Weekend Camping Near Johannesburg & Pretoria
Choose a weekend campsite near Johannesburg or Pretoria by drive time, type of place and budget, with honest notes on each site, from Big 5 bush to hot springs.
Find a weekend campsite close to home
There is nothing more South African than packing the tent for a weekend in the bush. The trick is finding a spot that is close enough to be worth it for just two nights. Tell us whether you are leaving from Joburg or Pretoria and how far you want to drive, then filter by the kind of place you fancy, from a Big 5 reserve to a mountain rock pool or a hot springs resort. Every site is one you can reach for a weekend, with an honest note on what it is really like and who it suits.
1. Where from, and how far?
Pick your home city and how far you are willing to drive. Pretoria and Joburg are not the same distance from these spots, so the list changes with your choice.
2. What kind of weekend?
Leave anything on "Any" to keep your options open.
Prices, facilities, opening seasons and pet rules change, and popular sites book out months ahead for school holidays and long weekends, so always confirm and book on the official site before you pack the bakkie. Drive times are a rough guide in normal traffic. Last reviewed June 2026.
The best weekend camping near Joburg and Pretoria
Gauteng may be the smallest province, but it is ringed by some of the countryā€™s best weekend camping. Within an hour or two you can pitch a tent beside a Big 5 waterhole, swim in a Magaliesberg rock pool, float down the Vaal at Parys, or soak in the warm mineral springs at Bela-Bela. The hard part is not finding a campsite, it is choosing one that is genuinely close enough to be worth packing the car for just two nights.
The finder above does that for you. Because Pretoria and Joburg are an hour apart, the same campsite is a different distance from each, so we show you the drive from your city and let you cap it at one, two or three hours. Then you can filter by the kind of weekend you want, whether that is a wild bush experience, a mountain hike, a watersports base or a family resort with a pool, plus whether you need a power point or family friendly facilities. Each listing carries an honest note on what the place is really like, how busy it gets and who it suits, the detail that generic campsite lists leave out.
Prices and facilities change and the best spots book out early for long weekends, so we link you straight to each official site to check rates and reserve. While you are planning the trip you might also like our toll fees calculator to work out the cost of the drive, or browse all our free South African tools and calculators.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I go camping close to Johannesburg for a weekend?
Some of the closest options are the Hennops trails near Centurion, about 45 minutes from Joburg, the Dinokeng Big 5 reserve campsites north of Pretoria, and the Magaliesberg around Hartbeespoort. All sit within an easy drive for a Friday to Sunday trip. Use the finder above to sort them by your city and how far you want to drive.
What is the closest Big 5 game reserve you can camp in near Gauteng?
Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve, just north of Pretoria, is the closest place to camp among lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, with self drive game viewing and campsites such as Bushbabies and Thorn Tree under an hour from Pretoria. For a national park experience, Marakele in the Waterberg is reachable for a long weekend.
Which campsites near Joburg and Pretoria have powered sites?
Several do, including the Dinokeng reserve camps, ATKV Buffelspoort, TangleWood at Boskop Dam, and the Forever resorts at Warmbaths and Loskopdam. A few of the more rugged spots, like Mountain Sanctuary Park and Hennops, are deliberately unplugged with no electricity, which is part of their back to nature appeal. Set the powered sites filter above to see only the ones with a plug point.
Where can I camp at a hot springs near Johannesburg or Pretoria?
Warmbaths, a Forever Resort in Bela-Bela, is the classic Highveld hot springs camping weekend, an easy run up the N1 with powered stands, warm mineral pools and a full water park. It is about 75 minutes from Pretoria and under two hours from Joburg, which makes it a popular family choice.
How far ahead do I need to book a campsite for a long weekend?
For public holidays, long weekends and school holidays, the popular sites fill up months in advance, so book as early as you can, often two to three months ahead for places like Mountain Sanctuary Park, the Dinokeng camps and the Forever resorts. For an ordinary weekend you usually have more room, but it is still worth booking ahead. Always confirm rates and availability on the official site.
What should I pack for a weekend camping trip in Gauteng?
The basics are a tent, sleeping bags and mats, a cooler box, firewood and a gas light, plus a head lamp and warm layers, because Highveld nights get cold even in summer. At the unplugged sites you will need a gas stove and your own light. Check whether your site has power and whether it allows pets before you go, since most game reserves and resorts do not.
Campsites, drive times and facilities were checked against the official sites and listings in June 2026. Rates, facilities, seasons and pet rules change, and popular sites book out well ahead, so always confirm and book on the official site before you travel. This page is general information to help you choose, not a booking service.