Camp Bethel

We booked our holiday with Newmarket travel. We were met at the airport by our guide JoJo Who took us from there to Suntra Mandela for the first evening. This was a great place to get to know our fellow camp mates who started off as strangers and we all ended up becoming the best of friends. Next day was a long drive to Camp Bethel, where we were met by the wonderful staff. The tents Have everything you will need in them and are very homely. Be prepared to put on at least half a stone as chef Gibbs cooks three course meals daily which would not look out of place in a top-class restaurant. Be warned, most of our days started at 4:15 am where JoJo would collect all in the bus and take us to Kruger National Park, for the Safari. We then transferred to Safari Jeep and JoJo would expertly point out all the animals. That man can see a lion from a long way out with his bare eyes!! All the meals that are included either on the way from Mandela sanctuary to Camp Bethel 2025 in the National Park itself are of a high standard – you will never go hungry on this holiday. We used the insect repellent that was provided in our tent. It is definitely better than jungle formula. We did all the trips, the night safari, the blind canyon, river, boat tour, and the elephant sanctuary, all of which were a very enjoyable. I am jealous of anybody who books this holiday, as I would go back in a heartbeat – wonderful memories with new friends that will last a lifetime.

We’ve recently returned from Safari staying six nights at Camp Bethal and one night at Sanctuary Mandela Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg. This was such an amazing holiday and a small group tour organised by Newmarket Holidays. The memories and experiences will certainly stay with us for a lifetime and all down to Camp Bethal team, from meeting our guide Vusi at the airport and the wonderful dedicated team at Camp Bethel. The Sanctuary Mandela Hotel is an amazing boutique hotel where attention to detail and preserving the artefacts and home of the late President Mandela. It’s a small museum within a hotel and a guided tour is definitely worth going on. All the rooms have a story and a picture which relates to Nelson Mandelas life. The hotel has been tastefully renovated preserving as much as possible of the original house. Its attention to detail and ensuring guests stay at the hotel is both memorable and exceptional. A wonderful experience and a delightful rest before a 9 hour journey to Camp Bethel the following day. All the rooms are comfortable and of a high standard. The food was exceptional and delicious. On arrival at Camp Bethel you soon come to realise how special this place is and you’re welcomed like a friend returning home. Our guide Vusi was a fantastic guide who remained with us on all our excursions, game drives and took us to amazing restaurants to eat. Vusi taught us so much about South African life, surroundings conservation and the animals and wild life. Vusi is so knowledgeable and passionate about giving guests the utimate experiences during tteir holidays. Camp Bethel team at camp are a truly amazing dedicated team and committed to looking after their guests, ensuring they have everything they need. They are a very loving caring and hardworking team who deliver incredible high standards of customer care to their guests. One of the team responsible for catering is Chef Gibbs, an extremely talented chef providing meals of highest quality and definitely cooked with love and passion. He is extremely passionate about food, checking with us all each day what he planned to cook for dinner for our approval and something to look forward to on our return. Our picnics packed by Chef were delicious. As a Coeliac it can be challenge eating out but it didn’t Phase Chef Gibbs. He took up the challenge and created amazing dishes. You certainly don’t go hungry at Camp Bethel with Chef Gibbs in the kitchen!! Bush walk around the camp with Vusi was an experience not to be missed. Our tented accommodation was extremely comfortable with an electric blanked should we be cold. It’s home from home with a lovely decking to enjoy animal watching during daylight hours. It’s early nights around 10ish when Camp Bethel locks down for the night and everyone’s expected to be in tents for their own safety and getting a good nights sleep ready for the early morning starts. The roar of the lions from the game reserve next do

We returned from camp bethel last week and cannot say enough good things about our holiday. Everyone in camp is so welcoming and friendly, the food was incredible, they helped with all of our queries and made our stay so relaxed. There are some incredible wildlife in camp that we were able to watch from our veranda and hear the lions of an evening/morning. Vusi was our guide and he was so enthusiastic knowledgable friendly and made sure he got us in all the best spots to view the wildlife and take amazing photos to remember this incredible experience. It is well worth doing the optional excursions too This was the best holiday we have ever had! We would be back next week if we could!!!