Camping or Bungalows

[Bushcraft]

My first couple of KNP trips were in the 80’s and early 90’s with the folks and camping was the way to go. The late teenager years caused a break in KNP trips, but then the safari tent story started and now the bungalows.

Personally, the obvious reason for camping is the cost and the night sounds are more audible, etc but:

After the few nightmare evenings over 3 trips at Skukuza with the drunken klippies and coke gang and strangely the worst of all nights at Tamboti, the ablution scrap in the mornings, the lack of privacy, etc, I started looking for alternatives and found that I would rather pay the extra money for peace and quiet.

Specific bungalows can be booked in brilliant spots if you know which ones to book.

My question is: What is your choice and why.

[Lisbeth]

BC, you are getting old

My reasons are (apart from the obvious, coming from overseas) more or less the same as yours, but especially the private bathroom and your own kitchen for the early morning thing.....and the space

[iNdlovu]

I have to admit that I have never progressed past the camping stage, but choose my camps very carefully. I never stay at places like Skuks and the bigger camps. Maroela and that type of spot is for me

[Bushcraft]

BC, you are getting old

My reasons are (apart from the obvious, coming from overseas) more or less the same as yours, but especially the private bathroom and your own kitchen for the early morning thing.....and the space

Rubbish, I’m still young

I have to admit that the male ablutions in the morning isn’t my camping highlight, but I still camp all over SA at least once every 2 months, but I’m so paranoid about peace in KNP that if my neighbour decides to “talk” until 12pm we each up having a drama.

Maybe I’m getting old

[nan]

I have no choice... traveling by air

but I often camped... with organized travels... everywhere except in SA. It was very good, full of adrenaline in unfenced camps, but we were max. 6 persons plus the staff. Now I travel alone and only with about 20 kg is not possible and maybe at 39 years old... I prefer closed bungalow/tent (Tamboti)

[Tent dweller]

Camping is far better than a bungalow but after camping for a while with no electricity and communal abultions a bungalow is most welcoming. We camp at Tsendze most trips but for our last few nights we always book into a bungalow somewhere[

[General Gump]

A bit of both
Camped for 11 days in Ktp then took 3 days off in a cottage.

Camping makes you spend more time outside, which is good.
Nightsounds are always better when camping too !

If I do the family cottage thing, then I go to a bushcamp, where you get more peace and quiet.

[Richprins]

Did my stint of camping for many years, and around Southern Africa!

But, finances permitting, I am a bungalow man now...saves time and easier to keep things cold etc!

Miss the chats at the communal kitchens, though!

[harrys]

I prefer camping: firstly it's cheaper and secondly we are caravaners and that's my home away from home. The unpacking with bungalows is just not for us, with the caravan you stop at your site, pitch the rally tent and you're settled LONG LIVE CAMPING

[iNdlovu]

nan, there is always a reason for someone to join Africa Wild. There is no need for you to give up those camping trips in bush camps anymore. Join us on one of our overland adventure trips, you need to bring only yourself and your clothes, everything else we have...so no more excuses.


For me my camp is my kraal. No suffering with dirty rooms, things that don't work, broken doors & windows and The Lord forbid...dirty linen. I have my own gas operated hot shower/hot water supply, cutlery and crockery (no surprises when stuff is missing) no burned out light bulbs or broken fly screens and because I am totally self sufficient I can camp wherever I like. The further away from people the better (Except in our parks of course). Maybe this is one of the reasons I don't spend much time in them.