Wolfkop Camping Villages, Citrusdal, Western Cape on Budget-Getaways

Budget Getaways Review

Got no tent, can't camp? No longer the case, intrepid Budget traveller.

With the arrival of Wolfkop Camping Villages, the hassle and logistics of a camping weekend is now a thing of the past. In fact, if the blurb, "You only bring food and clothes," is anything to go by, any preconceived idea you have about camping - leaking tents, missing poles and pegs, hard ground and sand fleas - is in for a serious shake up.

The site is set on 100ha of citrus-buchu-rooibos farm located about 20km from Citrusdal, with the campsite located right on the banks of the Olifants River - so we're not talking dodge municipal setting. We're talking wide open spaces, green grass, gorgeous sunsets, languid days filled with swimming, braaing and getting to know your neighbours.

Each 'camping village' (maximum six spread along a 200m stretch) comprises a Bedouin freeform marquee with an excellent outlook over the water, and one to three (depending on group size) canvas tents pitched underneath and equipped with foam mattress, cotton percale bedding, blankets, towels and extra sleeping bags. You have your own braai grid and utensils, chairs, tables, electric light, cooler box, etc, etc.

Furthermore, every village has its own power point and hammocks - lest you forget that camping is hard work. Ablutions (hot showers and flush toilets) are communal (sorry), so is the fridge for the frosties, freezer and microwave. Talk about roughing it in style.

Canoes and kayaks are all available for hire - but bring your own if you have.

How this all translates into the real thing we're not sure as we haven't yet put Wolfkop to the test. Instead we surfed the cyber-ether and found the following: "This is definitely a luxury camping site, as they advertise! When they say, just bring your food and drinks they are right! The accommodation is comfortable and quite exclusive as the campsite is not packed at all compared to most other places." And this from a reviewer on Tripadvisor: "We had a great weekend camping and will definitely go back."

Slip out of that comfort zone, give it a go, and let us know what you find.

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Guest Reviews

"A great escape from the city with a stunning setting and very peaceful surrounds. We rented a canoe for the weekend and paddled up and down a bit. The camp site is right on the river which is great! There are some wine estates on the way from Cape Town (Org de Rac and Hebron are great). Our only mistake was waiting till Sunday to explore the town itself, as small towns go everything is closed on a Sunday so if you need anything, make sure you go before. We told our friends about it when we came home - highly recommended!"

(visited Oct 2016)

"Poor service - still didn't get a response to my email requesting accommodation for the 18-22 August."

(visited Aug 2016)

"The owner and booking staff were unprofessional and rude. The facilities and equipment need a good scrub down. We won't be visiting this campsite again."

(visited January 2015)

"My family and I totally enjoyed our stay there. The scenic view of the mountains and river in front of us and the beautiful orange orchards behind was absolutely awesome. We almost had a situation going down the river in the kayaks but it all turned out good. I was very impressed with the size of the kitchen all the fridges and microwaves. There was however a broken window, which allowed a cat to gain access while we were sleeping. With the lack of cupboard space we had to ensure that all our food was packed away. The fact that we had warm water was such a comfort especially with it being so cold there. I would suggest people bring ice trays or an icemaker along as the drive to town is about 20km away. I would also suggest they bring their own wood for those fires that are going to keep you warm on the cold nights. It rained when we went so our Bedouin tent eventually started leaking which made it a bit unpleasant, but we didn't let that get us down. I would also suggest that a key be given for the bathrooms and kitchen for each plot. That would eliminate the fear at night when hearing strange noises that someone is stealing your meat or lurking in the bathroom. Lol! I will be going on my 2nd trip with a few more people that I did the last time and I know I will definitely be back. Thanks Wolfkop for a truly wonderful experience."

(visited July 2013)

"What a beautiful setting and if you love birds and fishing it does not get better than this. Staff are super. Camping next to the river in luxury and the sunsets and views are to die for!"

(visited May 2011)

Wolfkop Camping Villages

Citrusdal, Western Cape

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