South Africa is a bucket list destination for many and it’s not hard to see why!
Famous for its spectacular landscapes, diversity of wildlife, and incredible culture, I can guarantee that you’ll fall in love with this place.
For the best experience, I’d recommend exploring South Africa in a motorhome as this gives you complete flexibility over your itinerary. You’ll also save money on accommodation and get to stay in some truly wild campsites!
When it comes to camper hire in South Africa the process can be quite overwhelming as there are so many options to choose from.
Luckily, we’ve created this guide to the best campervan and RV rentals in South Africa…
Finding the best campervans in South Africa isn’t an easy task as there are so many hire companies to choose from.
To make your search easier, we’d recommend using GoSee Travel.
GoSee is a comparison website that will show you the best RV rental deals in South Africa. It’s super easy to use and offers a quick way to find vehicle availability and compare prices.
Here are some reasons to book with GoSee:
For more info, read our in-depth review of GoSee Travel (Motorhome Republic).
Britz have long been a top choice for campervan rentals in the USA, Australia & elsewhere around the world.
The same goes here for South Afrca, where they offer a huge variety of pick-up and drop-off locations. This allows you complete flexibility when it comes to planning your itinerary!b
You can also travel to Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, and Namibia without restrictions!
There are a few other countries that are partially restricted with Britz, but you can check with them when you book your rental.
Britz has six equipped 4x4 campers available to hire as well as five other cars/4x4s. Their campers sleep between 2-4 people so are a great option for couples or small families.
The majority of their vehicles feature a rooftop tent but you have got the Toyota Navi which is fully equipped.
The Toyota Navi and the Toyota Landcruiser are the two most luxurious options as they both feature a toilet and fridge. The Navi also has a gas cooker top!
Caprivi is a fantastic option if you’re looking to road trip through South Africa. The company has been around since 1996 so they know what they’re doing when it comes to great rentals.
Their all-terrain vehicles are the perfect way to explore the country, and you’ll have plenty included with your rental.
With 24-hour breakdown service, transport to and from Windhoek airport, two spare tires, and a double battery system - you’re in good hands!
Not only that, but Caprivi has to be one of the cheapest rental options in South Africa so what are you waiting for?
Caprivi offers two types of rental, but both are the Toyota Hilux. One features a roof tent and camping equipment, whereas the other is simply a car rental.
This 4WD vehicle will allow you to traverse South Africa's challenging terrain easily, and it sleeps 2-4 people (if you opt for the camping option).
Avis Safari South Africa is another great option for camper hire, especially if you’re looking to experience the country’s wilderness.
Run by Avis (one of the leading car hire companies) you know you’re in good hands and they offer some of the latest vehicle models.
Another great reason to book with this company is that their vehicles are allowed in a variety of countries including Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
There are six different types of 4x4 rentals available with Avis Safari South Africa. This includes Ford Ranger luxury safari campers and overlanders, and Toyota land cruisers.
Some of the vehicles aren’t suitable for camping whereas others sleep up to five people with a pop-up setup. Just make sure you check in advance which vehicle is most suited to your needs.
No matter which one you choose, your vehicle will be equipped with a variety of safety measures including traction control.
Bobo Campers is the best option if you’re looking for motorhome rentals in South Africa! They’re one of the most experienced companies in the country and have been around since 1991.
They offer the largest motorhome and camper fleet in South Africa, and all of their vehicles are a great option for those on a budget.
Bobo Campers also allow one-way transfers (at a cost) and they offer some great deals on long-term rentals. If you have your rental for over 8 days, you can also opt to pay a bit extra for unlimited kilometers!
From large motorhomes to 4x4 campers, this company has something for everyone!
In total, there are three models to choose from; two large discoverer motorhomes and the Discoverer FunX 4x4. The latter option is naturally the best one to choose if you’re planning to explore the country’s wilderness.
Sleeping between 2-6 people they’re perfect for either couples or families.
When it comes to campervan hire in Cape Town, Happy Campers is one of the best options!
Not only are their campers extremely cost-effective but they’re a great option for those who’d prefer to drive a small vehicle. Happy Campers is also an eco-friendly company and their rental package is pretty awesome!
Included with every rental are 500 km per day, a Collision Damage waiver, VAT tax, bedding, and cooking supplies. They also allow you to hire a vehicle at the age of 21.
Happy Campers has five types of campervan available to hire, sleeping between 2-5 people.
Their smallest vehicle (and most budget-friendly) is the Happy 1 which sleeps two people. The largest camper is Happy 3 EX which sleeps 5.
They’re also a great opinion if you’re looking for 4x4 camper rentals in South Africa, as two of their vehicles have off-road capabilities.
Also available in Australia and New Zealand, Maui Motorhomes is one of the best options when it comes to motorhome rentals in South Africa.
All of their vehicles are designed with space in mind, and the large motorhomes are fully-equipped so you’ll have everything you need for the road.
Not only can you travel within South Africa, but you’re also permitted to travel to Lesotho, Swaziland, and Namibia (the latter requires an extra charge).
Depending on the pick-up location, you might also benefit from free airport transfers.
There are five vehicles available to rent with Maui Motorhomes; two are spacious motorhomes, one’s a large campervan, and the other two are 4x4 campers.
Their largest vehicle MAUI M6B sleeps six, while their 4x4 campers sleep two people making them perfect for adventurous couples.
If you’re looking for cheap campervans in South Africa then I highly recommend checking out Lekker Camper.
You can hire some of their campers for as little as $79 and they’ll all be fully equipped with a built-in fitted kitchen, a fridge, bedding, and a variety of other camper equipment.
Free airport delivery, free standard cover, 24/7 roadside assistance, and 200 km per day are all included with the rental package too.
Lekker Camper has six vehicles available and they’re all small vehicles sleeping between 2-4 people. The higher berth campervans will feature a roof tent.
Their cheapest camper is the VW T3 campervan and their most expensive is a VW T5 campervan that sleeps four people.
Each camper comes with plenty of amenities but you’ve also got the option of paying extra for solar panels. This way, you’ll have easy access to electricity while parked up.
Wicked Africa offers some of the cheapest campervans around and they have extensive knowledge of the country and rentals! This means they’ll have plenty of road trip ideas for you.
One of the best things about hiring a campervan with Wicked Africa is your flexibility. They allow you to travel to six other African countries aside from South Africa.
This includes Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. This way, you can create the ultimate itinerary for a road trip!
Wicked Africa has two types of campervans available to hire. Both of them sleep two people, with one featuring a rooftop tent.
One of the vehicles is a traditional campervan while the other is a 4x4 offroad vehicle. Both are automatic transmissions and are right-hand drives.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll benefit from plenty of amenities including cooking utilities, a kitchenette, and a gas cooker.
Next up we have Ideal Travel which specializes in affordable motorhome rentals and 4x4 campervans.
They are a leading rental agency in South Africa so you’ll have plenty of vehicles to choose from. They’ll bring together options for rentals in the country and this way, you can see what’s on offer.
Although we still recommend using GoSee for this type of thing, you can always look through Ideal Travel and see what’s on offer.
Honestly, the variety of vehicles that Ideal Travel offers is outstanding! Here, you’ll have the choice of five motorhomes that sleep between 2-6 people. However, that’s not all…
This company offers the widest range of 4x4 campers in the country with 19 vehicles available to hire! These off-roaders sleep between 2-4 people so there’s an option for everyone.
If you’re looking for South Africa campervan rentals then check out Bushtrackers. Their vehicles have been specifically modified to ensure that they can cope with the tricky terrain found here.
Not only can they help you plan the perfect road trip but their vehicles have nationwide coverage when it comes to services, so you don’t need to worry about anything going wrong with your camper!
You’ll also be allowed to travel to a variety of countries aside from South Africa including Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
There are four different 4x4 campers available to hire with Bushtrackers, with three of them being kitted out as safari campers.
You’ll want to hire the ‘double cab’ vehicles as they’re the ones that offer camping arrangements in the form of a rooftop tent.
No matter which one of these you choose, you’ll benefit from a dual-battery system, a heavy-duty roof rack, air conditioning, and a safari canopy with side-opening areas.
Campervan hire prices in South Africa will differ depending on the class of RV you choose, the company you go with, and the time of year you travel.
Typically, you can expect to pay between $65-105 USD per day for a small campervan and between $115-160 for a large RV/motorhome.
Generally, you’ll need to be at least 21 to hire a camper in South Africa but some companies won’t hire to you unless you’re 25 or over.
Keep in mind that you’re likely to pay a young driver surcharge fee if you’re under 25, and the selection of vehicles may be more limited.
To rent a camper in South Africa you’ll need to have an international driving license with you, as well as your standard driving license.
You will need to present both of these and they have to be the official documents. Companies won’t accept photocopies or licenses that haven’t been translated.
Generally, no! Wild camping isn’t really tolerated in South Africa and there are plenty of areas where you can’t camp in the country.
To be honest, it’s always best to stay in an official campsite anyway to avoid unwanted attention from animals and people alike (unfortunately, South Africa has a very high crime rate).
Now you’re aware of the best rental companies in South Africa, it's time to start planning your trip!
There are three large cities in South Africa; Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, with the two latter options being the most popular starting point for a road trip.
For nature lovers, you’ll want to hit up some of the popular reserves including Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, and Pilanesberg National Park. When it comes to marine life such as sharks and whales, then head to Gansbaai.
Other popular spots to visit in South Africa (aside from the cities) include the Drakensberg Region, the Cape Peninsula, the Blyde River Canyon, and some of the country's wine regions.
Other guides you may find useful:
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