Birds are chirping, the weather is warming up and we are gearing up for holiday season! A camping or caravan holiday is a great choice for many reasons – affordability, getting close to nature, and bringing the family closer together (in more ways than one). We have got some fantastic campsites in the province – some just down the road from us. Salt Rock Caravan Park Set right on the beach, enjoy a fantastic view of the Indian Ocean while you relax at your campsite. There are also some sites further back under the trees for longer stays. Enjoy direct access to the beach and tidal pool, mere metres away. You also have access to the Salt Rock Hotel, with its lovely restaurant overlooking the sea. Contact: 032 525 5025

Dolphin Holiday Resort This picturesque caravan park is in a prime location just back from Ballito’s main beach, Willard Beach. The resort is set in a lush coastal forest, with big trees and great facilities, including a swimming pool, trampolines and jungle gym. Relax in the shade with twice daily cream scones and tea served to guests. With over 100 electrified sites they offer a wide variety of sites, allowing all makes of caravans, tents and motor homes, with a choice from full grass to full shaded sites and even some with TV points. Contact: 032 946 2187

Hlalanathi Berg Resort For an escape into the Drakensberg, you can’t do better than Hlalanathi. The resort boasts spacious, grassed caravan stands overlooking the Tugela River and Amphitheatre. Facilities include a water slide and rock pool, bike and scooter tracks, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course. Contact: 036 438 6308

Mac Nicol’s Caravan Park – Bazley Beach Less than 100kms from Durban, the resort is 90 metres from miles of unspoilt beach, on the banks of the Ifafa Lagoon, on the South Coast. There are two swimming pools, including one that stays heated in cooler months. In peak season they have a full entertainment programme to keep you busy, though there is still plenty to do out of season. Kids are provided for too, with trampolines, a jungle gym, the Bazley Trails and canoeing on the lagoon. Contact: 073 153 0818

Lalanathi Caravan & Camping Park, Port Shepstone Lalanathi offers 45 well-spaced, level, grassed and shaded sites, all electrified with water close by, within a fully fenced and secure area. Enjoy magnificent scenery, great fishing and beautiful beach walks on the unspoilt beach. There’s also a swimming pool, trampoline, kiddies’ play area, pool and darts. Contact: 039 684 5372

River Valley Resort & Caravan Park This caravan park in Pennington offers 25 grassed shady caravan camp sites. It’s a family oriented resort with plenty of entertainment for the whole family, including a swimming pool, a games room and a children’s playground. Nearby beaches include Kelso, Pennington, Nkomba and Scottburgh beach. Contact: 039 975 1805

Richards Bay Caravan Park With a gorgeous subtropical setting, caravan or camping sites are generous in size, level, grassed and shaded with electrical power points and on-site braais. There’s plenty to do in the area, including public beaches, golf, tennis, game viewing and nature trails. Contact: 035 753 1971

Villa Spa Holiday Resort Villa Spa in Illovo Beach is a veritable gem on KZN’s Sapphire Coast. Grassed and shady sites are available for caravans, campervans, motorhomes and tents, equipped with all modern conveniences. Some facilities you can enjoy are a sauna, trampolines, kids’ playground, and a stunning pool which is heated in winter. Contact: 031 916 4939 Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.  

To find accommodation in KwaZulu-Natal, visit Afristay.com