KZN CAMPING TRIP 2026 : MAHAI CAMPSITE, ROYAL NATAL NP

Saturday 16 May and Sunday 17 May

We spent the last 2 nights of our trip at Mahai Campsite in the Northern Drakensberg. A great, well maintained campsite with stunning views.

The only thing to put me off- the very cold nights!

Thanks to Hanlie and Andrew, also Tommy and Mandy for a great month on the road. 

Feeling a bit nostalgic packing the caravan up for another year.

KZN CAMPING TRIP 2026 : COBHAM NATURE RESERVE, SOUTHERN DRAKENSBERG

Wednesday 13th to Friday 15th May

An easy drive from Pmb to Underberg and a quick stop to shop. Good coffee and toasted sandwich take-aways too. We have the whole campsite at Cobham ( KZN Ezemvelo again) to ourselves; what a pleasure is that?

We do have to share with a few horses and a zebra that thinks he's a horse.

Sadly the ablutions are not that well maintained but we can cope. The Drakensberg is cold and it's my own fault for not packing enough warm clothes. I find winter layers so uncomfortable! I'm just not a cold weather person. The Drakensberg is also amazingly beautiful- even to me who is not a mountain person.

Sitting around the fire under cold, starry skies has it's moments but having heating in the caravan is a bonus. There's no power hook up here but we can use our solar inverter. Doing the prep for dinner before dark helps but that means eating early.

Even after lots of drinks and card games in the caravan, bedtime is 8pm!

I'm not liking spending 12 hours in bed waiting for the sun in the morning but the others don't seem to mind.

We spent a bit of time in Himeville on Friday for a museum visit and connectivity.

KZN CAMPING TRIP 2026 : CUMBERLAND NATURE RESERVE

Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th May

Cumberland is a wild camping spot not far from Pietermaritzburg. It was to be our 2 days downtime.

Oh, I have so much admin and planning to do...Connectivity was dodgy but I did manage to get some work done.. and it's a beautiful place to relax.

I did cook a bit - prepping for a few meals down the line...night tempretures are dropping- not sure how I'll cope in the Drakensburg...I am NOT a winter wonder; not at all!!

KZN CAMPING TRIP 2026 : ZINKWAZI BEACH

Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 May

We camped 3 nights at Zinkwazi Lodge. It's great, particularily because it's so quiet - low season is here. 

Thursday afternoon we chilled and Neil and I cooked a great Massaman lamb shank curry. The evening was quite balmy but in the early hours of the morning the rain really came down. What's with the weather? Such late rains everywhere? Friday was a beach exploration day..Zinkwazi, Salt Rock and Sheffield.

We had a slow and lazy lunch at Mfino, one of our most beloved spots. Thank you, Eugene for your awesome food.

Saturday was slow too but we did have a fun time watching rugby at the Ski Boat Club on the beach.

Some days you do just need a few hours to catch up on admin, planning and blogs.