SCOTTBURGH CARAVAN PARK
January 2023
Scottburgh Caravan Park is one of the oldest caravan parks in Kwa-Zulu Natal and continue to get good reviews on social media. Bookings can be done online or over the phone. Staff are friendly and very helpful. Like other parks once you make payment you receive your confirmation letter together with the rules and regulations for the park.
Traveling from Johannesburg down to the South Coast is for most part a good experience. The N3 South is in a good condition with some roadworks here and there. Scottburgh is about 630 kilometres from Johannesburg, if you stop regularly travel time is around 8 hours. The road offers beautiful scenery so take your time when driving down to the coast. Expect to spend around R300 per vehicle, one way, on tollgate fees.
If possible, include in your itinerary a stop at Llandaff Oratory or better known as the little Church at the top of Van Reenen's pass. The stop is midway between Johannesburg and the coast and the ideal place to stop for lunch. Adjacent to the church is a shop with restaurant; the owners serve the most delicious meals. For those that still believe in packing “pad kos”, there is also a small picnic site under the trees.
As you travel along the N3 remember to keep your eyes open for the N2 North and South Offramp (Port Shepstone) approximately 30 kilometers after passing through Mariannhill tollgate. One can easily miss this offramp especially during peak hours and after a long drive. Take the N2 South and soon you will arrive in the quaint little town of Scottburgh. There are plenty of shops and a large mall where you can stock before you unpack for camping.
Getting to the entrance of Scottburgh Caravan Park you must drive through the parking lot of the main beachfront. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon, reception was closed, but there were staff at the gate that assisted us. My suggestion is that if you have never camped at Scottburgh to take time and look at the satellite photos on google maps, there you will get a very good indication of the position of your stand; whether it is near the beach or covered with trees.
The caravan park offers 260 stands spaced out on several terraces against a hill. Except for a few stands towards the end of the park most stands have a good sea view. The stands are large, level, unpaved and comes with a shared water tap. There is enough space between you and your neighbour not to feel crowded. All stands have electricity with a three-point outlet. There is also a wastebin at each stand. The bins are cleaned every morning. There are no braai facilities so make sure that you pack your own braaier.
We stood on stand number 22. This stand has no shade and is right in front only a few metres away from the beach. Considering that it can get windy and hot in the summer when camping on the doorstep of the beach most people may prefer to pitch their tents towards the back of the campsite. We did not make use of storm nets and found the Tentco Senior Safari Bow tents, if well anchored, to be quite wind resistant.
As far as ablutions are concerned the ablutions are old but clean, and well looked after. Shower cubicles are big enough and private with small benches to put your clothing. There are also hooks to hang towels. Mens' and womens' bathrooms are separate with good water pressure and the water is nice and hot. The sculleries are situated in the same vicinity of the ablutions sometimes part of the building or housed in separate buildings.
There are no antelope inside the park, but there are some free roaming cats. However we did spot a monkey trying his luck at one of the caravans. It was quickly chased away by the neighbour's small dogs. The resort allows small dogs. There were lots of campers with their pet friends. Signs at the entrance of the resort ask residents not to feed the cats and the monkeys. If you leave your stand unattended request the neighbours to keep an eye and lock your food away.
The park has a small shop and restaurant overlooking the beach where they serve light meals. The caravan park has its own stretch of mostly rocky beach with several pools to cool down. Take an early morning walk on the beach and end the morning with a breakfast at the shop.
If you are looking for a swimming beach, then make use of the main beach at Scottburgh. This beach is probably one of the longest stretches of pristine beach in Kwa-Zulu Natal and is walking distance from the campsite. The beach continues as far as the eye can see and it is truly magnificent. The picnic and pool areas around the main beachfront are crowded over weekends and sadly extremely dirty. During the week these areas are clean and well-kept.
There are two restaurants at the building by the main beach where you can have lunch, dinner or a beer whilst overlooking the Scottburgh Bay area. On the Friday we had lunch at the John Dory’s; the food was tasteful and the service good. There is also a few small shops where you can purchase some beach accessories, ice cream, or enjoy an early morning coffee.
The weather was typical coastal weather. The first two days were hot with a heatwave passing through most of the country. With a light sea breeze blowing one could still easily take an afternoon nap next to the beach. The Senior Bow Tent is remarkably cool inside if there is a soft breeze blowing. Wednesday was a rainy and windy day at the campsite, so we decided to travel further down the coast visiting Margate and a few other small towns.
Since my last visit a few years ago most of these towns were dirty and looked like forgotten graveyards. It was certainly not the case this time around. Margate is vibrant, clean and reminds one of the eighties and early nineties when everyone flocked to the South Coast for vacation. Unlike the North Coast there are still vast undeveloped areas and nature alongside the South Coast is lush, green, and beautiful.
On our way back to Scottburgh we stopped for a brunch in Ramsgate at Chefs On Marine. The breakfasts are not your traditional breakfast, but the food was tasty, and service well. The rest fo the week we mostly spent at the park and at the pool areas at the main beach.
Scottburgh Caravan Park provides for a wonderful camping experience on the South Coast. There are lots of great stands that you can choose from, it is close to shops and restaurants and the main beach is beautiful.
It was my first-time camping by the sea, and it was a wonderful experience considering that I prefer more secluded areas away from large crowds. If you have not been to the South Coast in a long time and are used to camping up North, pay Scottburgh and surrounding towns a visit. You may just be pleasantly surprised.
What to expect: Secure camping on the beach.
Website: www.scottburghcaravanpark.co.za
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