Kyleu Bush Camp: Why you need to consider camping at this spot on your next weekend breakaway
Hubby and I love the outdoors and enjoy 4x4ing and overlanding. With over ten years of camping experience, we are usually well kitted out and mostly self-sufficient. With the sale of our offroad trailer in February 2022, we'd been investigating the available alternatives to meet our camping needs. Eventually shortlisting our favourites, we decided to rent a Bushlapa Miskruier for a weekend to test it out. Since this caravan is built for rougher camping, it made sense for us to try it out in an environment that required one to be largely self-sufficient.
In typical Scholtz fashion, our caravan rental was an impromptu affair (you can probably blame me for that). This meant that we had limited time available and necessitated we find a campsite relatively close to Gauteng.
Approximately a 45-minute drive from where we live in Gauteng, Kyleu is located in the Dinokeng Game Reserve. From the Tau Gate, it's a short 7 kilometre drive, with a small stretch of gravel road before you reach the campsite gate. Kyleu offers 'wild' camping and required a level of self-sufficiency - presenting the perfect solution for what we wanted to achieve. Here's a summary of our thoughts:
|
Overall
Impression |
4/5 |
|
Location |
5/5 |
|
Accessibility |
5/5 |
|
Booking
& check-in |
5/5 |
|
Check-out |
5/5 |
|
Campsite |
4/5 |
|
Ablution/facilities |
4/5 |
|
On-site
activities * |
3/5 |
How to book
To make a booking you need to submit an inquiry via the website. Sherri responded promptly to my booking request and issued an invoice. There are no credit card facilities on site, so I paid via EFT.
Dinokeng conservation fees must be paid separately, and, if you want to explore the self-drive routes within the reserve you need a permit. You can arrange conservation fees and self-drive permits online (see links provided below). I usually print our conservation tickets before we leave home as it makes access at the Dinokeng gate a lot quicker.
Once you've entered the Tau Gate watch out for plenty of traffic humps. These are to slow traffic down as a measure to protect the wildlife you may spot along the roadside.
 |
| Slow down... Zebra crossing... |
Shopping and supplies
When we arrived at Kyleu, Peter welcomed us at the gate and efficiently dealt with the check-in process. He also explained the layout of the camp and offered guidance on activities and facilities within the area.
Since we'd thrown our camping expedition together at the last minute, we hadn't had time to shop for supplies or wood beforehand. The Safari Mall is four kilometres from Kyleu and boasts a small grocery shop, butchery, gas station, and liquor store.
 |
| Stocking up at Safari Mall |
We always take wood along when we camp, but Kyleu provides each site with one free bag per day which we thought was a lovely gesture. It's not a big bag, and probably won't last the whole night, but you can buy more wood as well as ice from Kyleu. Other basic supplies can be sourced from the Safari Mall.
The campsites
Kyleu has 10 unfenced stands and 5 fenced stands each with a private ablution. The ablutions offer a flushing toilet, a shower, and hot and cold running water. These stands have no electricity, but there are braai facilities as well as a braai grid.
 |
| Campfire & bushveld. What more can one ask for? |
We stayed on one of the fenced campsites and found the ablution spotless. We loved the quirky upcycled sink and basin. There is also a dustbin on the site which was quite handy - you don't have to carry your rubbish out
We experienced the stand we were on to be spacious, fairly level, and suitable for larger groups of up to eight people. There wasn't much shade where we parked so we were glad to have an awning. The site also didn't have much grass so it's perhaps advisable to take a groundsheet along if staying for a while.
There are another five self-sufficient stands, but to camp here you will need to take everything with you. These sites have no facilities, braai, water, or electricity. You can rent a porta-potty at R100 per day if required.
The stands are well spaced out, and we really enjoyed the privacy and unfettered views of the bushveld. The fact that Dinokeng is home to Big 5 means that there is always a chance one may be lucky with a sighting.
 |
| Our campsite |
Benefits & drawbacks
Benefits |
|
+ Close to Gauteng, this is a fantastic option for a quick
weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city + Kyleu is close to Safari Mall should you need groceries, a few
beers, colddrinks or fuel + The campsites are properly 'in the bush', providing the
impression one is far from anything + Cellphone signal is fairly good should you need to stay in
touch with the outside world + Kyleu is perfect for well-rigged campers. If you love nature,
bird watching, or a spot of game viewing, then this is an ideal location to
explore + There are plenty of activities and things to do within the
Dinokeng Game Reserve |
Drawbacks |
|
- If you have kiddos it may be better to camp in the fenced
section as Dinokeng is home to the Big 5 - We don't have small children, so it wasn't an issue for us,
but If you are looking for a resort where kiddies have heaps of activities to
occupy themselves for hours on end, this is not that type of holiday - If you are a walker/runner/cyclist, your route would be a 1km
loop inside the fenced section of the camp. |
Final Thoughts
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, Kyleu Bush Camp offers the 'wild camping' experience with the option of access to potable water and convenience stores nearby. It provided the perfect place for us to test out the Bushlapa Miskruier, although next time we'll be more adventurous and camp in the unfenced area. You can check out our camp and the private ablution by clicking here.
If you are looking for a 'rustic' breakaway in the bushveld, or want to experiment and camp without luxuries such as electricity, then Kyleu Bush Camp is definitely a place to consider for your next weekend breakaway.
Have you stayed in Dinokeng? Which place would you recommend we try next?
Useful Links:
Dinokeng Conservations fees and self-drive permits
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