AfriCamps at Karoo 1

AfriCamps at Karoo 1 sits on a working farm estate in the Hex River Valley, just over two hours from Cape Town on the N1 between De Doorns and Touws River. Thirteen boutique glamping tents are spread across the property, each one positioned to make the most of the mountain and rock-face views - and each with its own deck, braai, and private wood-fired hot tub.

Getting there

It’s an easy run up the N1 - past the toll gates and through the Huguenot Tunnel, one of South Africa’s most important mountain passages, connecting Cape Town to the Breede River Valley and beyond. The Hex River Valley marks the edge of the Karoo and is famous for its table grapes, with a big share of South Africa’s exports coming from here. The entrance is directly off the N1 just before the Montagu turnoff. Through the gates it’s a few hundred metres to security to sign in, then on to reception at the Karoo 1 Hotel.

When you book you’ll get a link to a genuinely useful AfriCamps guide covering activities, extra services, important contacts and more - and it’s where you pre-order breakfast and braai baskets. Check-in is 2pm to 6pm, and there’s a small shop at reception for wood, ice and snacks, open 8am to 6pm.

The tents

From reception you turn right at the AfriCamps sign and follow the numbered tents to yours - they’re spaced far enough apart to feel private. We stayed in number 13, the very last tent, closest to the rock pool. The tents are fully equipped for a comfortable self-catering stay: a kitchen with gas stove, fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, cookware, crockery and cutlery, plus dish soap, a kitchen towel and a sponge (you clean up as you go). There’s a dining area and a lounge with a sofa, coffee table and an indoor fireplace, which earns its keep on cold Karoo nights.

Each tent has two bedrooms - both with extra-length queen beds, clean linen and electric blankets - and the second bedroom adds a single bunk above the queen, so the tent sleeps up to five. There’s ample storage, air conditioning, and a spacious bathroom with a hot shower, toilet and basin. Towels are provided; bring your own toiletries.

The deck & hot tub

Each deck has a picnic table, two comfy deck chairs, a built-in braai and the star of the show - a private outdoor wood-fired hot tub. Weather permitting, AfriCamps can preheat it before you arrive for a small extra charge; just arrange it ahead of time. Otherwise allow two to three hours, and lean on the AfriCamps guide for step-by-step heating instructions. We spent a late afternoon lazing in the tub, roasting marshmallows and watching the Karoo sun drop behind the rock faces - hard to beat.

A private hot tub, marshmallows over the coals, and the Karoo sky turning pink. This is the bit you book it for.

Food & baskets

For dinner we went with one of their braai baskets - meat, sides, bread, a salad dressing and marinade, and even marshmallows (vegetarian options on request). The next morning our cook-your-own breakfast basket arrived with bacon and eggs, bread and pastries, muesli, yoghurt and fruit, coffee and juice - a proper start to the day. We also ate at the Karoo 1 restaurant near reception, which does local Karoo favourites; the chef happily tailored a pizza for us, and the Karoo lamb chops is always a winner. The restaurant serves dinner from 6 to 9:30pm, with a bar inside for a Bootlegger coffee or a sundowner.

Activities

There’s a lot on offer, and most of it is optional and bookable at reception. We tried archery (suitable for any skill level), airsoft pellet-gun shooting, and a guided quad-biking experience with 30- or 60-minute options - kids under 13 ride for half price. The quad ride was the highlight; our guide even spotted a wildebeest and stopped so we could watch it. Between rides we cooled off at the rock pool, which has shaded seating and spectacular views of the surrounding rock faces, or you can simply relax at the Karoo 1 Hotel pool. Segway rides, rock climbing, an outdoor cinema, a kids’ play area, guided yoga and evenings at the boma fire pit round things out - and you can even arrange a Big 5 safari at nearby Aquila Private Game Reserve.

Hikes & Fossil Koppie

On our second morning we woke early for one of the farm’s three trails - a 13 km blue route, a 10 km orange route, and a 4.5 km green route - all great ways to take in the Karoo’s fauna and flora (they double as mountain-biking routes from easy to technical). Afterwards, one of the Karoo 1 team members took us up to Fossil Koppie, a protected archaeological site where fossilised seashells sit embedded in 200-million-year-old rock, from when the Karoo was the bed of a prehistoric ocean. The staff were super friendly and accommodating throughout, and we left already planning a return trip.

Archery after breakfast, quad biking by mid-morning, a swim at the rock pool, then lamb chops for supper at the hotel. AfriCamps packs a lot into two nights.

For another family-friendly glamping stay, read our Absolutely Wild review on Route 62, or Wolfkop Grootfontein for hot-tub villas in the Cederberg.