Camping is the best way to escape our modern hectic lifestyle and reconnect with nature. However, leaving behind our modern comforts and “roughing it” is not always appealing to everyone. That is where glamping in the Western Cape (glamorous camping) offers the best of both worlds. Allowing you to experience the beauty of nature without sacrificing comfort.
Glamping is fast becoming the preferred way to get back to nature. This is why there are many accommodations offering glamping in the Western Cape today. With so many options available, we thought it would be best to put together a list of the best glamping sites the Western Cape has to offer. So that you can enjoy the best glamping experience possible, wherever you find yourself in the Western Cape.
AfriCamps at Pat Busch
These boutique Africamps tents are located in the beautiful Pat Busch Mountain Reserve. Surrounded by 2000 hectares of mountain fynbos with streams and mountain dams. The reserve has rich birdlife and a variety of wildlife including buck, fallow deer, and even a very shy leopard.
The tents are tucked away in the Cape fynbos, overlooking a lush green valley with the Langeberg providing a magnificent backdrop. These glamping tents have a lovely rustic interior, with hardwood floors, and all the modern comfort you could ask for. They have a lovely open-plan lounge area, a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen to cook in.
All of the tents are equipped with air conditioning, a fireplace, a private bathroom with indoor plumbing, and a hot shower cabin. With 2 bedroom tents, that can sleep a total of 5 guests, there is room for the whole family. Additionally, there is a braai on the deck, giving you the perfect setting to watch the sunset over the valley while enjoying a delicious braai.
There are a variety of activities to enjoy on the property. You can enjoy the walking trails that will take you through the scenic valley, and maybe do some bird watching. A farm dam close to the tents allows swimming, paddle boating, and bass fishing. There is even a nine-meter swimming pool on the property surrounded by a lawn to cool off on hot summer days.
All of this is just 15km from Robertson, and just over a two-hour drive from Cape Town. Accommodation at this lovely location starts at R1790 per night, and it is well worth it for this wonderful experience. This really is the perfect place for glamping in the Western Cape.
Dwyka Tented Lodge
For those looking to escape to the Little Karoo in luxury, the Dwyka tented lodge is the perfect glamping experience for you. Situated in the horseshoe bend of a dry Karoo ravine in the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, a 58 000 hectare big 5 wilderness reserve. This vast landscape offers a wonderful stillness that is the perfect escape from our noisy modern life.
The luxurious tents surrounded by majestic rock formations are the epitome of glamour. With all of the modern amenities like wi-fi and an en-suite bathroom with a shower, twin basins, and a free-standing bath. The tents have air conditioning and a spacious lounge with a fireplace and satellite t.v. There is an open-air dining boma to enjoy your meals, and they have a private deck with a heated plunge pool to relax the evening away.
Activities are centred around exploring this beautiful savannah ecosystem. With guided wilderness walks showcasing the landscape, plant life, and even rare examples of San rock art. There are also two daily nature drives that will take you to see the wonderful wildlife in the reserve. Children under 16 are not permitted at this lodge, so it is the perfect romantic getaway for Mom and Dad.
This luxurious glamping experience is a three-hour drive from Cape Town. With prices starting at R8 155 per adult per night, which includes nature drives, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, and guided walks. This truly is the highest level of luxury glamping in the Western Cape.
West Coast Luxury Tents (Dwarskersbos)
West Coast Luxury tents offer a glamping beach experience that you won’t easily forget. Situated on a private beachfront farm that does not allow public access it is one of the best ways to enjoy the beach.
The tents are located behind the sea dunes, which are covered in Kersbos, Taaibos, and other indigenous fauna. The tents all have private bathrooms with showers. It is self-catering so the tents have a kitchenette with a microwave and fridge, and there are braai facilities. Each tent has a lovely patio for you to enjoy the ocean air amongst the dunes.
The tents are located a mere 500meters from a 40km stretch of private, unspoilt sandy beach. This means that you can spend your time doing all the beach activities you like, completely undisturbed. The campgrounds are also only 19km away from the Rocherpan Nature Reserve, so you can easily take an excursion to see it. They do allow cycling in the area, and they allow pets with prior arrangements. So this is the perfect beach getaway for the whole family.
This idyllic beachside retreat is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Cape Town. Their prices start at R1 300 per night for a two-person tent. This is the perfect Western Cape glamping trip for the ocean lover, who dreams of having their own private beach.
Teniqua Treetops
If you dream of a forest getaway, then look no further than the Teniqua Treetops. Located on 36 hectares of beautiful indigenous forest in the Garden Route. They offer a unique glamping experience amongst the tree branches, with a dedication to being an eco-friendly lodge.
Their tents are made of tent canvas, wood and glass, making for your very own tree house. All of the suites are built in a gorge, with ground-level access. They are built on stilts ranging from two to six meters, which gives you stunning views of the Karatara Gorge or the beautiful Knysna Forest. Each tree house includes a kitchenette and a private bathroom. The wooden cabin-like interior is stunning and merges well with the scenic forest surroundings.
Activities available at Teniqua Treetops include birding, and hiking, with two forest trails and a river walk. They also have a bar serving drinks and refreshments on site. There is also a petting zoo on-site that is bound to keep the children busy. With so much to do it is easy to see why they have received accolades from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa for being family-friendly.
Teniqua Treetops is a six-hour drive from Cape Town and a twenty-minute drive away from Sedgefield. Their prices start at R1 957 per night for units that sleep two. This eco-friendly experience is ideal for nature lovers looking for more adventurous glamping in the Western Cape.
So if you ever find yourself wanting to go camping, but still want some of the modern luxuries we’re all used to. Then these glamping experiences are the best options for you. Escape to nature today, and go glamping in the Western Cape.