AFRICAMPS AT GOWAN VALLEY, THE MIDLANDS, KZN

Even before AfriCamps opened on the farm, Gowan Valley Guest Farm and owners, Brett and Deanne Bouwer, have earned a stellar reputation for their charming farm accommodation in the heart of the Midlands Meander. In 2019 Brett and Deanne Bouwer joined the AfriCamps team and we couldn’t be happier to branch out to the captivating Natal Midlands – our first camp in the province.

How did it all begin? We have our wonderful camp in Wilderness to thank for that! Being keen campers themselves (in the more rustic sense of the word), the Bouwers were quite intrigued by the idea of adding a glamping option to their property. They were already looking for a new and interesting accommodation offering for their farm when they saw the AfriCamps tents for the first time. On a family holiday along the Garden Route, the Bouwers visited old friends, Jake and Claire Crowther, who just happen to be the owners of our camp in Wilderness! Although our Wilderness tents were still being built at the time, the Bouwers knew AfriCamps’ fully equipped glamping tents were going to be the perfect match on their beautiful Natal Midlands farm. Less than a year later, we opened five tents on Gowan Valley Guest Farm!

Check-in: From 14h00 to 17h00 on day of arrival
Check-out: Before 10h00 on day of departure

Check-in arrangements need to be made and guests are kindly requested to inform the specific AfriCamps host of their estimated time of arrival. This way you are ensured of a smooth check-in experience. Full check-in information will be provided in your booking confirmation email.

Hiking Trail

Guests can enjoy a 4 km walk through indigenous forest where they will see the enormous 500-year-old Yellowwood tree, pass the mighty Mpofana River, the newly planted kiwi fields and Nguni cattle.

Picnics

Take a stroll along the river on the farm and settle down at a grassy spot for a picnic.

Fishing

The property is graced by the crystal clear Mpofana River which flows strongly through the farm. As part of a water scheme, the river also provides water to the farm. Try your luck and catch yellowtail or trout – strictly catch-and-release.

Swimming

A hollowed-out section in the river is a great spot to go for a dip or enjoy the river from the banks by settling down for a picnic. There is also a crystal clear swimming pool surrounded with lush green grass – perfect to cool down in on warm days.

Wood-fired Hot Tubs

All five tents offer the exclusive use of their own wood-fired hot tub. A wood-fired hot tub is the purest form of relaxation. Soak up your beautiful Midlands surroundings while listening to the calming crackle of the fire. Or take a dip to cool off on the hotter days.

Markets & Crafts

Piggly Wiggly (11 km)

A must-visit one-stop hub for food, activities and gifts the whole family will enjoy. In the centre of the Highgate Wine Estate enjoy wine tours and tastings in our beautiful family wine cellar. Indulge in breakfasts, light meals, lunches, pizzas, refreshments and, of course, a variety of coffees and teas at the coffee shop. Candle dipping and the miniature steam train ride around Piggly Wiggly will keep the kids busy on weekends. The active guests can take part in the 5km Parkrun. Visit Meander Fine Wines for 700 wines from the Cape, Natal and around the world. The Pizza Place offers freshly made country pizza. The Greenery will give you your healthy juice fix along with bagels and salads. Stock up on meat from The Pantry and visit chocoholics can visit Chocolate Heaven for the chocolate dipping experience… or just to buy some delicious chocolates. AfriCamps guests can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine at Highgate Wine Estate, or order wines from Meander Fine Wines and it will be delivered straight to the farm!

Notties Junction (12 km)

Indulge in all the quirky finds while shopping at The Junction. Sixteen unique shops invite guests to grab a bite to eat, stretch their legs, or pick up some souvenirs.

The Platform Gallery at Lions River Station (27 km)

Discover a diverse range of art at this beautiful art gallery, where there’s something for everyone—from oil paintings and pencil sketches to remarkable sculptures. The gallery boasts one of the largest collections of sculptures for sale in South Africa, with over 80 works created from bronze, stone, wood, and other natural materials.

Outdoor Attractions

Howick Falls (23 km)

The nearby area of Howick is waterfall country. Explore one or all three of the trails at Howick Falls to capture the perfect photo. At Howick Falls, also known as KwaNogqaza which means ‘place of the tall one’, the uMngeni river plummets 95m into a gushing pool. You can hike to the foot of this waterfall via the official Howick Falls Gorge Walk.

Midmar Dam (23 km)

This well-known dam which also hosts the annual Midmar Mile is perfect for boating, fishing, sailing or just soaking up the sun!

Karkloof Falls and Canopy Tours (37 km)

A visit to the Karkloof Nature Reserve promises a mesmerizing experience considering the 80+ bird species flying overhead, and the 88m Karkloof waterfall crashing down from the cliff face. Bring a picnic, enjoy the braai facilities, or enjoy the beautiful MTB trails. For the more adventurous, the Karkloof Canopy Tour is a must. AfriCamps guests receive 15% off at Karkloof Canopy Tour until 30 November 2025, excl. peak season. Simply use the promo code AFRICAMPS15 when you book!

Drakensberg Mountains

During your visit to the Midlands, you will be able to access parts of the Central and Southern Drakensberg. Not up for the drive? You can simply view ‘The Giant’ from the Nottingham Road turnoff.

Highmoor Nature Reserve (61 km)

This world heritage site in the Kamberg Valley forms part of the Mkhomzi Wilderness Area and takes you into the Southern Drakensberg mountains surrounded by grasslands and streams. Visit Highmoor Nature Reserve for hiking trails, fly fishing, rock art sightings.

Maloti Drakensberg Park (53 km)

Beautiful day walks like the self-guided Giants Cup Hiking Trail and a wealth of rock art sites are must-sees at the Maloti Drakensberg Park. Fly fishing, rock-climbing, mountain biking, bird watching and swimming or some more options.

Nelson Mandela Capture Site (15 km)

This famous Nelson Mandela Capture Site commemorates a significant moment in South African history with a visitor centre and a world-renowned sculpture. Nelson Mandela was arrested on 5 August 1962 outside of Howick. He spent the next 27 years of his life in prison.

Golfing

With two world-class golf courses around the corner, make a golfing glamping tour of it! Take a swing at Gowrie Farm, only 11 km away. This course is known as one of the top 30 most fun courses in the country. (And we are serious advocates for fun)! It is also the third best short course in the world outside of America.

Bosch Hoek is a beautiful country course with loads of charm and becomes a beautiful display of colour in autumn. The cosy club house with its fireplace is particularly inviting after as round of golf during winter.

Midlands Meander Routes

Pick one of five Midlands Meander routes and experience the best food, drinks, arts and crafts of each section. Visit the Midlands Meander website to get your map.

BREAKFAST BASKET

We offer ‘Cook Your Own’ breakfast baskets with freshly packed ingredients for guests to prepare in their tents. Pre-order your breakfast basket when making your booking. Breakfast baskets should be booked a day in advance.

Each breakfast basket serving includes:

Eggs
Streaky bacon*
Three mini pork sausages*
Double cream yoghurt
Muesli
Two slices of Low GI health bread
Butter, jam and cheese
Medium roast ground coffee
Orange juice
Milk

*Vegetarian option (available on request): Meat substituted with vegan lentil patty, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

Cost: R180 per adult | R140 per child (0 to 12 yrs)

BRAAI BASKET

We offer ‘Cook-Your-Own’ traditional South African braai baskets with freshly packed ingredients for guests to prepare. Pre-order your braai basket when making your booking. Braai baskets should be booked a day in advance.

Each braai basket serving includes:

200g steak (children: 100g steak)*
Boerewors*
Chicken kebab*
Green salad
Garlic bread roll
Corn on the cob
Marshmallows on a stick

*Vegetarian option (available on request): Meat substituted with vegan patty, mushrooms and vegan sausage.

Cost: R250 per adult | R180 per child (0 to 12 yrs) 

DINING OUT

There are a number of great restaurants in the area – from coffee shops to fine dining. We recommend:

Cleopatra Mountain Farm House
Lions River Craft Brewery
Piggly Wiggly
Terbadore
Blueberry Café
La Lampara
Booking is essential especially during peak seasons, please ask your hosts for assistance with this.

In order to mitigate the effects of load shedding on our guests, we’ve installed battery power backups in each tent at AfriCamps at Gowan Valley for your convenience. These backups ensure uninterrupted lighting and warm water during load shedding periods. Please note that wall plugs won’t be operational during power outages. 

Our tents sleep up to five guests, but our rates are based on a two-person stay. Please note that the rates below are a price indication, please use our online booking calendar to check live rates and availability. Extras like meals, activities and tours are not included in the price unless otherwise stated.

Cleaning Fee: All rates exclude a once-off R250 cleaning fee per booking. This fee will be added to your total during the booking process.

Please find our full terms and conditions here: www.africamps.com/terms-and-conditions

Accommodation

All tents sleep a maximum of five people. The following items or services are not included in the price unless otherwise stated:

• Food and beverages
• Activities and tours
• Additional daily cleaning service (available on request)
• Wood and firelighters for the wood stove and campfires (for sale at the property shop)

Pets

We do not allow pets at our camp. Please note that there are wild animals roaming certain areas of the property.

Music

No noise, parties or music are allowed in the camp unless the guest has booked the entire camp for a function.

Day visitors

No day visitors are allowed in the camp. Out of consideration for fellow guests, the camp will only accommodate up to 5 paying guests per tent. 

PENSIONER SPECIAL

Enjoy 15% off a midweek stay!

From a discounted rate of R1352 per night for 2 adults sharing, excl. fees

• Valid until 30 April 2025 for midweek stays only
• Excludes weekends and peak season (13 December 2024 – 11 January 2025)
• Rates are based on 2 adults sharing
• Self-catering glamping tent (sleeps 5)
• Extra adults can be booked at R295 pn
• Extra kids aged 3-16 are R195 pn
• Person booking must be 60+
• ID number required when booking
• ID to be presented upon check-in
• T&Cs apply

How to book

• Visit www.africamps.com and select the camp and the dates you wish to visit.
• Enter your promo code: GoldenGlamping in the Do you have a promo code field. Click on the apply button.
• In the Special Requests block, at the bottom of the booking form, please enter your ID number.

SINGLE PARENT SPECIAL

Kids stay FREE!

From R1590 per night, excl. fees

• Valid until 30 April 2025
• Excludes long weekends and peak season (13 December 2024 – 11 January 2025)
• Self-catering glamping tent (sleeps 5)
• Kids stay free (applies to kids aged 3-16)
• 1 Adult per booking (if an extra adult is added after the booking has been made, the special will no longer apply)
• T&Cs apply

How to book

• Visit www.africamps.com and book your stay.
• In the Special Requests block, at the bottom of the booking form, please enter the voucher code: SingleParentSpecial.
• Select EFT payment, and receive your discounted invoice via email.