KamBati Archives - AfriCamps Boutique Glamping South Africa

Exciting upgrades at AfriCamps: Tents, tubs and experiences

There’s always an exciting project or two happening at AfriCamps and this month was no exception. We’ve taken advantage of the low season to make some exciting upgrades and additions at two of our popular Western Cape locations – AfriCamps at Kam’Bati in Swellendam and AfriCamps at Pat Busch in Robertson.

Curious? Here’s what you can look forward to…

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati relaunch!

africamps boutique glamping south africa

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati, our 2nd AfriCamps location opened its doors in August 2016. Since then thousands of glampers have checked in for an epic glamping adventure. That means hundreds of braais, thousands of footsteps on our decks and tens of thousands of laughs coming from inside our tents. With so many specials memories also comes wear and tear. It was time for a few upgrades and exciting additions. (Cue the drum roll…)

1. Outdoor wood-fired hot tubs

Due to popular demand (and for being super awesome), five of our locally produced outdoor wood-fired hot tubs took the road trip up to Swellendam and have been installed next to each AfriCamps tent. Our outdoor wood-fired hot tubs are the purest form of relaxation and can fit the whole family. Heat it up on the cooler days or use it as a splash pool during summer.

Glamping with us over the school holidays? Our hot tubs are ready for your getaway and included in your rate! Check out our winter glamping specials if you haven’t booked yet.

africamps at kam'bati swellendam boutique glamping south africa

Outdoor wood-fired hot tubs installed next to each tent at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

ALSO READ: WIN! Go glamping at the newly relaunched AfriCamps at Kam’Bati!

2. Spacious decks

Family braais, morning yoga, bird watching, stargazing sessions or even impromptu dance-offs with the kids – whatever makes you and your family tick, you can now do it on our extended, spacious wooden decks. Our old decks were replaced with 2.5m longer decks and the wooden slats at the front of the decks were replaced with steel cables. These provide better views of the beautiful surroundings.

Larger AfriCamps decks at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati.

3. River walkway

An adventurous walk connecting nine unique spots to and along the Breede River is under construction. Walkways will start amidst the tents and lead guests on a tranquil walk across the grassy landscape to the river. Stops on the trail include bird watching, fishing, picnic, braai and reflection spots. Our river walkway will be complete in September. Keep an eye on our social media for updates.

Watch this space for our new wooden walkway to the river at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati. (📷: Glynis Grovers, Tanja Conradie)

4. Other upgrades

We have removed our fire pits and replaced them with state-of-the-art deck braais.
New shower finishings,
New chimneys for indoor fireplaces
Solid wooden floors

AfriCamps at Pat Busch adds five new tents

You asked and we listened. Due to the huge popularity of AfriCamps at Pat Busch in Robertson, we have added FIVE brand new fully equipped glamping tents at AfriCamps at Pat Busch. Don’t worry, our new tents are positioned to maintain the privacy, peace and quiet, and beautiful views you know and love about AfriCamps at Pat Busch.

Work in progress: Five tents are in construction at AfriCamps at Pat Busch in Robertson

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

The end result

ALSO READ: Must do’s at AfriCamps at Pat Busch

5 summer activities to try while glamping at Kam’Bati

Summer is here and we can’t wait for the holidays to be in full swing! AfriCamps at Kam’Bati truly comes alive in the holiday season when families take the open roads to go glamping. Kam’Bati is especially well-loved among families and there’s plenty of reasons why.

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati is situated on an Overberg farm, Jubileeskraal, about 20km west of Swellendam, perfectly located to kick off your Garden Route holiday and only a 2.5-hour drive from Cape Town. Whether you join us for your first or last Garden Route stop, AfriCamps at Kam’Bati is definitely worth a visit. With its three swimming pools and a majestic river, Kam’Bati is one of our favourite places to cool off during these hot summer days.

Take a look at our top 5 summer activities at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati to get you in the summer mood:

Stay cool by the pool

After a long drive, drop your bags in the tent, turn the aircon on (yes, there is air-conditioning in the tents!) and relax for a few minutes while making yourself at home. When you’re ready – go for a dip in one of our pools!

There’s a pool especially for the toddlers with 3 small slides. The pool is shallow and perfect for the little ones to play for hours. For the older kids, we have a slightly deeper pool with 3 longer slides. Sorry parents, these slides are only for kids. If braving the steps slowly and calmly, or getting lost in a book on a lounger NEXT to the pool is more your thing, we’ve got a pool for you too.River Adventures

The Breede and Sonderend Rivers meet on the property which means plenty of river fun awaits. Rent a canoe at reception or bring your own. Pack a picnic and your fishing rod and spend the whole afternoon on the river.

The kids will love the rush of adrenaline from jumping off the jetty or swinging from the rope into the river (remember to check the water level first.)

Kam’Bati Putt-Putt course

After a day full of swimming and splashing, see if you can beat your family in an exciting game of putt-putt. Our 8-hole course is a perfect way to spend your summer days on the property.

Add a little twist by setting special rules. The winner doesn’t have to do the dishes, right? Time to start practicing those putting skills!

Traditional AfriCamps Braai

Light the fire for a traditional South African braai. Kam’Bati offers great braai packs with something in it for the whole family. You can enjoy a 200g Rump steak, sausage, chicken kebab, beetroot salad, potato or pasta salad with a garlic & cheese roll, but remember to pre-order when you book your stay.

If you’d rather braai your own creations, take a look at our exciting braai recipes for some inspiration – tried, tested and loved by our contributors, the AfriCamps camp owners.

Leave a little space for braaiing marshmallows or making s’mores! Go back in time and reminisce about being a kid again, you’re never be too old for a braaied marshmallow. Yummy!!

When night falls, turn off all the lights and look up at all the star constellations. Who will be first to spot the Southern Cross?

Breede River Rafting

For those seeking something a bit more adventurous, Xama Adventures offers a river rafting tour on the Breede River. The river rafting trip includes a light lunch and a safety briefing before launching your 2-man inflatable raft onto the water. Xama Adventures also offers a full day fishing trip

With so many activities right here at Kam’Bati, you don’t even have to leave the camp – but Swellendam is a quick drive away and offers many more things to do. Keep an eye on the Swellendam Tourism Page for updates on activities and events in the area or check your welcome book on arrival for our top picks of activities nearby.

See you at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati!

10 things the ladies will love at AfriCamps

At AfriCamps we love when families come together – whether it’s for a holiday, a birthday, or just a getaway. There is truly something for everyone at each of our AfriCamps locations. The kids will spend hours swimming, sliding, canoeing, making new friends on the playground or just roaming around to explore. The men love to come together for a braai or a spot of fishing, and the ladies, well, where do we begin?

The ladies at AfriCamps have rounded up some of their favourite things to do, for some inspiration. Try them all on your next AfriCamps adventure.

1. Early morning run

Our locations boast the most scenic tracks for an early morning ladies run. And what better motivation than knowing breakfast will be waiting… Happily prepared by dad and the kids.

2. Enjoy breakfast with friends and family

All AfriCamps locations offer sumptious breakfast baskets including the best fresh produce and dairy for you to prepare. Breakfast baskets differ slightly between our locations, as each location fills their baskets with the freshest local produce.

Freshly baked muffins, muesli, fresh fruit, yoghurt, juice, preserves, eggs, bacon, sausage, freshly baked bread, fresh milk, coffee and rusks are some of the items you can expect to find in your basket.

Pre-order your breakfast basket from R110 per person.

Photo taken at AfriCamps Champagne Valley, Drakensberg

3. Get a head start on your tan

Grab a deck chair, catch some rays and relax! The deck is the perfect tanning spot, but depending on your location, you can relax and catch a tan next to a swimming pool or find a quiet riverside spot. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours – the hot African sun can be brutal in summer.

Photo taken at AfriCamps Waterberg, Limpopo.

4. Sundowners with a view

It’s not an AfriCamps experience without spending some time relaxing on our decks and enjoying the views. (It’s even better enjoyed with a pink G&T, or whatever your heart desires.)

5. Walks among fauna and flora

From beautiful blooming Proteas at Stanford Hills to walking among various buck species at Ingwe or Klein Karoo, all AfriCamps are located on beautiful properties where the unspoiled nature can be enjoyed.

6. Finish that novel you’ve been reading for months.

Whether you do it curled up in front of the fire or stretched out on the deck. Whether it’s The Great Gatsby, Gulliver’s Travels or Eat Pray Love – take a time-out and get lost in a good book.

Photo taken at AfriCamps Waterberg, Limpopo

7. Did someone say wood-fired hot tubs?!

Visitors to AfriCamps at Ingwe in Plettenberg Bay can warm up in our outdoor wood-fired hot tubs. Simply light the fire and let the brilliant design do the work. Sit back and soak up that Tsitsikamma view.

africamps at ingwe plettenberg bay boutique glamping south africa

8. Find your zen

Our guests have proven our decks to be the perfect spot for stretching out with yoga or pilates. Bring your yoga mat, leave your worries behind.

9. Massage at Mackers

Our newest camp, AfriCamps at Mackers in Hazyview offers massage treatments from the comfort of your own tent. Book a treatment and prepare to be pampered to the sound of the Sabie River. View the Mackers activities page for the price list.

africamps at mackers hazyview boutique glamping south africa

10. Take the scenic route

All AfriCamps’ are in close proximity of attractions that make for memorable day drives. Visit Kruger National Park from AfriCamps at Mackers in Hazyview, go wine tasting form AfriCamps at Stanford Hills in Stanford or Pat Busch in Roberston. Explore the 4th oldest town in the country, when staying at afriCamps in Kam’Bati Swellendam, or meet the ostriches and meerkats at AfriCamps Klein Karoo. AfriCamps at Ingwe is surrounded by Garden Route attractions like the Tsitsikamma forest and Plettenberg Bay.

africamps hoedspruit greater kruger boutique glamping south africa

Activities at each of our AfriCamps camps

If you are planning to visit one of our AfriCamps camps, you should know that the camps also offer some activities.

AfriCamps at Klein Karoo offers you a sunset game drive and stargazing. You can rent mountain bikes and do hikes at AfriCamps at Pat Busch; and you can play putt-putt and enjoy the nice swimming pools at Africamps at Kam’Bati.

Sunset drive in Klein Karoo

Experience a close encounter of the fauna and flora (excellent bird watching opportunity) of the Little Karoo with our specialist guide. During the drive there is the possibility to view some wildlife and ending the day with a beautiful sunset over the mountains. Thereafter returning to your tent for dinner. Duration +- 2 hours. This is all including drinks and snacks.

Star gazing

Join us for a fascinating 45 minutes tour of the Southern Celestial Hemisphere at the comfort of your own tent (Subject to availability, amount in group and clear skies). And enjoy the beautiful starry sky of Oudtshoorn.Thank you Fabrice Debatty for the picture

africamps klein karoo oudtshoorn boutique glamping south africa

Rent a Mountain bike at AfriCamps at Pat Busch

In 2014 we purchased two new Axis 90 mountain bikes with front suspension & Shimano 18 speed parts. These bikes are great quality and very comfortable.Try out some fun mountain bike action over the weekend or explore the Klaasvoogds Valley by cycling to nearby restaurants for breakfast or drinks. Bike rental includes helmets.

Hiking in our private mountains

Beautiful scenery awaits the nature lover! The reserve offers several trails, from mountain fynbos & protea hikes to kloof hikes along wooded streams. Hiking trails are not open to the public – exclusively for the enjoyment of our overnight guests so that guests can walk or hike in complete safety. Each cottage has a detailed map of our trails. Please remember to never hike alone, and to be prepared with enough food & water, good hiking boots, common sense and a jacket. Take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints. Hikes take 3-5 hours and can be difficult.

Swim at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

There are 3 swimming pools and water slides at Kam’Bati. The relatively new (Jan Hagen) landscaped entertainment area is situated at the old conference centre parking area in the middle of the resort. Besides that there are some nice play areas next to it. For the parents there is a new pool lounge to relax in while the kids are playing!

Play putt-putt

Next to the swimming pool you can find the putt-putt hole course, this course consists of 8 holes. This is fun for the kids and adults who can thoroughly enjoy it! So as you can see you don’t have to leave the property to have an awesome stay at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati! If you want to know more, check our website here!

Enjoy your AfriCamps stay with us!

The Launch of AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati was launched with champagne and great company. Being the second location in our collection we have a great sense of pride as this one rolled around. As we edged closer to the launch date we saw the camp bloom with an upgrade to the design and our team’s adaptability with handling the new terrain much different from the rocky Klein Karoo. This new location brought with it, it’s own special charm and as you enter off the N2 and drive through the farm, the green pastures unveil a deep sense of relaxation. Depending on what time you arrive, you will have either the beautiful sun shining over these pastures or the beautiful sunset to welcome you to AfriCamps at Kam’Bati.

Entrance to Africamps at Kam’Bati Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

The day started off with grey skies, which cleared up around 10am bringing through a gorgeous day. Our guested started arriving after 2pm and were welcomed with a glass of bubbly. Some got to explore on their own and others got a guided tour. A great collection of people stood around chatting and getting to know each other.

Perfect for toasts Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

Cheers to the start of our second camp, AfriCamps at Kam’Bati Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

This welcoming energy from new and old friends gave this special day the feeling of a family gathering. We loved having everyone over and were blessed again with a great bunch of people.

The team from AfriCamps Klein Karoo got to meet the new team from AfriCamps at Kam’Bati, and thus our AfriCamps family has now grown. Jaco, Deen, Liza and Tanja were the perfect hosts for this day, making everyone feel welcomed to their stunning property.

Jaco topping everyone up. Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

After the glass or two of bubbly, some guests got to settle into the tents. We learnt that the only way to truly travel, especially for glamping, was to bring your own cooler box full of champagne. This is now the glamping standard thanks to Liza from Nosy Rosy and her bestie, Vanya. As the rest of our guests made their way to the conference area, one tiny guest got to test out the kiddies play area.

First welcome from AfriCamps at Kam’Bati. Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

Living room, kitchen, dining room and woodstove at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

Second bedroom – queen sized bed and single bunk bed above the queen. Both comes with comfy duvet, fluffy pillows and electric blankets. Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

Tent on stilts for AfriCamps at Kam’Bati Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

As the sun began to set the fire for the braai was lit and dinner was on it’s way. More drinks and one great speech by Jeroen, to thank all those involved in making this AfriCamps dream a success. It’s been 10 months since we launched AfriCamps Klein Karoo and we have had great reviews from guests who have stayed with us, such great reviews can only come from the welcoming hospitality from our hosts.

A wonderful speech by Jeroen AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

The evening continued much like the family braai with the young ones going to bed early, some turned in to enjoy a glass of wine by the fire in the tents and some, of course, stayed up celebrating until the early hours of the morning.

The morning started off with breakfast baskets delivered to the tents by Liza and Tanja. These fresh morning smiles helped set the pace for the day as people enjoyed the last few hours in the tent and around the property.

Breakfast baskets at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati – Fresh, wholesome and healthy. Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

Breakfast is served at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati. Best enjoyed as you take in the morning view from the deck of your tent. Photo by Pieter Wolhüter, official photographer for LekkeSlaap.co.za and Travelground.com

To sum up this weekend, it was a joyous occasion with friends new and old who are now part of the AfriCamps family. AfriCamps at Kam’Bati is open for bookings which can be done through our website. So come along and check in with us and enjoy this new location and all of it’s charm.

A big thank you to all who made their way to AfriCamps at Kam’Bati for our launch.

Vanya enjoying the view. Photo by Liza Botha from Nosy Rosy

Our AfriCamps Team from Cape Town and Klein Karoo, Inge and Lourens from Cape Town Magazine ,Ankia Wolf and Pieter Wolhüter from Travelground/ Lekkerslaap, Liza and Vanya from Nosy Rosy, Amanda and Dave from Swellengram Media, Nicki and Allision from Swellendam Tourism, Trevor from Bulletin Media, Rikus and Loret from Lekkerkamplekker, Eloise Krige from Overberg Magazine, Stephanie from Two Feather horse trails and Max and Kat from Felix Unite River Adventures.

All bookings can be made via our website. Come sit back and relax with us at our new location.