Think you need a big 4x4, a roof rack and a vehicle full of camping equipment to explore South Africa? Think again.
One of the questions we often hear at Bush Kit Rentals is whether our camping equipment will fit into a regular rental car, particularly when there’s luggage to consider.
The short answer? Yes — with a suitable vehicle and a little planning.
We’ve designed our camping kits to be compact, practical and easy to transport, allowing you to turn a suitable rental car or SUV into a comfortable camping setup without making any modifications to the vehicle.
Whether you’re planning a few nights camping in the Kruger National Park, exploring the Drakensberg or heading off on a longer South African road trip, here’s how we make it work.
Everything You Need, Packed into a Surprisingly Small Space
When we started putting together our Bush Kit Rentals packages, one of our priorities was keeping things compact.
Traditional camping equipment can be bulky. Large tents, folding tables, camping chairs, kitchen equipment and sleeping gear can quickly fill an entire vehicle.
We wanted to do things differently.
Our Compact Camping Kit brings together the essentials for a comfortable camping experience, with each item carefully selected to balance practicality, comfort and packing space.
The result is a complete camping setup designed to fit neatly into a suitable SUV, with space for luggage and groceries depending on the vehicle and what you bring.
What’s in the Kit?
Our compact setup brings together the equipment you’ll need for a camping adventure, including:
- Compact ground tent and sleeping equipment
- Folding camping chairs
- Compact camping table
- Kitchen box with cooking and dining essentials
- Portable gas cooking equipment
- Camping lights and other useful accessories
- BuddyCool cooler box or portable camping fridge, depending on your chosen package
Rather than supplying everything in individual bags and boxes, we group equipment together to make packing, unpacking and keeping track of everything much easier.
How We Pack the Boot
The boot is where the clever packing starts.
Our kitchen equipment is packed into a durable storage box, keeping your cooking utensils, crockery and other essentials organised and protected.
Alongside it sits your cooler box or portable camping fridge, depending on the package you’ve selected.
Our compact folding table packs flat, taking up very little room beneath the other equipment.
The photograph below shows our compact kit packed into the back of one of our vehicles.
Of course, boot space varies between vehicles, but the principle remains the same: compact equipment, organised storage and no unnecessary bulk.
And importantly, there’s no need for a Thule roof box, roof rack or any special vehicle modifications.
Your rental car stays exactly as it is.
Making Clever Use of the Back Seat
One of the ways we keep our camping kits compact is by making use of the rear seating area when travelling as a couple.
Our camping equipment is packed into a specially designed storage bag that fits neatly across the rear seat.
This keeps the bulkier camping equipment together, rather than having loose items scattered throughout the vehicle.
The bag can be secured using suitable vehicle anchor points and restraints, helping keep everything organised while travelling.
The photographed packing arrangement is intended for two people travelling together. The rear seats are occupied by equipment and are not available for passengers.
What About Our Easy Pitch Camping Kit?
Our Easy Pitch Camping Kit follows exactly the same packing principle.
The main difference is the tent.
Because the Easy Pitch tent is larger than the compact ground tent, it travels separately, positioned on top of the equipment bag across the rear seat.
The kitchen equipment, cooler box and folding table remain packed in the boot.
This means you can enjoy the additional convenience of our Easy Pitch camping setup in a suitable vehicle without needing additional roof storage. Vehicle suitability still depends on the model, boot dimensions, passenger numbers and luggage.
Do You Need a 4x4 for Camping in South Africa?
Not necessarily!
South Africa has an incredible network of national parks, nature reserves and private campsites, many of which are accessible in ordinary passenger vehicles.
You can enjoy fantastic camping experiences in places like the Kruger National Park, the Garden Route, the Drakensberg and many other destinations without needing a fully equipped 4x4.
Of course, some remote destinations require a vehicle with higher ground clearance or four-wheel drive, so it’s always important to consider your planned route before choosing a rental vehicle.
But for many South African camping holidays, a conventional SUV or crossover is more than capable of getting you to your destination.
And with one of our camping kit packages on board, you’ve got the equipment you need to enjoy the experience once you arrive.
What About Your Luggage?
This is an important consideration, particularly for international travellers arriving with suitcases.
Our compact camping kits are designed primarily around two people travelling together, allowing us to use the rear seating area for some of the equipment while keeping the boot available for the cooler, kitchen box and luggage.
The amount of additional luggage space will depend on the vehicle you’ve rented, the size of your suitcases and the camping package you’ve selected.
We generally recommend travelling with soft-sided luggage where possible, as it’s easier to fit around camping equipment than large, rigid suitcases.
If you’re unsure whether everything will fit, simply let us know which vehicle you’re planning to rent and how much luggage you’ll be bringing.
We’ll help you choose a suitable camping package.
No Special Vehicle. No Complicated Setup. Just More Adventure.
That’s really what Bush Kit Rentals is all about.
We believe you shouldn’t need to hire an expensive, fully equipped camper or invest in your own camping equipment to experience the incredible outdoor destinations South Africa has to offer.
Perhaps you’re hiring a Toyota Corolla Cross for a holiday through the Kruger National Park.
Maybe you’re planning a Garden Route road trip in a VW Tiguan.
Or perhaps you already own an SUV and simply want to escape Johannesburg for a few nights in the bush.
Whatever your plans, we can help you turn a suitable vehicle into a practical camping companion.
Our camping kits are available for collection in Johannesburg, and we can also arrange delivery to OR Tambo International Airport for travellers collecting their rental vehicles.
We can even assist with arranging a suitable rental vehicle through one of our rental partners.
All you need to do is choose your destination.
We’ll take care of the camping equipment.
Got the Car? We’ve Got the Kit.
Explore our range of compact camping kits, Easy Pitch camping packages and optional extras, and discover just how easy it can be to take your next South African road trip a little further.