Caravan Hire for the Garden Route

If you only do one road trip in South Africa, make it the Garden Route. It runs about 300 kilometres along the southern coast from Mossel Bay to Storms River, and every few kilometres there's a reason to pull over. Old-growth forest. A lagoon that catches the afternoon light just right. A town with a farm stall you weren't planning to stop at but now you're eating milk tart and buying biltong. That's the thing about doing it in a camper, you don't have to stick to a booking schedule. Park up at Wilderness for two nights instead of one. Catch the Knysna Heads at golden hour. Wake up at Tsitsikamma with mist on the river. Caravan parks line the whole route, from beachfront sites at Wilderness to spots tucked into the forest near Harkerville. December and January are peak, book early if you want summer holidays. March and October are the sweet spot: good weather, fewer people, and campers are easier to find on Kampi. We list owners in both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape sections of the route.

389 campers available on Kampi in Garden Route.

About Garden Route

Most people start from George or Cape Town and head east. Good call, the N2 is tarred the whole way and even bigger caravans handle it fine. Wilderness is a solid first stop. Kayak the lagoon, check the Map of Africa viewpoint, and settle in at Ebb & Flow (SANParks) right on the river. Knysna is worth two nights at least. Don't skip the oysters at the waterfront, grab a dozen and eat them with a cold one overlooking the lagoon. The Featherbed nature cruise is worth it, and the Knysna forest trails are properly quiet midweek. Plettenberg Bay has some of the best beaches on the route. Robberg Nature Reserve is a must-do hike, and Keurbooms River is great for canoeing. Families will get good mileage out of Monkeyland. At Storms River, walk the suspension bridge and snorkel in the tidal pools, the water is surprisingly clear. Bloukrans Bridge has the world's highest commercial bungee if you're feeling brave. Top caravan parks: Ebb & Flow (Wilderness), Tsitsikamma Village Inn camping, Plettenberg Bay Holiday Resort, and Storms River Mouth rest camp. Budget camping trailers work well here, tarred roads throughout, and most lightweight trailers don't need an EB license.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the price on Kampi actually cover?
What you pay is the owner's rate for the camper plus Kampi's service fee for handling the booking and the payment. Where a camper carries Kampi cover, that cover costs R89 a day; not every camper carries it, some owners carry their own instead, and the camper's own page says which. There is no once-off admin fee. That was Kampi's pricing before 1 July 2026, and a booking made before that date can still show it. Most owners also add a once-off cleaning fee, and every owner asks for a refundable damage deposit. The camper's own page shows both, and what your dates come to, before you send a request.
How are the rental days counted?
Every day of the trip is charged, including the day you collect the camper and the day you bring it back. A Friday to Sunday trip is three days, not two, because both the collection day and the return day count.
When does the money actually move?
On most campers, nothing is charged when you send a request. You only pay once the owner approves it, and owners have 3 days to answer. A few campers are set up for instant booking instead and charge as soon as you book, the camper's own page says which. Either way, you pay Kampi online, never the owner directly.
Do I need a special licence to tow it?
Not necessarily. Up to 750kg you can tow on an ordinary Code B licence, the same one most drivers already have. Over that you need a Code EB. Every camper's page says which one it needs, and Kampi has a whole page of campers that need no EB at all.
What if I need to cancel, or something goes wrong?
Cancel a request before you have paid and nothing is owed, because nothing was ever charged. Once you have paid, cancelling before the trip starts means a non-refundable booking fee of up to R189 may apply, and the rest is refunded according to the camper's policy. Cancelling once the trip has started, or on a listing with no cancellation policy set, refunds nothing at all: not the rate, not the cleaning fee, not the cover. The camper's own page shows its exact cancellation policy before you book, and it is worth reading before you pay.
Who am I actually renting from?
A private owner, not a franchise or a depot. Sending a request opens a message thread with them under their name, so you can talk before you pay anything. Their phone number and the exact pickup address open up once you have paid, not at the moment they approve. You collect the camper from them in person. Most owners have had an ID document, proof of address and the camper's papers approved by Kampi before their listing went live, though not every one of them has. There is no corporate credit or background check beyond that. What else stands behind them is the reviews they have earned on Kampi.
How long should a Garden Route camper trip be?
Give it 7-10 days if you can. You can rush through in 5, but you'll drive past places you wish you'd stopped. Add 2 days if you're starting from Cape Town, the first stretch through the Overberg is worth it.
What is the best time to drive the Garden Route?
October to April for warm weather. December-January is peak (busiest and most expensive). March and October offer great weather with fewer crowds and better camper availability.
Are Garden Route roads suitable for caravans?
Yes. The N2 and all main Garden Route roads are tarred and well-maintained. Even larger caravans manage fine. Only some forest gravel roads require a 4x4 trailer.
Where can I camp along the Garden Route?
Dozens of caravan parks line the route. Top picks: Ebb & Flow at Wilderness, Knysna municipal camping, Plettenberg Bay Holiday Resort, and SANParks camps at Tsitsikamma and Nature's Valley.
Can I tow a trailer on the Garden Route without an EB license?
Yes, many Kampi campers up to 750kg can be towed with a Code B license. Filter for 'No EB License' when searching. Lightweight camping trailers are ideal for this route.

Available Campers in Garden Route

Browse Garden Route campers on Kampi

All provinces | Search campers | Kampi - Camper Rentals South Africa