The real cost of caravan ownership vs renting on Kampi. See the numbers, try different types, and make a smarter decision before spending R200k+.
So you've been daydreaming about owning a caravan. Weekend getaways to the Berg, long December trips up the coast, sundowners next to a river somewhere in the Bushveld. It's a beautiful picture.
But here's the question nobody wants to ask: is buying a caravan actually worth it?
We're not saying don't buy one. We're saying rent one first. Here's why.
Buying a caravan feels like a one-time purchase. It isn't. Let's run the numbers on a typical mid-range caravan over 10 years:
Total cost of ownership over 10 years: approximately R443,000
That's before fuel (towing drops your consumption significantly), wear and tear on your tow vehicle, and all the accessories you'll convince yourself you need.
Now here's the thing most people don't calculate: how often do you actually go?
Research consistently shows that the average SA family takes about two camping trips per year -usually over long weekends. Some families manage three or four. Very few do more than that, once work, school, sport, and life get in the way.
At two trips per year over 10 years, that's 20 trips. Divide your R443,000 by 20 trips and each trip costs you R22,150 -just for the caravan. That's before the campsite, fuel, and food.
Alternatively: rent a caravan on Kampi for those same 20 long weekends, and you'd spend roughly R120,000 to R150,000 total (accounting for inflation). That's a saving of R300,000+.
You'd need to camp at least 8 long weekends per year to make ownership cheaper than renting. Can you honestly commit to that?
Here's something every caravan owner will tell you after their first purchase: "I wish I'd known what I actually wanted before I bought."
Caravans come in wildly different shapes and sizes:
Renting lets you test different types before you spend R200,000+ on something that might not suit your lifestyle. Take a Bushlapa to the Baviaanskloof one weekend. Try a Jurgens at a family park the next. Do a beach trip in a Sprite. Figure out what you actually enjoy before you commit.
One of the most underestimated costs of caravan ownership is where to keep it. If you don't have space on your property (and most suburban homes don't), you're looking at R500 to R1,000+ per month for secure storage. That's R6,000 to R12,000 a year for something that sits there 340+ days of the year.
When you rent, this isn't your problem. Pick it up from the owner, go on your trip, bring it back. Done.
Caravans need regular maintenance -bearings, brakes, seals, gas certification, awning care, tyre checks, water systems, and that persistent leak above the kitchen window that only appears when it rains sideways.
When you rent on Kampi, the owner handles all of this. You get a maintained, trip-ready camper without the responsibility of keeping it that way.
Own a caravan and you're locked into one setup for years. Rent, and you can match the camper to the trip:
No single caravan does everything well. Renting gives you the right tool for every trip.
Then renting first is even more important. Think of it as an extended test drive. After three or four rentals of different types, you'll know exactly:
And if you do buy, you can list it on Kampi when you're not using it. Earn back a significant chunk of your running costs by renting it out to other adventurers.
Some Kampi owners have turned their caravans into genuine income streams:
The point isn't that buying is bad -it's that renting and owning aren't mutually exclusive. Buy smart, rent it out when you're not using it, and let other people's holidays help pay for yours.
Here's what we recommend:
Or skip steps 3 and 4 entirely, keep renting, and spend that R300,000 saving on something else entirely. Maybe a new bakkie to tow the caravan you don't own.
Ready to try your first rental? Browse hundreds of campers, caravans, and trailers at kampi.co.za -from lightweight trailers for a quick weekend to fully kitted caravans for the holiday of a lifetime.
Rent the adventure. Keep the memories. Skip the bond repayments.
The Kampi Team
More than 5,600 completed trips, 373 active campers and caravans, and a verified review average of 4.89 out of 5 across 782 ratings. Browse campers on Kampi.
To test fit with your tow vehicle, campsite preferences, and real-world kit requirements before committing R150,000 to R600,000 of capital.
Two or three trips on different trailer types typically surface what matters. A teardrop for a weekend versus an off-road trailer for a longer trip will teach you your priorities fast.
Try at least one each from: compact teardrop (under 750 kg), on-road caravan, and off-road expedition trailer. The right class is rarely obvious in advance.
Not directly, but many owners are open to extended rentals or lease-to-own conversations. Message the owner through the platform.