Romantic glamping

Glamping is camping without the compromises: a proper bed, a real bathroom, a private deck and the sounds of the outdoors all around you. These are the romantic glamping stays in South Africa we would happily book for two.

There are two very different kinds here. In the bush, luxury tented camps put you right among the wildlife, with canvas walls between you and the night and often an outdoor shower or plunge pool. You will find them in Pilanesberg, the Eastern Cape reserves, Zululand and the Greater Kruger.

In the Western Cape, glamping is more about views and nature: canvas tents and eco-pods in the Overberg and Cederberg, tents on working farms in the Garden Route and Winelands, and treehouses on fynbos hillsides. Many have a wood-fired hot tub, which is the best way to end the day.

Canvas does not hold heat, so check whether there is a heater or a fireplace if you are going in winter, and pack a warm layer for evenings outside. In summer, glamping is at its best.