5 South African Campsites to Visit in a Suzuki Jimny 5 Door 4x4 Camper

The hype around the Suzuki Jimny is real. This boxy, compact 4×4 has taken South Africa by storm, swapping city streets for gravel trails at the twist of a dial thanks to its incredible off-road capabilities. It’s no surprise, then, that this unique SUV is in high demand for camping enthusiasts.

Here at Drive South Africa, we’re thrilled to announce the addition of the Suzuki Jimny 5 Door Camping Equipped 4×4 to our 4×4 fleet. Make no mistake – it might be small, but this 4×4 camper is certainly mighty, packing everything you need for an off-grid bush getaway.

Let’s look at five top South African camping destinations to visit with this mighty mini, from national parks to coastal escapes. Read on to learn more about them – and to learn all about our Suzuki Jimny 5 door camper.

Meet the Suzuki Jimny 5 Door Camping Equipped 4×4

In 2023, Suzuki South Africa gave locals exactly what we’ve been waiting for: a four-door Suzuki Jimny. Since its initial launch back in 2018, the fourth generation Jimny has captured the hearts of overlanders and city slickers alike with its boxy styling and reasonable pricing.

In fact, it’s a huge improvement on its predecessor. Yes, it’s not exactly spacious inside, but the four-door model adds enough length to ensure you can transport four to five people without compromising on boot space.

Our camping equipped Jimny uses this to its advantage, swapping those extra seats for a tonne of camping gear. This includes:

• A dual battery system
• A roof top tent
• A 270° shade awning
• A 45 l fridge/freezer
• A full off-road recovery kit

Plus, you get bedding, crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, and camping furniture. Essentially, it’s everything you need for a lengthy camping trip in South Africa!

The current and older generation Suzuki Jimny in one frame. Photo Source: Micky Baker

5 Campsites Ideal for the Suzuki Jimny

Now that you’ve found the ideal vehicle, let’s take a look at five campsites where you can enjoy South Africa’s wilderness at its best.

Driving through the Richtersveld. Photo Source: Micky Baker

De Hoop Campsite, Richtersveld National Park, Northern Cape

The Richtersveld is an extreme corner of South Africa. This transfrontier park stretches from the northwest of the country across the border into Namibia, forming an arid, rocky region that looks totally barren. However, the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site is home to thousands of plant species, making it the only arid biodiversity hotspot in the world.

UNESCO has also recognised the cultural significance of the local Nama people and their transhumant (migrational) lifestyle. The Orange River forms the border between South Africa and Namibia, and it’s here where you can truly kick back and enjoy the best campsite in the Richtersveld.

De Hoop Campsite lies on the banks of the Orange River, offering visitors a freshwater escape from the searing desert heat. With a little shade, a fishing rod, and a good book, De Hoop transforms into an oasis – complete with ablution facilities. 

You’ll need to navigate some sandy, gravelly roads to get here, so the Jimny will need all its 4×4 prowess. With its 1.5 l petrol engine and automatic gearbox, it should conquer the Richtersveld with no fuss at all.

A fisherman walks along the beach at Dwesa Nature Reserve. Photo Source: Micky Baker

Dwesa Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape

South Africans often overlook the Eastern Cape as a camping trip destination. However, this vast province spans snow-capped mountains, rolling hills, and stunning beaches, so you’re really spoiled for choice. Take Dwesa Nature Reserve, for example. It’s about halfway between East London and Port St Johns, but it’s not easy to get to. You’ll need to navigate rural roads between tiny villages along the Wild Coast, but it’s worth the effort.

Once you arrive at Dwesa Nature Reserve, you’re greeted by the quintessential Wild Coast scene: lush, dense subtropical forests that push right up against the rugged coastline. Put simply, the views are spectacular. In fact, it’s home to more than 290 species of bird, antelope like red hartebeest and wildebeest, and even buffalo and crocodiles. 

The campsite is quite basic, but you’re guaranteed green grass and plenty of shade – with ablutions facilities, of course. You’ll need to hike to get around the reserve, but you can also tackle several short 4×4 trails in the Jimny 5 door camper.

Two elephants face off near Maroela Satellite Camp. Photo Source: Micky Baker

Maroela Satellite Camp, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga

Believe it or not, you can have an in-and-out experience at Kruger National Park. Maroela Satellite Camp lies just beyond the Orpen Gate near Acornhoek in Mpumalanga and it’s around six hours from Johannesburg. It might be a long drive, but it’s ideal for a three-night trip into the bush.

Maroela is special for several reasons. Firstly, the Orpen area is home to a resident African wild dog pack. The Orpen Rest Camp is nearby, offering a shop, swimming pool, and easy access to other areas of the park like Satara and Olifants. That means you’ll be able to spend all day on game drives in your Jimny 5 door camper.

There’s also a honey badger who roams the Maroela campsite looking for scraps – and trouble. In fact, the camp manager will tell you that this tiny terror is fully capable of tipping over the full-sized fridge in the communal kitchen!

It’s a fenced camp, but you can literally pitch just centimetres from the electrified barrier. This means that it’s easy to spot wildlife right from the comfort of your own camping chair. Sadly, selfish and ignorant visitors often feed wildlife through the fence. As a result, Maroela attracts several opportunistic hyenas that patrol the perimeter like clockwork.

For more responsible campers, it’s an exhilarating experience. Please don’t feed the animals – it causes them to associate humans with food, and this is how attacks happen. Ultimately, if someone does get bitten, it’s the hyena that will end up paying the ultimate price.

The Marico Oog pool in the North West province. Photo Source: Micky Baker

Marico Oog, North West

South Africa is blessed with a long coastline and plenty of world-class scuba diving sites. But what if we told you that one of them is found inland, thousands of kilometres from the ocean? Welcome to Marico Oog (“eye” in Afrikaans), a 17 m deep freshwater pool in the North West, just two hours from Johannesburg.

Over countless years, a freshwater spring has formed the eye-shaped pool in the middle of the bushveld, creating a precious water source in an otherwise arid region. The water becomes the Marico River, which forms part of the border between South Africa and Botswana and eventually joins the mighty Limpopo River.

Marico Oog is private property, but the owners have transformed the surrounding farmland into an excellent campsite. Naturally, it attracts scuba diving enthusiasts from around the country – but only those in the know. From above, the pool looks like any old farm pond, filled with reeds and water lilies. However, once you take the plunge, you’ll discover a completely different world. Down here, the water is crystal clear and filled with a jungle of aquatic plants and several species of fish, including the enigmatic freshwater eel.

If you don’t want to go that deep, you can simply float around the pool in an inner tube or soak up the sun on the deck. At the end of the day, your fully-equipped Jimny camper will be waiting for you back at camp.

The mountain landscape around Injisuthi. Photo Source: Micky Baker

Injisuthi Camp, Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal

It’s difficult to choose one campsite in the Drakensberg, but Injisuthi offers an all-encompassing experience, especially for first-time visitors to the region. This part of the mountain range includes Injisuthi Dome, one of the tallest peaks in South Africa at 3,379 m above sea level. Two streams straddle the camp, which also features spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. 

The campsite itself is simple, featuring shared ablutions and running water. From here, you can hike up into the Drakensberg along several well-marked trails. A couple of routes take you to fascinating caves where you can see ancient rock art and learn about the indigenous peoples who once called the area home.

It’s also worth hopping in the Jimny 5 door camper and exploring more of the Drakensberg. Nearby attractions include Champagne Castle, the Drakensberg Sun Resort, and Cathedral Peak.

Everything you need in one place.

South Africa is a camping wonderland and the Suzuki Jimny 5 door 4×4 camper is the perfect vehicle to explore it in. If you’re planning an adventure for two, this mighty little SUV should be top of your list of 4×4 rental options. 

If you want to explore the Richtersveld, the Wild Coast, Kruger National Park, Marico Oog, or the Drakensberg, speak to one of our expert consultants to secure your 4×4 booking today. See you around the campfire!