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Tag: Boutique Camping

Top 7 Things To Do in Stanford

We are opening a new AfriCamps glamping location in Stanford! It’s a great place and there are a lot of things that you can do in this area. We’ve made a selection for you, of our highlights of things you must do during your stay in Stanford.

1. Whale Watching

From June until November, Southern Right whales are highly visible along the Cape south coast, making this the perfect time of year for a whale-watching trip. You can do these trips at several companies near Stanford but you don’t even have to go out on a boat to see them because Hermanus, overlooking Walker Bay, is considered to be the best land-based whale watching spot in the world. Southern Rights often come in close to the shoreline, sometimes appearing only metres from the shore. Hermanus’ cliffs offer an incomparable viewing point.

You can also do a whale-watching from the sky! It’s a unique experience to see the whales from the air.

2. Shark Diving

Go shark cage diving close to Stanford to see these amazing creatures. The area around Stanford is known for the numerous sharks who visit this area. You can go on a half day tour with a shark diving company, where you will go into a cage and see sharks up close!

3. Wine Tasting – Stanford Wine Route

The Stanford Wine Route officially launched late 2015 and is seen as one of the up and coming wine routes in South Africa. This close-knit group of wine farms with their cooler temperatures have produced outstanding wines over recent years. This wine route meanders through the Stanford valley and each wine farm welcomes you into their tasting room. The Stanford Wine Route encompasses Springfontein Wine Estate, Raka (try the Biography Shiraz), Brunia, Boschrivier, Sir Robert Stanford, Stanford Hills, and Lomond Wines.

As with the other wine routes, this one holds a number of smaller wine festivals throughout the year with the Stanford Stumble being one of the known favourites.

 4. River cruising

River cruises are a relaxing way to spend the day. These cruises will take you through the Klein River and will offer you breathtaking views of the Klein River Mountains. Relax on the boat, braai, jump in the river or get pulled along in a tube. These cruises cater for everyone. If you are lucky you can spot 129 species of birds who make this area their home. There are a few companies in this area who arrange these river cruises. Platanna: www.platanna.com or African Queen: www.africanqueenstanford.co.za and River Rat www.riverratstanford.wordpress.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOPZ3AtjPQ2/?taken-at=1023085057

5. Horse Riding

One of the best and most highly recommended ways to explore this beautiful area is by horseback. These horse riding tours will allow you to escape into nature for one, two or three-hour tours.

6. Hiking & mountain biking

Fancy a bit of adventure, why not go into the mountains for a nice hike or a mountain bike ride. This is an incredibly beautiful area and you will not get bored for a second. You will find these hiking and mountain bike trails all around Stanford.

Stanford is home to beautiful indigenous flora and fauna which make this area a delight to explore. For all the mountain bike enthusiasts this area covers part of a few famous mountain bike races, the most famous being the Cape EPIC.

7. Cape Agulhas

You are spoilt for beauty when you head through to Stanford as the surrounding areas are all spectacular. Cape Agulhas being one of them. This is the southern-most tip of Africa, perfect for a day trip to see the point where the Atlantic ocean and the Indian ocean meet.

Our fourth camp, AfriCamps at Stanford Hills Estate is set to open later on this year. Check into our Facebook page for more info on bookings and launch dates.

Introducing Stanford Hills Estate

This week we announced our next location, Stanford Hills Estate. Time to break out the champagne and get excited because this location is packed with beauty and a wide range of activities to keep both young and old entertained.

Take a look at this sneak peek of this stunning location. Video by James Yeats and Mattis Hansen.

Can you picture yourself walking through this beautiful estate, grabbing lunch at the Tasting Room, swimming in the dam or exploring via horseback?

Stanford itself is located 2 hours from Cape Town. This quaint town is on the banks of the Klein River. This area is becoming a known highlight by foodies who flock there for their delicious food, found in both the markets and restaurants in the area.

AfriCamps Stanford Hills Glamping South Africa

One of the highlights on this property is their restaurant, The Tasting Room, which uses local organic and free-range products.

Besides the delicious food and wine at Stanford Hills Estate, there are a number of activities which will make your stay memorable.

From horse riding to swimming in the dam, fishing, hiking and you can even take to the skies and go whale watching in the private plane.

africamps stanford hills glamping south africa
AfriCamps Stanford Hills Glamping South Africa
AfriCamps Stanford Hills Glamping South Africa

“The perfect getaway for people who appreciate the simple things in life.”

Like our Facebook Page to keep up to date with all the info on AfriCamps launch dates and bookings for this camp.

Glamping: Top 10 Things Not To Bring

No struggling with your stuff just come and relax in your fully equipped tent! That’s what glamping is all about. We have made a top 10 list of things, you definitely do not need to bring when you’re staying with us at AfriCamps!

Bed linen & towels

We have you covered. You don’t need to bring your own bed linen or towels. Each tent had 3 nice beds where you (and your children) can relax after a day of fun activities around the camp. We also have fresh towels which you can use after your shower in your own tent!

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Flipflops for the bathroom

No walking to a public bathroom because you have your own! It’s not glamping unless you have your own private bathroom. Easy!

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Electric blankets

No getting cold at AfriCamps. We have lovely electric blankets to keep you warm. During the winter it can be cold in South Africa at night and electric blankets will help you to sleep well.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Firewood, Braai Grills

Each tent has its’ own wood stove inside and braai area outside. Don’t worry about bringing a grill, tongs or oven mitts.

The word braai is Afrikaans for “barbeque” or “roast” and is a social custom in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Stove

No, no, no! Leave it at home. Each tent has his own fully equipped kitchen with everything you need to have a pleasant stay.

“We have everything AND the kitchen sink”

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Food

Next to your braai and kitchen, you can also order the breakfast! Fun fact: every AfriCamp has a different breakfast pack each filled with its own qualities, yum!

Fan

No need to pack a fan. During the hot days and nights, you can use the air-conditioning which is installed in each of our tents to keep you cool!

Flashlight

It’s not necessary to bring your own flashlight. Our tents are equipped with lighting and electricity so you will never be in the dark.

Wine glasses

Ever go on holiday and had a moment of sadness as you poured a nice bottle of wine into a tumbler or beer glass.

Don’t bring wine glasses because we have them! Just sit down, relax and enjoy the view. You can also do a wine route during your stay at AfriCamps Robertson, Pat Busch Mountain Reserve.

Stress

Leave your stress at home, you are not going to need it.

Anything else?

Become curious? Have a look at our website and book your stay at AfriCamps

AfriCamps 9-Day Route

Sometimes a holiday at one camp is just not enough. Now that we have three camps on the Garden Route and Route 62, we are introducing a full glamping tour.

Yes, why not stay at all three!

At the moment we are planning this route with different activities on the route and in the area. We will focus on three different groups of people, families with kids, couples and a group of friends in more details later.

The route is planned for a total of 9 days, with a 3-day stay at each camp. You can add in a stop or two at different places on the Garden Route as well. For instance Mosselbay, George, Amalienstein, Hartenbos, Calitzdorp and Montagu are beautiful. It is also possible to do a shorter tour, of course, we just want to show you the possibilities.

There is so much to see in the Western camp and along this route you can be sure that this will be a road trip that you won’t forget.

Let’s go.

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

Starting from Cape Town it’s a 2.5-hour drive to our first camp AfriCamps at Kam’Bati in Swellendam. On your way there you can have a break at the Stormsvlei Restaurant & Farmstall, this is our recommendation for a great lunch. During your stay there you can also do a lot of things in the area.

3 days in Swellendam will give you ample time to relax in your tent and to also explore the area. Some activities in the area are horse riding, canoeing, hiking and you can even book yourself a massage (can also be enjoyed in your tent) from Rain Spa. Do you want more info on the highlights surrounding AfriCamps at Kam’bati?

Read our blog post about things to do in Swellendam.

Breakfasts and braai packs are also available for purchase at the farm.

africamps at kam'bati swellendam boutique glamping south africa
africamps at kam'bati swellendam boutique glamping south africa

After your stay in Swellendam at Africamps at Kam’bati, you can move onto our next camp, AfriCamps Klein Karoo in Oudtshoorn.

This drive will take you 2 hours and 50 minutes. If you go straight of course. However, if you want more of a scenic route you can take a detour and visit one of these three beautiful towns; Mossebay, Hartenbos and George.

If you do not have a lot time then you can drive straight to Oudtshoorn through Barrydale where you can have take break at Clarke of the Karoo or visit the famous Diesel and Creme for a good lunch.

Detour options

Mosselbay, a harbour town is a beautiful place to visit. Thank you for the picture Reece Briesies.

Hartenbos, a small town near to the beach is a perfect stop for a quick swim and some relaxing time on the beach. Thank you Perot Louw for this picture.

Another coastal town to add on the list, should you choose the detour route is George, This will leave you with an hour and a half to head off to AfriCamps Klein Karoo.

Thank you Beautiful Towns and Cities for this perfect picture.

AfriCamps Klein Karoo

Ostriches and Cango Caves, both possible when you stay at AfriCamps Klein Karoo in Oudtshoorn. This location has become a favourite among many international guests as it offers something unique to their holiday. Besides the standard activities in the area, we offer sunset game drives and biking trails on the property.

Breakfasts and braai packs are also available for purchase at the farm.

africamps klein karoo oudtshoorn boutique glamping south africa
africamps boutique glamping south africa
africamps klein karoo oudtshoorn boutique glamping south africa

After 3 days in Oudtshoorn, it will be time to move onto Robertson. During this 3-hour drive. You can stop at Calitzdorp, Amalienstein and Montagu. Why not try something different with Vilioensdrift wines & cruises for lunch and wine tasting, before checking in.

On Route

Calitzdorp is a quaint karoo town. Thank you The Inside Guide for this picture

Amalienstein, a town with rich historical past as it still is a mission station. Thank you, Sweis van der Horst for this picture.

One of the most beautiful stops close to Robertson is Montagu. This town is a favourite among locals for it’s beautiful location and it’s great restaurants and coffee shops. Montague is also the home to Sanbona Wildlife reserve, why not add in more wildlife to your trip.

Africamps at Pat Busch

Africamps at Pat Busch in Robertson is the last stop on the list before you head back to Cape Town.

Being a wedding venue and a nature reserve, you know you are in for a treat when it comes to this view. Try a hike through the surrounding mountains or just enjoy a dip in the pool or dam on the property. At AfriCamps at Pat Busch you are surrounded by great wine and olives, why not hire some bikes and explore the area? There are a lot more that we can recommend, take a look at our blog about the

There are a lot more that we can recommend, take a look at our blog about the things to do in Robertson.

Breakfast baskets are available for purchase at this camp. 

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa
africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa
africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

With only 2 hours back to Cape Town you can drop in at Nuy on the hill for lunch, wine tasting and more spectacular views. This place is in a beautiful area, we are sure you would love it.

Are you ready to book your glamping road trip?

#WeAreGlamping

Top 5 things to do in Robertson

What is the first thing that comes to mind when we say Robertson? It must be wine. Known for it’s wine tasting and beautiful views, this town in the Western Cape of South Africa offers much more than just your odd wine tasting on route down the coast. Have a look at our list of highlights in the area and extend your stay for a few days to explore this area more thoroughly.

Here is our list of the 5 things to do in Robertson.

1. Wine time

Robertson is known as a wine valley, so of course, you have to do a wine tour. But which tour do you have to do? We definitely recommend the Viljoensdrift wine tour. This tour is nestled in the south of the Elandsberg Mountains. The main benefit of the tour is the possibility to do the tour on a boat down the river.

Beautiful picture by  @guy_mcdonald

2. Wine Festivals

Every first Thursday of June the Robertson wine valley will host the Wacky Wine Weekend festival. The festival takes place over 4 days and with over 40 wineries participating. Boutique wineries and tourist establishments showcase the valley’s award-winning wines. Thousands of wine lovers come to this lovely festival. For around R150 you are allowed to visit this festival every day. You also get a glass, water and a tasting voucher at every winery.

Photo Credit @WackyWineWeekend.

Another popular festival is called the Wine on the river festival, which will take place every second Friday of October. This festival is known as the “most beautiful wine festival” because this festival takes place on the riverside farm of Goudmyn and gives wine lovers the opportunity to taste more than 250 wines from 30 wineries. The ticket prices are between R90 till R180 a day and R190 till R250 for the entire weekend.

3. Best view of Robertson

Want the best view of Robertson then head over and do the tractor trip in Montague. This tractor trip is Nestled at the foot of the majestic Langeberg mountain range. 

“The tractor, pulling its load of sightseers, meanders its way up the Landeberg Mountain, reaching an altitude of 1500m above sea level. On the way up you will have a bird’s eye view of the Koo Valley and, once at the top, you can look down into the Robertson Valley.”

For more information check it here.

A really nice picture by @Amanteco_almonds

4. Cacti world

If you want to do something different, then you have to visit the world’s largest hedge-maze.This botanical garden is chosen as one of four best botanical gardens in South Africa. A really nice part of this garden is the possibility to do a guided tour, where you can do a ‘’flower tasting’’ and you get to hug a cactus. This entrance has to be booked online here.

Amazing photos by @ninadupl

5. Fly in the air

If you are looking for an adrenaline rush then you have to go skydiving. Skydive Robertson is one of the longest running Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA) approved dropzone. You can do 2 different falls from 3.500 ft to 11.000 ft. Are you already excited? Book it here.

So come for the beauty, the nature, the wine and get some rest in this beautiful part of South Africa, Robertson is just one of the many gems along the Western Cape of South Africa. With our third location, AfriCamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve situated in Robertson we are sure that you will find these activities and many others to keep you entertained when you come and stay with us.

Launch of AfriCamps at Pat Busch

There is no doubt in our minds that Klaasvoogds Meander in Robertson holds some of the most exquisite hidden gems in South Africa. This becomes very apparent after you take the turnoff into the valley and drive up towards Pat Busch Mountain Reserve. Pat Busch is nestled between the beautiful Langeberg mountains and this is where you will find our third camp, AfriCamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

On the 2nd of November, we launched the third camp in our Africamps collection. The day was a warm 36’ C and the sunshine brought with it the invitation of summer. Everyone arrived early afternoon and we headed off to Tent 5 for the welcome drinks and meet and greet.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

This camp introduced an upgrade to the tents with regard to the extended deck and braai area. Which has already become a favourite among everyone who had previously seen the other tents at AfriCamps Klein Karoo and AfriCamps at Kam’Bati. The extended deck meant that we could house everyone on the deck for speeches and a toast.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

Now that we have officially opened AfriCamps at Pat Busch, We had a chance to welcome Stephan and Lindi into the AfriCamps family. It was a 3 month period between the launch of AfriCamps at Kam’Bati in Swellendam which opened in August. Then the AfriCamps team headed off to Robertson to join Stephan and Lindi to start the build for this location. It’s quite amazing what they have achieved in such a short period of time. The tents fit naturally into the surrounded nature and have the charm of the mountain reserve embedded in the details. This can be seen in the consol solar hanging lights which lights up the pathway to the tents and the new deck design.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Stephan and Lindi Busch, your hosts at Africamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

After the toast, we walked over to the dam where we had a taste of the award-winning Marbrin olive oil. Marbrin Olive farm is another one of those hidden gems in the valley.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Travel bug Rose

The dam played it’s part nicely as it invited everyone to take a dip and cool off. Some of the little ones were quite entertained and had fun dipping their toes into the water. The boat became a quick favourite of some of our guests who decided to try it out.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

The free time before dinner gave guests the opportunity to take a dip in the swimming pool. While some took in the nature, with a quick walk around the property, others lazed back on the deck chairs and enjoyed the serene quietness of this idyllic place.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo credit: Mademoiselle Nomad

With each build, the Africamps team finds their favourite products and restaurants in each area that we set up. A standard for the last build was Saggy Stone beer, which has become an AfriCamps favourite. Jackie brought her range of beer for guests to try out and pick their favourite.

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

Dinner was held on the lawn by the pool with a long tresel table set out for the meal. A massive thank you to the Yoga Kitchen and Misa’s mobile catering for the delicious food. You both have catered to the foodie in us, with the spit braai and the delicious salads that accompanied it.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

The rest of the evening …the Esona wine was flowing and the atmosphere was cheerful as we took in the beautiful sunset.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

After a good night’s sleep we awoke to the nature sounds. Then breakfast baskets were delivered at the tents and the rest of the guests joined us at the hall for a delicious breakfast and coffee.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo credit: Mademoiselle Nomad

Overall this was another great launch which we got to share with great company. Thank you to all who joined us for the launch, we hope that you will be back to visit sometime. It was great to welcome you into the AfriCamps family.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

Thank you Stephan, Lindi and the Pat Busch Team, The Yoga Kitchen, Breede Photography, Travel Bug Rose, Things to do with kids, Mademoiselle Nomad, Cape Town magazine, Madiba Travel, Saggy Stone, Marbrin Olive estate, Esona Wines, Weltevrede Bubbly, Misa’s mobile catering.  

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.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

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.

Fishing in the dam

Last month was the start of our Snap- Share-Win photography and video competition. A competition where each month the best AfriCamps moment will win a free one-night stay for 5 persons at one of our AfriCamps farms or who would receive a R500,- cash back on their current stay.

The directions are simple.

Make the most of your time at AfriCamps Klein Karoo and send us the memory in either photo, video review or blog post. Then upload it to either our Facebook or Twitter page (tag AfriCamps in and use ‪#‎WeAreGlamping‬) or send your entry via email to hello@africamps.com.

Our first entries came in and showed us that guests were taking to the view, the relaxing atmosphere and were making us envious with their braai skills.

africamps boutique glamping south africa
africamps boutique glamping south africa

Most of February had perfect skies and beautiful weather. These guests showed us that there is much more to the dam than only adding to the view, as they spent some of their time fishing.

africamps boutique glamping south africa
africamps boutique glamping south africa

The one thing that we have come to realize about the game on the farm is that they are not shy. These guys seem to bring out their best poses for guests, as every photo which is sent to us seems to capture their model moments perfectly.

africamps boutique glamping south africa
africamps boutique glamping south africa

A massive congratulations to Francisco and Sofie who are our winners for February and a big thank you to everyone who entered.

Let’s see what March has in store for us.

Ostrich Farm Tours

Ostrich farm tours are famous for this region. The tours which run at AfriCamps are headed up by Laura and her team, on one of the largest Ostrich farms in South Africa.

africamps boutique glamping south africa
As seen on the ostrich farm tour

We chatted to Laura to get the behind the scenes look at how it all got started and to find out a bit more about these birds.

When did you first start the Ostrich farm tours?

  • About 15 years ago, just after I met my husband.  My mom in law asked me to show her guests at the B & B she was running at the time, the farm, as I speak German and Dutch.

How many Ostriches did you start with?

  • About 1000, and we now farm with over 25 000 birds, ages ranging from one day to about 15 years’ old.
africamps boutique glamping south africa
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour

Did you name them all?

  • No, we do not have so many names, to start with……
africamps boutique glamping south africa
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour

Do you or Piet have a favourite Ostrich?

  • We had a little dwarf female that grew to about half a metre, and then stopped… But unfortunately we had to kill her when bird flu was diagnosed on our farm about 6 years ago. All the birds had to be killed then, it was a very sad day. We had to start all over again.

Can you see different personalities in these birds?

  • Ostriches are very stupid animals. Their brains weigh about 40g, compared to the eye that weighs 60g! So you can just imagine. They stress very easily and they are frightened by the slightest noise or light. When thunder strikes, the just keep running around in circles like a chicken without a head. The breeding males are very aggressive; they do not allow anyone near them.
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour
africamps boutique glamping south africa
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour

How old is the oldest Ostrich that you have?

  • Our breeding males are about 15 years old. We have one breeding pair on the farm, Jannie and Rosie, named after my mom and father in law. They are about 25 years old.

It basically says on Wikipedia that male ostriches’ have one true love. Is this true?

 “Territorial males typically boom in defence of their territory and harem of two to seven hens;[48] the successful male may then mate with several females in the area, but will only form a pair bond with a ‘major’ female.[48]”

  • Yes, they say that ostriches mate for life. We have at least 2 females to each male, and they have to stay together on the farm. After the breeding season – Aug – April – they separate the males and females. They get a 4-month holiday, during which we harvest the feathers to export to Rio for the Carnival.  Then we must make sure that the same males and females are put together again. They have tags on their necks to identify and help with this process.
africamps boutique glamping south africa
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour

Who takes care of the ostriches?

  • Japie Potgieter has worked on the farm with us for over 13 years. He knows everything there is to know about ostriches. When to pluck, vaccinate, feed, weigh etc. How many birds at any certain time on the farm – and he is responsible for about 10 000 of these birds! He has a team of dedicated workers (not everyone on the farm knows how to work with ostriches).
africamps boutique glamping south africa
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour
As seen on the Ostrich farm tour

Ostrich Farm Tour Information

Witness first-hand how these large birds are plucked, fed, weighed, and how we raise these peculiar birds from day old to 12 months. On this 2-hour tour, you might have the opportunity to see them hatch and take their first breaths.

R250 per adult

R125 per child (6-12)

We have family packages available – please enquire.

Daily scheduled tours @ 9h00. Private tours (outside of the scheduled times) for smaller groups available on request.

10 Tips for Traveling with Kids

So you have booked your family vacation to AfriCamps and after the initial excitement of actually going on holiday, the reality of driving 6 hours in a car with tiny humans sets in. A quick panic and fear might cause you to pause and reconsider this already booked holiday. Don’t worry you are not the first to attempt this mission and you are definitely not the last. We have searched around and found our list of top tips from parents who have gone before you. They have made the mistakes and learnt lessons so that you don’t have to relive them.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Take a deep breath and relax. Your journey will be easier with these 10 Tips for traveling with kids

  1. Planning goes a long way especially with kids, so pack the night before and ensure that everything you need has been crossed off the list. You wouldn’t want to find out half way on the R62 that you forgot the first aid kit.
  2. Packing, every mom out there seems to swear by the second smaller bag of extras. This is packing a small bag with an extra set of clothes, another t-shirt, a comfy jacket and their fav toy. This will save you the trouble of stopping the car and digging clothing out of the bigger bag.
  3. We all know the wrath of a hungry adult, now imagine that wrath in a little human. Preparing for the bursts of hunger along the way can be fun.
  • Let them help the night before to make little snack packs for themselves. This way they feel included and won’t complain when you hand them a bag since they packed it themselves.
  • Top tip with this one is no sugar, or limit the amount of sugar that you give them, no bouncy kids in the backseat.
  1. Games and activities. The road can seem longer than it is if you have bored kids in the car. Take care of all their little needs by packing a bag full of toys and activities.

Some great ideas:

  • Dry erase board with some markers
  • Magnetic toys on a baking sheet
  • A ribbon tied to the car seat with a safety pin – you can use this idea to tie the cup, the markers, the stuffed toy anything you want to the car seat so that you are not having to pull over to find Mr. Fluffy.
  • Top tips:
  • Bring a ball with for the stops along the way to get rid of some of that extra energy.
  • Wrap small toys before you leave and unwrap them along the way for new toys on the road.
  1. Education along the way. One great tip is to print out a map and laminate it the let kids trace the route and mark off the landmarks along the way.
  2. First aid box. Never leave for a road trip without it. You never want to end up midway to your destination with a crying kid in need of a plaster.
  3. Baby wipes, Ziploc bags and rubbish bags. This is self-explanatory but a definite must on all road trips.
  4. Their own blanket and pillow. This helps a lot with kids adjusting to their environment. AfriCamps comes with blankets and pillows, however your little one might just feel more comfortable with their own blanket.
  5. Traveling times. Always add in extra time when traveling with kids. Overestimate to take into consideration lengthy stops.
  6. Top tip: Try and leave as early as possible most moms make use of this method since kids fall back asleep once they are in the car.

(Thanks to Super moms Illana Ferreira and Willemijn Assink for the top tips)