: 2 people per tent.
Amenities: Viewing deck with loungers, bed and linen, bathroom.
Activities: Outdoor yoga, guided hikes, cycling, swimming, spa, farm and vineyard tours, wine tasting, garden walks, restaurants, picnic.
Wine farms close by: Boschendal, Solms Delta, Allee Bleue.
Africamps Pat Busch, Robertson Wine Valley
If the only thing you do at Pat Busch is sit on your safari-style tent’s deck and soak up the views, it will be enough. Luckily, there are lots of other experiences to enjoy. The wilderness around you, complete with a thriving birdlife and outdoor adventures, offers a tranquil break away from the fast-paced buzz of life. Perfect for nature-lovers.
Sleeps: 5 people per tent (3 beds).
Amenities: Kitchenette, outdoor braai, deck, couch, dining room table (outdoors and indoors), en suite bathroom, two bedrooms, fireplace.
Activities: Swimming pool, kayaking, birding, hiking, cycling, game watching, kids’ jungle gym.
Wine farms close by: Van Loveren, Viljoensdrift, Bon Courage.
Old Mac Daddy, Elgin Valley Wine Route
Surely the quirkiest of the lot, Old Mac Daddy is a glamping favourite, even for the room service-lovers amongst us. With their luxurious airstream trailers uniquely decorated by Cape Town designers, this is not only a close-to-nature getaway, but also a unique bucket list type experience.
Sleeps: Airstream trailers sleep 2-4, Luxury tented camps sleep 2 – 6 people.
Amenities: Mini bar, coffee Station, air-conditioning & heating unit, bathroom with shower, towels, breakfast included
Activities: Lakeside beach, stand-up paddle boarding, tractor rides, fishing, archery, mountain paths, fat bikes, swimming pool, hiking, cycling, kayaking, designer kids play area.
Wine farms close by: South Hill Wines, Highlands Road Wines, Charles Fox MCC.
Africamps Doolhof, Wellington Wine Route
It’s difficult to believe that the glamping spot at Doolhof wine farm is merely an hour away from Cape Town’s CBD. The line of tents are surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains with a huge lawn for kids to play on. The biggest perk: Each tent has its own private woodfired hot tub.
Sleeps: 5 people per tent (3 beds).
Amenities: Kitchenette, outdoor braai, deck, coach, dining room table (outdoors and indoors), en suite bathroom, two bedrooms, fireplace, hot tub.
Activities: Mountain biking, hiking, birding, jungle gym, farm animals, wine tasting, dining.
Wine farms close by: Doolhof, Val de Charon, Dunstone.
Cherry Glamping, Elgin Valley Wine Route
What initially started out as a comfortable sleep-over for wedding guests, has evolved into a great weekend-away option. Cherry Glamping has two permanent camps with 21 tents each, as well as a mobile camp that can be moved around to accommodate a total of 200 people.
Sleeps: 2 guests per tent.
Amenities: Twin beds and linen, shared ablution bathrooms, shared fully equipped kitchens, braai facilities.
Activities: Swimming, fishing, pump track, cycling, birding.
Wine farms close by: Paul Cluver, Oak Valley, Belfield.
Africamps Stanford Hills, Stanford Wine Route
Stanford Hills is a laid-back wine farm settled between the ocean, lakes and the mountains in the picturesque Overberg region. After following a short gravel road past the estate’s restaurant and protea fields, you will find the beautiful tents overlooking the farm dam.
Sleeps: 5 people per tent (3 beds).
Amenities: Kitchenette, outdoor braai, deck, coach, dining room table (outdoors and indoors), en suite bathroom, two bedrooms, fireplace.
Activities: Protea farm tours, whale watching flight, horse riding, birding, hiking, cycling, jungle gym, dining, wine tasting.
Wine farms close by: Stanford Hills, Sir Robert Stanford, Springfontein Wine Estate.
Other recommended glamping accommodation in the Winelands:
- Elgin Valley Wine Route: Elgin Hills Luxury Tented Camp, Southern Yurts Porcupine Hills.
- Stanford Wine Route: Platbos Forest.
- Klein Karoo Wine Route: Africamps Oudtshoorn, Le Petit Karoo Ranch.
- Plettenberg Bay Wine Route: Africamps Ingwe.
- Midlands Wine Route: Africamps Gowan Valley.
- Robertson Wine Valley: Lancewood Tipi Lodge.
- Darling Wine Route: Thali Thali Game Lodge, !Khwa Ttu.
