Glamping for beginners: How to enjoy the outdoors without roughing it - IOL

If you enjoy the outdoors but don't want to rough it, then glamping is the answer.

I have been camping once. That was enough for me to know that while I love the idea of camping, I am not particularly interested in sleeping on the ground, wrestling with a sleeping bag or making a midnight trip to a bathroom that may or may not be nearby.

Give me the fresh air, beautiful surroundings and a chance to switch off. I am completely on board.

Ask me to rough it, and suddenly I have questions.

Which is why glamping has my attention.

For people like me, glamping offers a rather appealing compromise.

You can escape into nature, wake up somewhere beautiful and spend time outdoors, without necessarily giving up a proper bed, electricity or a bathroom that doesn't involve walking through the dark.

But before you book the first pretty tent you see on Instagram, there are a few things you need to know.

Glamping is essentially camping with more comfort built into the experience.

The accommodation can include furnished safari tents, bell tents, domes, cabins and other forms of outdoor accommodation.

Depending on where you stay, you might have a proper bed, electricity, a private bathroom, a kitchenette, outdoor furniture and even meals.

And this is important: glamping does not mean the same thing everywhere.

One property might feel closer to a boutique hotel in the bush. Another may simply give you a comfortable bed inside a tent and expect you to use communal ablutions.

So don't make assumptions based on the word "glamping".

Check what you are actually getting.

With actual beds and electricity, glamping is a luxurious way to experience the outdoors.

Purists might say no. And I can understand why.

Traditional camping involves putting up your own tent, bringing your equipment and being considerably more self-sufficient.

Glamping takes much of that effort away.

Not everyone wants to spend a weekend figuring out tent poles when they could be sitting outside with a cup of coffee.

You still get the sounds, views and slower pace associated with being outdoors. You simply have fewer logistical problems to solve.

For a first camping experience, it can also be a gentler introduction to the idea of staying in nature.

This may be the question reluctant campers most want answered.

A glamping tent can have a private en-suite bathroom, while another may have a bathroom attached to the accommodation or shared ablutions elsewhere on the property.

There is a big difference between those options, particularly if you are someone who already has reservations about camping.

If a private bathroom is important to you, make sure it is specifically listed as part of the accommodation before booking.

And don't be shy about checking how far the bathroom is from your tent.

Don't rely on pictures when it comes to the bathroom situation.

Many glamping properties provide electricity and lighting, but this should never be assumed.

Some are deliberately designed as off-grid escapes, which can be wonderful if that is what you want.

It can be considerably less wonderful if you arrive expecting to charge your phone, use a hairdryer or keep something cold in a fridge.

Check whether there are plug points, lighting, charging facilities and any restrictions on electrical appliances.

If being completely disconnected is part of the attraction, embrace it.

If you need your morning coffee machine to survive the weekend, choose accordingly.

This is where glamping earns its name.

You generally don't need to arrive looking as though you are relocating to a campsite.

Before packing cooking equipment, extra bedding or half your household, check what is already supplied.

Some glamping stays are self-catering. Others offer breakfast, meals, restaurants or food that can be arranged in advance.

There may also be braai facilities or fire pits if you want to embrace the outdoor cooking experience.

This is worth checking before you book because it can completely change the feel of your trip.

If you want to cook over a fire while watching the sunset, choose somewhere that encourages it.

If you want someone else to make breakfast while you enjoy the view, there are glamping options for that too.

When booking a place make sure you know everything about meal preparation.

The word “glamping” can cover a surprisingly wide range of experiences, so read the listing carefully.

These aren't glamorous questions, but they can make the difference between a relaxing break and an expensive lesson in reading the small print.

This is probably the biggest misconception.

Glamping can be luxurious, but it isn't automatically luxurious.

Some stays are genuinely high-end. Others are much more basic and simply offer a more comfortable alternative to pitching your own tent.

Find out what is included, read recent reviews and decide which comforts you actually care about.

For me, the bathroom would be high on the list.

For someone else, it might be a proper bed, electricity or having a restaurant nearby.

Those of us who like the idea of going off-grid but aren't quite ready to surrender every creature comfort, that middle ground looks rather inviting.

I may not be ready to call myself a camper just yet.

But give me a comfortable bed, a beautiful view and a bathroom nearby, and I am willing to reconsider.