December Holidays 2026

December Holidays 2026

December is peak camping season in South Africa. Garden Route, KZN South Coast, Kruger, Cederberg. Kampi's 360+ campers get booked out fastest over December. Secure yours by September.

December Holidays 2026: book your camper now

December is peak camping season in South Africa. Public schools close around the second week of December and reopen in mid January, giving most families four to five weeks of potential holiday time. Every coastal town, bush camp and national park fills to capacity, often months in advance, and SANParks campsite bookings for December open a full 11 months before the travel dates. Kampi's 360 plus campers get booked out fastest in December. Wise renters lock in their camper by September or earlier for peak dates around 15 December to 5 January. If you have ever tried to book a beach chalet the week before Christmas and watched every option disappear, a camper is the answer. You own your accommodation for the trip and you can move it anywhere the road goes.

Where South Africans camp in December

The Garden Route, KZN South Coast and the Wild Coast are the top three December destinations year after year. Classic Garden Route bookings include Storms River Mouth, Wilderness, Knysna, Sedgefield and Mossel Bay. On the KZN South Coast, Port Edward, Margate and Umzumbe pull families who want reliable warm swimming. The Wild Coast offers Coffee Bay, Hole in the Wall and Mdumbi for those who want a rawer, quieter experience. Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg, Madikwe and Mabalingwe lead the bush list, though Kruger rest camps in December are notoriously hard to secure without booking 11 months ahead. The Cederberg, Namaqualand (after the flower season), the Richtersveld and Augrabies attract those who want to escape the crowds entirely. The Drakensberg is another strong option if you are willing to deal with afternoon thunderstorms, which are a near daily feature of summer in the high berg. Every Kampi booking includes insurance from R89 per day, so you can focus on the trip rather than the paperwork.

Choosing the right December camper

A family of four to six fits comfortably in a Jurgens, Sprite or Gypsey caravan of roughly 5 to 6 metre length. Add a side tent or a quick pitch gazebo and you have a proper living area. Couples who love the wild side prefer an off-road trailer like a Conqueror, Bushlapa or a serious Metalian that can handle sand, mud and rough tracks. If you are towing with a smaller SUV, pick a lightweight camping trailer that weighs under 750 kg so you can tow on a Code B license without an EB endorsement. Confirm the camper has a fridge large enough for a week of family groceries (40 to 60 litres is standard), a gas stove with at least two burners, and ideally a solar setup if you are heading off grid. For coastal trips, a camper with good ventilation and insect mesh windows makes a huge difference. December humidity on the KZN coast is no joke. For bush trips, prioritise a unit with a covered awning for shade and a fridge that cycles efficiently in high heat.

December driving tips

The N1, N2 and N3 see very heavy traffic on 15, 16 and 23 December, and again on 2, 3 and 4 January as everyone heads home. If you can, travel midweek or before 06:00 to get ahead of the rush. The N3 Van Reenen's Pass often has multi kilometre truck queues during peak days, which gets worse with any incident. Kampi owners may shift pickup times to avoid peak hours, so ask in your booking message whether an early morning collection is possible. Fuel stops at Petroport and major on-route filling stations are long and queues are slow over December. Fill up early and often, and plan rest stops every two hours with kids in the car. Watch average fuel economy drop 25 to 40 percent when towing, so factor that into your fuel budget. For long drives (Johannesburg to the Garden Route is 13 hours plus breaks and towing slow down), split the trip into two days and pre book an overnight caravan park in Colesberg, Bloemfontein or Beaufort West.

Weather and what to expect

December weather in South Africa varies hugely by region. The Western Cape and Garden Route get warm, dry days (25 to 32 degrees) with little rain and the infamous Cape Doctor south easter wind. KZN is hot and humid, with daytime temperatures of 28 to 34 degrees and regular afternoon thundershowers. The bush (Kruger, Limpopo) is hot (32 to 38 degrees) with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms. The Drakensberg is cooler at altitude but has near daily summer storms and the occasional hail risk. Pack for heat as the baseline, add a waterproof jacket for anywhere on the eastern seaboard, and carry a heater or extra blanket if you are heading into the berg. Tick and mosquito protection is worth packing for any bush trip. Malaria risk in lowveld areas is low but real in the wet summer months, so speak to your doctor if you are visiting the Kruger region.

When to book

For mid December to early January travel, confirm your Kampi booking by late September at the latest. By November, over 80 percent of our coastal campers are booked, and by early December the only remaining options are often premium off-road trailers priced for the peak season. If you are flexible on dates, early December (before the 15th) and mid January (after the 10th) are noticeably quieter and cheaper. Owners respond within 48 hours to a booking request, and payment runs safely online through PayFast. Deposits of R2,500 to R7,500 are held in escrow by Kampi until the post trip inspection. No hotel cancellation fees, no deposit disputes, just a clean marketplace with verified owners and a real admin team if anything goes sideways.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do South African schools break for December holidays?
Most public schools close around 10 December 2026 and reopen in the second week of January 2027. Private schools sometimes close a week earlier and reopen slightly later. The government gazetted school calendar shifts slightly year to year, so confirm your province's dates before booking non refundable flights or campsite deposits. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape all publish their dates on the provincial education department websites.
How far is the Garden Route from Johannesburg?
Johannesburg to Wilderness or Sedgefield is about 1,230 km, a 13 hour drive before you factor in towing, traffic and kids' bathroom stops. Plan on two full days of driving each way with an overnight in Colesberg or Beaufort West. If you are towing a caravan, Google Maps estimates are too optimistic. Add 2 to 3 hours to the driving time. From Pretoria add another 60 km at the start. From Cape Town, Wilderness is only 450 km and a 5 hour drive, much more manageable as a single day trip.
How much does a December camper rental cost?
Caravans start from R519 per day on Kampi, family campers from R650, and off-road trailers from R800. Peak December dates (15 December to 5 January) often see owners apply seasonal pricing at 10 to 25 percent premium. For a typical 10 day December trip, budget R6,000 to R12,000 for the camper rental, plus R89 per day insurance, the once off R189 admin fee, and a refundable deposit of R2,500 to R7,500. Add fuel (R4,000 to R8,000 for a typical Joburg to Garden Route round trip while towing), campsite fees (R450 to R1,200 per night at popular coastal resorts in peak season) and food. A full two week December trip often lands in the R25,000 to R40,000 range all in, which still undercuts a decent beachfront chalet in Plett.
Which provinces have the most campers on Kampi?
Gauteng has the largest selection with 130 plus listings, followed by the Western Cape with 70 plus and KwaZulu-Natal with 55 plus. Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Northern Cape all have smaller but growing inventories. Check the search page and filter by your pickup location or destination. If you are flexible on pickup city, a Gauteng based rig often tows well to KZN or Limpopo, while Western Cape rentals make more sense for Garden Route and West Coast trips.
Which camper is best for a December family trip?
For a family of four, a 4 to 6 sleeper caravan like a Jurgens Penta, Sprite Swing or Gypsey Regal with a side tent works well. For a family of six with teens, step up to a 6 sleeper family caravan or consider two smaller units travelling together. Prioritise a fridge above 40 litres, a decent gas stove, a working geyser or hot water setup, and good ventilation for humid coastal weather. For a Kruger or bush trip, add solar and a larger battery bank since not all SANParks sites have power. For coastal trips where most campsites have kraal plugs, you can get away with less onboard power.
When should I book my December camper?
Confirm your booking by late September at the latest for peak December travel. By November, over 80 percent of Kampi's coastal campers are booked out for the 15 December to 5 January window. If you are targeting SANParks campsites, those open 11 months ahead, so the practical flow is: secure the SANParks booking first, then immediately book your Kampi camper to match those dates. Flexible dates unlock better options. Early December (before the 15th) and post New Year (after the 10th January) are noticeably easier to book and often cheaper.
Can I book several trips in December?
Yes, but most owners prefer a single continuous rental over separate bookings back to back. A long rental also earns a longer stay discount on many listings, often 5 to 15 percent for bookings over 10 or 14 days. If you want to do a coastal week followed by a bush week with different campers, book both separately as early as you can. Coordinating the return of one camper with the pickup of another on the same day is possible but needs planning. Ask both owners whether they can meet you at a central location to simplify the handover.
What happens if my destination is evacuated for weather?
Kampi's insurance covers the camper itself against damage. Cancellation or date changes due to weather are handled per the owner's cancellation policy, shown on each listing. Most Kampi owners will work with you on rescheduling if you are flexible with dates, especially for genuine evacuation events (flooding, fire, severe storms). Open the conversation early and through the Kampi message thread so everything is on record. The R189 admin fee and daily insurance are not refunded once an approved booking is in motion, but the camper rental itself often can be.
Can I extend my booking mid trip?
Yes. Send the owner a message through the Kampi booking chat. If their calendar is clear for the extension dates, they can approve it and you pay the additional days through Kampi's platform. Payment for the extension goes through Kampi, not directly to the owner, so your insurance and admin protections carry across. Avoid paying the owner directly in cash or EFT. That voids the insurance cover for the extended days. Some owners offer a loyalty discount on extensions over 3 days. It is worth asking politely.
How does the deposit and payment work over the holidays?
Once the owner approves your booking you pay the full rental, insurance and admin fee through PayFast, with payment cleared within minutes for card payments. The refundable damage deposit is held separately by Kampi in escrow and is typically R2,500 to R7,500 for December bookings given the length and value of peak season trips. The deposit is reconciled after the post trip inspection and released within 5 to 7 working days to your account. If there is a dispute over damage, Kampi's admin team reviews evidence from both parties and makes an independent call rather than leaving you to argue with the owner directly.