South African Offroad Caravan Blog with Campsite Ratings and Tips: Lake Eland

For our second trip in the Commander, we joined friends at Lake Eland for a long weekend away. We had one off-road caravan, one on-road caravan and two tents.

The thing I remember most about this trip was the bone-chilling, mind-numbing, teeth-chattering cold! It was freezing! Thank goodness I'm a pack rat and there, in amongst the pile of ''definitely not going to be needed but bringing it anyway' items, was a small heater fan. If you ever go to Lake Eland in the winter months...you really need one of these!

Upsides:

The park is about 30mins from Port Shepstone so not too far
There are a few wild animals such as Giraffe, Wildebeest and buck that make you feel like you are in a game reserve
There is a well stocked shop
The campsites are large
There is a privi fence between sites at the top dam
Each site has a shaded area
The sides all face onto the dam
Fishing in the dams
The ablutions are clean
The showers are hot
The communal washing up area is spacious, clean and the sinks have plugs
There is a kids jungle Jim near the shop
Plenty to see and do between fishing, game drives, the suspension bridge across the gorge, scooter tours and ziplining

Downsides

No counter to put clothes on in bathroom and the floor gets really wet. There is a small shelf and a few hooks for towels.
No mats on the floor to give you somewhere dry to stand while dressing
The basin to brush your teeth is in another room
The check-in process is quite stern and you need to take proof of payment along with you as they only pull a statement on specific days. It's never nice to start your holiday trying to prove you paid.
It is not a cheap holiday with the various activities the kids will want to take part in.
Small circular braai
The ground is rock hard and smashing tent pegs in is not easy

Tips:

If you are camping in winter you need really good sleeping bags/feather duvets and a heater fan
Take a portable boma fire with you in winter so you can enjoy the evening outside
Take a mallet and strong tent pegs
Don't leave anything outside at night, the dew is crazy in winter and everything gets wet
Print your proof of payment and have it ready
Budget for Ziplining - it is so much fun
Visit the restaurant at Leopard Rock to take in the view and watch the Hornbills eating french fries
Take groundsheets - in winter the grass is dry and lands up all over the tent or caravan floor.
The campsites at the lower dam look amazing but small - I don't think we would have managed to get the Commander onto the site.
Take bicycles and running/walking shoes - it is an active person's dream location and kids will love riding bikes to the shop.
Take a scorpion torch for night time. We managed to find one and it's amazing for the kids to see.