Nguni Moon Tepee Camp is a fun and unique glamping experience in Underberg, Southern Drakensberg for all children; young and old.
We are always looking for those hidden gems, unique stays and just-a-little-quirky experiences to share with you guys and this is definitely one of them.
Connect With Your Inner Child At Nguni Moon Tepee Camp
Can you picture it… It’s summer, the sun is shining, the wind blows ever so gently, caressing your cheeks and passing through your hair. The glorious sun begins to break through the trees, falling down in what seems like a million tiny crystals all around you…
Laughter fills the air and your gaze falls upon a young boy, running around barefoot in the grass with pure excitement as he prepares to sleep in his self-built teepee.
On the other side of the city, lies a girl looking up at the stars, listening to folk tales told to her by her grandmother.
On opposite ends on the world, they both lie awake, watching as their finger puppets dance across the canvas.
20 years later they find themselves once again filled with that same youthful excitement, however, this time, they are together.
Nguni Moon Tepee Camp awakened something within us that reminded us of the ‘lost boys’ from Peter Pan.
We got to run about the fields, walk down to the stream at the bottom of the mountain, skim stones and jump from rock to rock, play board games, laugh, swim in the dam and all of this while still feeling romantic and a little glamorous.
It awakened our childhood spirits once more and we were perfectly content with that… How about you?
“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
The Teepee Camp Itself
All of the teepees at Nguni Moon provide you with the ultimate glamping experience. Camping without the hassle.
You can book out a single teepee if you are just looking for a weekend getaway, or you can even book out the entire camp for a friends/family expedition, holiday, birthday – you name it.
We arrived to some odd weather. It was really cold and misty on day one, but we were able to hide out in our teepee with the heater on and snuggled in blankets n the communal lounge area, all warm and cosy. The next day, the sun came out and it was perfect for exploring.
Room amenities include: (Eagle)
– Queen Size Bed
– Couch
– Chest of Drawers
– Heater
– Complimentary Tea, Coffee, Milk and Biscuits.
– Campfire with Complementary Wood
– Plug points
– Shared Bathroom with Hot Water
Let’s Talk Food
Nguni Moon Tepee Camp is all about self-catering. There is a communal kitchen that comes fully stocked with a gas stove, two fridges, a microwave, kettle, toaster and a whole bunch of cutlery and crockery. All you have to do is bring your own food.
*There is also a Spar (grocery store) 10 minutes away from the camp.
What Can I Do At Nguni Moon Tepee Camp?
There are so many things to do and places to explore that we didn’t even touch base over one weekend. Here is a list of the possibilities:
Hike Down To The Umzimkulu River
A short and slightly steep hike leads you down to the Umzimkulu River. The hike down provides you with the most stunning views; you can smell the fresh air, see the cows grazing on the other side of the river and you might even come across the two resident cows belonging to Jenny and Alex, Nguni Moon’s owners.
Better pack your swimming costume because you will want to take a dip in the cool mountain water.
Have A Picnic
Since Nguni Moon is self-catering, you may as well go all out while preparing your food. Whether you are a phenomenal cook or you just have 2-minute noodles like us, you can turn anything into an occasion.
Swim In The Dam
Do you still have your costume on from visiting the river? How about taking a dip in the self-made dam. You might even be greeted by the friendly ‘Hippo’ and pet fish…
Roast Some Marshmallows
One of my (Tammy’s) favourite pastimes is roasting marshmallows over the fire. So, luckily, all the teepees are situated around a central fire pit with lovely wooden benches placed all around. The firewood is provided too.
If you would like to braai (barbeque), there are also braai stands next to the campfire, all you have to do is bring your own charcoal.
Play Some Board Games or Build A Puzzle
Byron and I love to disconnect from the world and spend time playing different board games. My favourite is Monopoly, but since we like being in a relationship, we settled for one of Byron’s favourites – Scrabble.
There are a few board games in the communal lounge area if you forgot to bring some with you. There are even some puzzles laying around, which we found extremely enjoyable, and even started a bad, addictive puzzle habit in our home.
It was a really fun and relaxing activity.
Relax On A Hammock
When you are wanting to get away from it all, sometimes the best thing to do is absolutely nothing at all… Take a nap on the hammocks or read a good book. (There are a few books already there).
What Can I Do In The Surrounding Areas?
Visit Kenmo Lake
Kenmo lake is one of the most beautiful places that we have ever visited! It is actually on private property that the family has opened up to the public, so that we can share in the magic with them.
People can come and have picnics here, walk their dogs here and it is quite a popular photography spot too. Apparently, it is absolutely gorgeous during the autumn months as the leaves turn all different colours and then settle on the mirror-like water. We’ll just have to come back again!
Take On The Sani Pass
Underberg in the Southern Drakensberg is a popular base for exploring the famous Sani Pass. We highly recommend that if you want to go up, you do so with a 4X4 vehicle, but if you don’t have one of those, Jenny and Alex are very happy to arrange the trip for you through an organised tour operator.
Don’t forget that your Passports are needed as you exit South Africa and enter into Lesotho.
Visit The Himeville Museum
The Himeville Museum was a really interesting visit and had a huge collection of artefacts. There is something for everyone, it houses old farm equipment, household items, bushman paintings, fossils and it even has a military room filled with the most touching memorabilia and poems written by WWII soldiers. The site itself also has a really interesting history. It was first an old fort and then later used as a prison for 70 years before becoming a museum. If you love history like us, you should definitely check it out.
Overall we had a magical time here and we would definitely go back in a heartbeat. Let us know in the comments if you have ever visited or plan to visit, how will your fairytale start?
“Second star to the right and straight on ’til morning. “
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
The Drakensberg And Midlands Meander
We were led here by our road trip through the Drakensberg and Midlands Meander. If the freedom of the open road and the beauty of South Africa entices you, but the thought of planning it all bores you, then you’re in luck!
➳ What You Don’t Want To Miss Out On When Visiting The Midlands Meander
➳ 13 Reasons Why You Need to Take a Road Trip through the Drakensberg
The Video Version
Not only do we have your entire trip written out, but we’ve even packaged it into one fun video! That’s right, all you need to do is accept that you’re going and then watch this video!
P.S. If you like it, please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel!
Booking At Nguni Moon Tepee Camp
You can book on their website right here.
Be sure to tell Jenny and Alex that you were sent by your good friends at Dear Travallure. We can’t guarantee preferential treatment… But it couldn’t hurt! (Please let us know if it works!)
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