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From Big Five bush camps in Dinokeng to family resorts in Pretoria East. All within an hour of the capital.
Pretoria is one of South Africa's best-positioned cities for a quick camping escape. Within an hour's drive you have malaria-free Big Five game reserves, family resorts on the Boschkop River, bushveld retreats on working farms, and riverside camps near Bronkhorstspruit. You don't need a week off. Most of these are perfect for a Friday-to-Sunday getaway, or even a single overnight.
Here are our top picks, all listed on KampKiepie with direct contact details and booking links where available.
One of Dinokeng's most polished campsites, with 40 spacious paved stands each fitted with private electricity, a water tap, braai and refuse bin. Free-roaming zebra, kudu, impala and wildebeest wander through camp while you set up. Guided Big Five game drives into the fenced section available for an extra fee. On-site Bush Spa, three swimming pools (one heated indoor), fishing dam, mountain biking and a children's playground. 4.7 stars from 219 reviews. One of the highest-rated camps in Gauteng.
View Resort →Named for good reason: an active waterhole at the edge of camp draws elephant, lion and other game right to the fence line. Intimate and privacy-focused, with well-spaced sites on seasonal grass. Swimming pool and full facilities. Less than an hour from Pretoria. One of the reserve's most talked-about spots. 4.5 stars from 182 reviews.
View Resort →25 well-demarcated partially shaded sites inside the malaria-free Dinokeng Big Five Game Reserve. Spot elephant or leopard from your campsite. The ablution facilities here are legendary: reviewers consistently call them the best-maintained in the country, serviced multiple times daily. Each site has its own electricity, water tap and stand-alone braai. Short drive from Pretoria. 4.5 stars from 211 reviews.
View Resort →Two camping styles side by side inside the Big Five Dinokeng reserve: comfort sites with power and modern facilities, and rawer off-grid bush sites for total immersion. The morning chorus of bush sounds and regular wildlife sightings define the experience here. Less than an hour from Pretoria. 4.7 stars from 77 reviews.
View Resort →Paved stands under permanent shade cover built into the natural bush inside the Dinokeng reserve. A strict no-music policy preserves the authentic bush soundtrack: jackals in the evening, birds at dawn, the occasional distant lion at night. All stands with electricity and water. Clean ablutions. A genuine wilderness experience 45km from Pretoria.
View Resort →Completely off-grid on full solar energy and clean borehole water inside the northern Dinokeng Big Five reserve. Offers both secure family-friendly fenced stands and thrilling unfenced wilderness sites where predators regularly pass by at night. For those who want authentic Africa without driving to Kruger. Swimming pool on site.
View Resort →A firm favourite in the Pretoria caravan community. Each of the 40 extra-large grass and shaded stands comes with private ablutions, a scullery, 15A power point and braai area. Set on a 200-hectare game farm bordering the Dinokeng Big Five reserve. A guitar-shaped swimming pool, trampoline area, jungle gym, 25km of hiking and mountain bike routes plus electric scooter-guided tours make this a full family destination. 250 bird species identified on the property. 45km north of Pretoria on the Rust de Winter road.
View Resort →Seven dams and the pollution-free Boschkop River set the scene at this family-focused resort just outside Pretoria East. Built-in braais around every dam, fishing spots stocked with a variety of species, plus an activities area with slides, jumping castles and a petting zoo for younger kids. A well-stocked reception shop handles supplies on arrival. A proper day or overnight option that doesn't require leaving the city far behind.
View Resort →89 hectares of pure action just 20 minutes from Pretoria city centre: waterslides, putt-putt, trampolines, an animal farm, a restaurant and camping on the bushveld reserve grounds. One of Pretoria's most reviewed family destinations with 719 reviews at 4.0 stars. If you're camping with kids who need more than a fire to keep them entertained, this delivers.
View Resort →The big-ticket family resort inside Dinokeng. A full water park with heated indoor and outdoor pools, supertubes and slides sits alongside the Boekenhoutspruit River, which flows through the property for quiet fishing spots. The surrounding reserve is Big Five territory. Camping, chalets and self-catering units available. 4.3 stars from 637 reviews. A full weekend destination where the kids will still be talking about the waterslides months later.
View Resort →A Pretoria institution. Lush, sprawling lawns fed by natural springs sit inside the scenic Groenkloof Nature Reserve south of the city. Massive swimming pools, dedicated caravan sites and a genuine nature reserve setting right on the capital's doorstep. Managed by the City of Tshwane and beloved by the local camping community for decades. If you want to camp genuinely close to Pretoria city centre without sacrificing the outdoor feel, this is the one.
View Resort →38 camping sites each with a private ablution and scullery, set in Waterberg bushveld just 30km north-east of Pretoria. Swimming pools, a games room, TV lounge, shop and children's park on site. Hiking, catch-and-release fishing and cycling routes wind through abundant birdlife and free-roaming game. A 3-bedroom luxury self-catering house available for those who want the bush without the tent. A good base for day trips to Dinokeng Game Reserve or the Cullinan Diamond Mine.
View Resort →37km from Pretoria on a 25-hectare estate bordering predator sanctuaries. Fall asleep to roaring lions and calling hyenas without leaving Gauteng. Rustic boma facilities, mountain bike trails, hiking, stargazing and wildlife viewing. The Cullinan Diamond Mine is a short detour away for a half-day excursion. Genuinely off-the-beaten-path for the Pretoria area.
View Resort →A rare find for dog owners: individually fenced 1000m² sites in the Leeuwkloof Valley where pets roam freely within their own secure enclosure. Nguni cattle graze alongside the property, solar geysers and off-grid power at the camps, and evenings broken only by jackals and resident owls. Private ablution and kitchenette per site. 45 minutes from Pretoria with the Cullinan Diamond Mine and a lion and cheetah sanctuary nearby.
View Resort →Situated on the scenic banks of Bronkhorstspruit Dam, one of the region's premier freshwater angling spots renowned for bass fishing with regular club competitions. 90 spacious camping sites, self-catering units, guesthouse rooms, an on-site restaurant, boating and water sports. 60 minutes from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, making it the obvious choice for water sports enthusiasts east of the city.
View Resort →4x4 access only, set in the Trichardspoort River Valley between the Wilge River and Gouwsberg Mountains, 1 hour from Pretoria East. Last 10km is gravel, making this a genuine destination for off-road enthusiasts who want to earn their campsite. Swimming pool and full facilities once you arrive. 4.1 stars from 154 reviews. If your bakkie is set up for adventure, this is worth the detour.
View Resort →Browse all camping sites near Pretoria on KampKiepie. Contact details, photos and booking links for every resort listed above, plus dozens more.
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