Tips for First-Time Campers: A Guide for South African Adventurers

Key takeaways

Proper planning and preparation are the first steps for any successful camping adventure.
Camping is a minimalist experience – and that goes for your luggage, too.
Make a good impression on the campsite and avoid classic rookie mistakes with our tips.

Tip no. 1: Plan your destination and route carefully

Do you want to go on an adventure, or do you prefer to spend two weeks relaxing in one place? There are many sorts of ways to spend a camping holiday. Your decision should take into account e.g. the length of holiday, time of year and destination, factors which may also impact your choice of camping vehicle.

Take your time to decide how you (and any travelling companions) would like to spend your holiday. A camping trip in which you spend each night in a different place and stop off at lots of different locations also requires more organisation than a two-week holiday on one pre-booked campsite.

Tip no. 2: Select a suitable camping vehicle

Vans, caravans, motorhomes: Each camping vehicle has its own unique character and is more or less suitable for different numbers of people and individual travel habits. Take a look at a comparison of caravans, motorhomes, camper vans and camping buses to help you decide which option best suits your holiday plans.

For your first camping adventure it is advisable to hire a vehicle from a retailer or borrow one from a friend: this way you can test whether a camping holiday in all its myriad forms is really for you and whether you want to do it again. You also have the option of renting a caravan first, for example, and then testing a motorhome the next year to get to know the pros and cons of the various vehicle options.

Take your time as well! Don’t set off on your holiday straight from the dealership’s parking lot, but plan enough days for packing and test drives. The vehicle handover is not to be underestimated either: take notes, perhaps even short videos – because it can be hard to remember all the information about water supply and disposal, electricity connections, gas etc. in detail later. Before hiring, please also check whether you have the right category of driving licence for your desired vehicle to avoid any unpleasant surprises at the handover. This article highlights the key things to look out for so you can avoid Rookie mistakes when hiring a camping vehicle.

Tip no. 3: Just pack the essentials

Less is more on a camping holiday! Both weight distribution and space set natural limits, and the less weight you pack, the lower the fuel consumption will be.

The basic equipment can vary widely depending on whether you opt for a rental motorhome or borrow a vehicle from a camper friend. If you hire a motorhome from a retailer, technical equipment such as gas bottles, drive-on ramps etc. are usually included, but you have to pack your own kitchen equipment such as crockery, pots and pans, and cutlery, as well as personal items such as towels, bed linen, clothes, games and books. Some retailers offer sets of camping furniture for hire as well.

You can find an overview of everything that can (but doesn’t necessarily have to!) go in your motorhome or caravan in this Checklist: Initial equipment for caravans & motorhomes – this is mainly intended for camping vehicle owners, but you will find a good overview of potential equipment.

One extra tip – perhaps a bit advanced for beginners, but still useful: check out our article ‘Tips for correctly loading motorhomes and caravans’ for guidance on safe and balanced packing.

Tip no. 4: Consider anti-theft devices too

Your dealer will usually offer theft protection tips and perhaps even anti-theft devices. Before you set off, consider which valuables you can safely leave at home, and make copies of your vehicle and ID documents just in case, to avoid regrets later.

You can find specific tips and products in our blog post on Anti-theft devices for motorh