Extraordinary Africa>South Africa>Eastern Cape>Amakhala Woodbury Tented Camp
While South Africa’s well known for swanky safari lodges, sometimes our guests are looking for the more rustic and authentic tented camps and Amakhala Woodbury Tented is one of our favourites.
What’s Amakhala Woodbury Tented Camp Really Like?
Set in the Amakhala Game Reserve, Woodbury Tented Camp has just ten tents, all perched up on wooden decks. They’re fairly simple as luxury tents go (we’d call them around 3*, though it’s hard to apply such standard categories to a tent), but they’ll be a serious treat for anyone who’s used to more basic camping. The tents are all en suite, with twin or double beds, and there’s even a family tent, where two tents are set up on the same deck (please note that both tents share the bathroom in the double room so this is not an ideal solution for two couples).
Woodbury Tented is fenced, but the fence comes fairly tight in to camp so the animals do really get quite close- we particularly loved that you can even do a bit of wildlife spotting from one of the two swimming pools. There is none of the starchy formality of city hotels here- the atmosphere is firmly laid back. The bar is help yourself, meals are generally fun and communal, and twice a week Woodbury Tented will throw a traditional South African braai.
What can I do at Amkhala Woodbury Camp Lodge?
For any safari, the great highlight is seeing the animals, and the best way to do this is on the morning and afternoon game drives from Woodbury. Amakhala is a big reserve, so it’s worth knowing that the animals don’t appear on demand- half of the excitement is hunting with your guide for Amakhala’s huge array of wildlife. For an extra fee it’s also possible to do bush walks and night drives to see some of the more nocturnal animals and riding safaris are another optional extra, though because this is in an area with plenty of wildlife, we’d recommend this for intermediate-experienced riders only.
Giving back at Amakhala Woodbury Camp Lodge:
As part of your stay, a conservation levy goes to help protect Amakhala’s rhinos, which are at serious risk of poaching. Part of this is immediate preservation of the rhino, but funds also go towards conservation education for children in local communities. Guests can also visit the Craft Centre on Amakhala to help support the local community by buying treasures to bring home- a joy for both guests and the makers who receive an income from this.
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