We all have different reasons for being in Europe. But I do believe that since we all braved the courageous step to leave ‘home’ and relocated to this challenging country of a challenging language, bureaucracy and culture, we all have that sense of travel, explore and experience.
It’s normal that travel and explore in Europe starts with the cities. I can stroll Berlin, Munich, Köln and most cities for hours. Germany and Europe, however, is much much more than the cities with its easy infrastructure.
We all also know the cliched ‘SA is the most beautiful’ country in the world, and it’s okay to say that from my passionate Saffa loyalty point of view.
But to venture out of the cities in Europe into the rural ‘platteland’ is equally rewarding (and just so slightly less beautiful than South Africa). I say that tongue in cheek, of course, since I’m still adjusting after two weeks of blissful outreach travelling to Cape Town, The Garden Route and ‘die Wildtuin’.
This is where camping comes into the picture in Germany and Europe.
Because of the borderlessness of the EU, obviously, you have the entire EU and some open non-EU countries on your doorstep—but let me stick to Germany for now.
Five years ago, Heleen had a specific inspirational Saturday morning when she said,
‘There’s a Pössl ( Pössl is a leading German manufacturer of campervans) for sale, let’s go buy it’—and we went and bought it.
And that’s how we opened up our new world of rural exploration with comfort in Europe.
However, I must state here that you do not have to invest thousands of euros to go camping in Germany, because the German camping scene infrastructure is so well established.
One trolley in Decathlon will kit you out sufficiently with:
Combine this with your explore spirit, and you need nothing more.
Most campsites in Europe have little cafés or restaurants where you can have cheap food and drinks—much cheaper than what your weekend in the cities would cost you.
This means you do not have to have those National Luna-type camping fridges we used in SA to carry two weeks’ of beer and meat into the Kalahari or Botswana.
A small cooler in the boot of your car is sufficient, because you can stock up on a day-to-day basis.
Advice, though: invest in a two-cup size Bialetti. Life is too short, and German rural nature too beautiful, to drink inferior coffee.
A perfect way to increase the camping experience in Germany is to tag your bicycle along.
Germany has a well-developed cycling infrastructure featuring over 12,000 kilometres of long-distance, designated “D-routes” that span the country. While there is no single, frequently cited total kilometre count for all urban cycle paths, Germany is actively expanding its network, including new “bicycle highways” such as the 101-kilometre RS1 in the Ruhr region.
Camping in a rural village campsite and then cycling the banks of the Saar, Mosel, Rhein—or any other scenic cycle path—makes for an excellent break of a few days, while exploring old towns or even cities.
I’ve explored large cities like Berlin, Munich and Paris by bike from campsites in or near these cities.
A camping highlight for me remains camping at Camping de Paris near Roland Garros and cycling up the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe.
Camping in these cities is much cheaper than regular accommodation.
In Germany, the so-called ‘wild camping’ is not allowed, but mini camping is becoming very popular.
This refers to small camps (even sometimes as small as one campsite) on farms. This takes you close to nature or cycling opportunities while providing real relaxation for ‘charging those batteries’.
Regulation of camping and camping behaviour relies on normal common courtesy, which addresses:
In some campsites, open fires are allowed (more so in Belgium and France than in Germany), and the occasional braai is therefore possible.
I have a fairly full camping April ahead of me and may just remember to share some further comments, stories or useful feedback after my Thüringer Forest and Black Forest excursions.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to chat about camping.
From Forests to Lakes: The Joy of Camping in Germany Camping in Germany is a beautifully organised, rule-driven experience — less wild bushveld, more well-kept nature with structure. Whether you’re pitching a tent, towing a caravan, or travelling by motorhome, Germany offers stunning landscapes, excellent facilities, and a culture that
Swimming options Private swimming pools are not so popular in Germany, but there are good public swimming options available. Public swimming pools / Öffentliche Schimmbäder / Freibad Freiseitparks like Europapark Baggersee (Man-made lakes) Lakes The ocean / Nordsee or Ostsee Rules for swimming in Lakes Never dive/jump into a lake
Grilling in public When you do not have braai facilities at home or want to have more space while meeting your friends for a braai, you can use the grills/fireplaces at a public Grillplatz/grill area.These are usually in bigger parks or around lakes. Grilling in the forest is generally prohibited,
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