Family friendly: Campgrounds in Northern South Africa

Pafuri Rivercamp

• Secluded bush camp on the banks of the Mutale River
• A 15-minute drive from Kruger National Park
• Fishing, tubing and birding walks from site; bar, restaurant and pool

Ngata Safari Lodge

• Smart, easily accessed resort 25 minutes' drive from Hammanskraal
• Next to the Dinokeng Game Reserve for game drives and balloon flights
• Smart restaurant on site with breakfasts and home-smoked meats

Thorn Tree Bush Camp

• Family-friendly site in Dinokeng Big Five Game Reserve
• An hour’s drive from Pretoria; an hour and a half to Jo’burg
• Stargazers’ paradise: top spot for views of the clear night sky

Buyskop Lodge

• Stays on a private game reserve in the foothills of the Waterberg
• A five-minute drive from Bela-Bela, and 70 minutes from Pretoria
• Restaurant, braai facilities, game watching, biking trails and a spa

Mutale Drift Pafuri Gate

• Quiet off-grid rural cabin just outside the village of Bende Mutale
• A 10-minute drive from the Pafuri Gate into Kruger National Park
• Covered deck area with braai overlooking the Mutale river

Molalatau Lodge and Campsite

• Spacious, well-kept bushveld site 10 minutes' drive from Lephalale
• Open-sided wooden bar with views over the Mogol river
• Two swimming pools, baby pool, volleyball court and putting course

Rinkhalskop Safari Lodge

Kaoxa Campsite

• Simple site by a large baobab tree in the wilds of the Limpopo valley
• Next to sandstone koppies with fig trees growing into the rocks
• A 10-minute drive from Mapungubwe National Park

Kareekloof Game Farm

• 1,400-hectare game farm site 40 minutes from Rustenburg
• Spectacular views over the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains
• Game drives on site to see 17 species of mammals

Drostdy Overnight Rooms and Caravan Park

• Family-friendly site less than 10 minutes' drive from Potchefstroom
• A 30-minute drive from a wildlife reserve and 90 minutes from Jo'berg
• Haven for cyclists, trekkers and explorers

Loch Maree Guest Farm and Field Camp

• Unfenced farm site with swimming pool and views of the Kalahari Desert
• Just over an hour's drive from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Private reserve with lookout point, 4x4 trail and sunset game drives

Red Sands Country Lodge

• Peaceful Kalahari site just off Highway 14, 10 minutes from Kuruman
• Game drives, mountain bike routes and hikes in a large private reserve
• Restaurant, bar, swimming pool and private braai facilities

Witput Country Lodge

• Peaceful farm site on the edge of the scenic Karoo
• A 15-minute drive from Hopetown, and an hour from Kimberley
• Gazella Game Reserve and Mokala National Park within 40 minutes’ drive

River Cottages Caravan and Camping

• Peaceful spot on the banks of the Vaal River with fishing and canoeing
• Parys half an hour’s walk; Johannesburg one hour and 20 minutes’ drive
• Three swimming pools; barbecues and lapas; cafés and shops in Parys

Mmabolela

• Camping pitches by the Limpopo River on a private Swartwater reserve
• Mountain biking, horse riding and four-wheel drive safaris from site
• Communal camping kitchen and firepit, plunge pool and star gazing

Boelamien Rivercamp

• Peaceful family-friendly site in the South African bushveld
• Top spot for wildlife spotting and stunning African sunsets
• Fishing paradise on the banks of the Limpopo river