Glamping in South Africa

38 Properties

9 Regions

65 Parks & Reserves

11 Ways to Stay

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Glamping

Best Time to Visit

South Africa is a year-round destination, but the best time depends on what you're after. For wildlife viewing, the dry winter months (May to September) are ideal — vegetation thins out, animals gather at water sources, and sightings are more frequent.

Getting There

South Africa is served by three major international airports: OR Tambo International (Johannesburg), Cape Town International, and King Shaka International (Durban). Most international flights arrive in Johannesburg, which is the main gateway to Kruger and the Lowveld reserves. From Johannesburg, you can fly to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) or Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport in about an hour.

Visa Information

Citizens of many countries like the UK, EU nations, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do not need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days. You'll receive a free entry stamp on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and have at least two blank pages. If you're travelling with children, you may need to carry unabridged birth certificates. Check the South African Department of Home Affairs website for the latest entry requirements specific to your nationality.

Currency

South African Rand (ZAR). Credit cards are widely accepted at lodges and in cities. ATMs are readily available. The favourable exchange rate makes South Africa one of the best-value luxury safari destinations in Africa.

Language

South Africa has 11 official languages, but English is spoken everywhere in tourism and is the primary language at all lodges and glamping properties. You'll also hear Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho depending on the region.

South Africa is where most glamping love stories begin. It’s the continent’s most accessible safari destination, offering a staggering diversity of landscapes, wildlife, and luxury accommodation — all without the long flights and complicated logistics of deeper Africa.

From the iconic Kruger National Park and its surrounding private reserves to the dramatic Drakensberg mountains, the lush Garden Route, and the wine-soaked valleys of the Western Cape, South Africa packs an extraordinary range of experiences into a single country. You can track the Big Five at dawn and sip world-class Pinotage by sunset — often without leaving the same province.

What sets South Africa apart for glamping is the sheer variety of stays on offer. You’ll find stilted treehouses overlooking watering holes, canvas safari tents tucked into riverine bush, contemporary eco-domes with panoramic mountain views, and exclusive-use bush houses designed for multi-generational family gatherings. The country’s well-developed tourism infrastructure means standards are consistently high, and many properties are owner-managed with a deeply personal touch that larger East African operations can struggle to match.

For first-time safari-goers, South Africa is the perfect starting point. For seasoned travellers, it’s the destination that keeps revealing new corners. Either way, this is glamping at its most refined — wild, beautiful, and unmistakably African.

South Africa’s glamping scene spans almost every corner of the country, but a few regions stand out as truly exceptional.

Kruger & the Greater Kruger Private Reserves remain the heartland of South African safari glamping. The private concessions bordering Kruger National Park: Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Klaserie, and Balule, offer exclusive traversing rights and some of the finest Big Five sightings on the continent. Glamping here ranges from ultra-luxurious tented suites to intimate bush camps with just a handful of rooms.

The Cape Winelands offer a different flavour of glamping entirely. Think vine-draped valleys, mountain backdrops, and boutique tented camps nestled between world-class wine estates. It’s glamping for the aesthete, paired with Michelin-quality dining and some of the most beautiful landscapes in Southern Africa.

The Garden Route, stretching from Mossel Bay to Storms River, is where forest meets ocean. Treehouse stays in ancient Tsitsikamma forests, eco-domes overlooking the Indian Ocean, and safari tents on private reserves like Gondwana make this a diverse and visually stunning glamping corridor.

KwaZulu-Natal offers everything from Big Five bush lodges in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi to beachfront glamping along the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The Drakensberg mountains add a dramatic alpine dimension with luxury tented camps at altitude.

What to Expect from Glamping in South Africa

South African glamping properties typically offer a blend of wilderness immersion and creature comforts.

At the luxury end, expect en-suite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, private plunge pools, dedicated game vehicles, and gourmet bush dining under the stars. Many properties are unfenced, meaning wildlife roams freely. Don’t be surprised to find elephants at the waterhole beside your deck or a leopard padding past your tent at dusk.

Even more modest glamping options in South Africa tend to include quality linens, proper beds, hot water, and home-cooked meals. The country’s strong hospitality culture means personal service is a given, and many properties are run by passionate owners who know every animal on the reserve by name.

How Much Does Glamping Cost in South Africa?

South Africa offers outstanding value compared to East African destinations. Budget-friendly glamping starts from around $80–$120 per person per night for self-catering tented camps. Mid-range options with meals and activities run $150–$400 per person per night. At the luxury end, exclusive-use properties and top-tier private reserves range from $500 to $2,000+ per person per night, typically fully inclusive of meals, drinks, and twice-daily game drives.

The South African Rand’s favourable exchange rate against the US Dollar, Euro, and British Pound means your money stretches significantly further here than in Botswana, Tanzania, or Kenya, making it possible to experience world-class safari glamping without the world-class price tag.

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Glamping in South Africa

Properties in South Africa

AfriCamps Klein Karoo

ATKV-Hartenbos

Imbali Safari Lodge

Kruger Shalati

Garonga Safari Camp

Dwyka Tented Lodge

Singita Ebony Lodge

Singita Sweni Lodge

Makakatana Bay Lodge

Thornybush Game Lodge

Singita Boulders Lodge

Tintswalo Safari Lodge

Marataba Safari Lodge

Gondwana Game Reserve

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Monwana Game Lodge

Beach Island Graskop

More Quarters Neighbourhood Hotel

Cheetah Plains Lodge

Marataba Mountain Lodge

Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

River Lodge at Lion Sands

Elephant Plains Game Lodge

Skukuza Safari Lodge

Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve

Narina Lodge

Tinga Lodge

Inyati Game Lodge

Mopani Manor

Impala Lily

Kruger’s Keep

Maqueda Lodge

Pan African Safari Lodge

Royale Marlothi Safari Lodge

Ngala’s Rest 101

Hinkwenu Residence

Fish Eagle Residence

Loerie Escape

Regions in South Africa

Garden Route

Greater Kruger

Klein Karoo

Kruger National Park

KwaZulu-Natal

Limpopo

Mpumalanga

Sabi Sand

Western Cape

Parks & Reserves in South Africa

andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve

Aquila Game Reserve

Augrabies Falls National Park

Balule Nature Reserve

Bontebok National Park

Camdeboo National Park

Dulini Private Game Reserve

Garden Route National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Idube Game Reserve

Inyati Private Game Reserve

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Ithala Game Reserve

Kapama Private Game Reserve

Karoo National Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Klaserie Game Reserve

Kruger National Park

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Limpokwena Nature Reserve

Lion Sands Private Game Reserve

Londolozi Private Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve

Makalali Private Game Reserve

MalaMala Game Reserve

Manyeleti Game Reserve

Mapungubwe National Park

Marakele National Park