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December 2026 · Ages 7-17

December holiday camps in the Pilanesberg bush

Two camps to choose from this December - 6 to 12 or 12 to 18 December, seven days and six nights each, R6 000 per child. Fifty-plus activities, a lifeguarded waterpark, a live fire show every camp, and trained counsellors on duty 24 hours a day. Two hours from Johannesburg, in Big 5 country.

WhatsApp us See dates & prices
50+Activities every camp
24/7Counsellors on duty day and night
On siteStocked infirmary, Level 3 first aiders
SecurePrivate gated estate
What a week is

Six nights
in the bush

A real sleepaway camp in the Pilanesberg bushveld - cabins under the trees, a waterpark, and Big 5 country on the doorstep.

Camp Wildside is at Sundown Country Estate on the R565 near Rustenburg, a private, gated estate in the Pilanesberg bushveld. It is about 12 km from Sun City and roughly two hours' drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria. The area is malaria-free. Children aged 7 to 17 sleep in named cabins with their own en-suite bathrooms, grouped by age and gender, and eat three hot meals a day in the dining hall.

The days are long and full. Cabin against cabin in the Contest of Champions. Snakes, reptiles and a white tiger in the Reptile Educational Show. Then the waterpark - lifeguarded, buddy-paired, and the thing they will phone you about. After lunch it's Forge a Nation and raft building; after dinner it's Campfire Tales & Ballads around the boma fire and, at eight o'clock every camp, a live fire show.

Fifteen activity blocks a day and fifty-plus activities across the week, with trained counsellors supervising 24 hours a day and a stocked infirmary on site. It is the best sleep of their life, and they'll still be talking about it in January.

A school group in a team activity on the grass at Camp Wildside
Team challenges
Campers reach to touch a small crocodile held by the handler during the reptile show
Reptile Educational Show
Campers sitting on the grass under a rainbow parachute during a group game
Group games on the campgrounds
Camp Wildside cabin exterior under the trees
Where they sleep
December 2026

Dates & prices

Everything up front. No form to fill in before you know what it costs.

Camp 1Sun 6 - Sat 12 December 2026 · 7 days · 6 nights
R6 000
Open
Book
Camp 2Sat 12 - Fri 18 December 2026 · 7 days · 6 nights
R6 000
Open
Book

Not included in the camp fee: Pilanesberg Big 5 game drive, Sun City day trip, and transport from Sandton or Lanseria. Each is optional and priced separately - ask us when you book.

R6 000 per child

What's included,
and what isn't

The fee covers the whole week on site. Three things are optional and priced separately.

In the fee

Everything your child needs for seven days and six nights at camp.

  • Six nights in a named cabin - Simba, Twiga, Tembo, Kiboko and more - each with its own en-suite bathroom
  • Three hot meals a day plus a daily tuckshop visit, prepared fresh on site. All religious dietary requirements, vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly diets catered for
  • All fifty-plus on-site activities, the waterpark, the Reptile Educational Show, archery and the fire show among them
  • Trained counsellors supervising 24 hours a day, with counsellors on night duty nearby
  • A fully stocked infirmary on site, staffed by Level 3 First Aiders for the whole camp
Book a place on WhatsApp

Priced separately

Each is optional. Tell us when you book and we add it to your booking.

  • Pilanesberg Big 5 game drive in an open vehicle
  • Sun City day trip - about 12 km from camp
  • Transport: the chartered coach from Sandton with our counsellors on board, or collection at Lanseria airport
Ask about add-ons
For the parent reading this at 11pm

The part you
actually care about

The short version. The full safety page has the rest, and we'll send the complete policy before you book, not after.

Never aloneNo two people are ever alone together - not two children, not a child and a counsellor. If a camper needs to go back to their cabin, at least two others go with them.
24 hoursTrained counsellors supervise the children 24 hours a day, with counsellors on night duty nearby, checking in through the night. Every counsellor is Level 1 First Aid certified.
InfirmaryA fully stocked infirmary on site, staffed by Level 3 First Aiders for the whole camp. A public hospital five minutes away and a private hospital about 25 minutes away, both open 24 hours.
Swim testA three-part swim test for every camper on arrival. A child who cannot swim well enough by our standards wears a life jacket, provided by us, at every water activity. Qualified lifeguards and EFR First Aid Responders supervise throughout, in the water and on the side.
GatedA private, gated estate in the Pilanesberg with controlled access. Malaria-free. Valuables collected and locked on arrival, returned at departure.
Read the full safety page →
A camp day, hour by hour

From first bell
to lights out

A real Wildside timetable, not a brochure sample - the shape of a full day at camp. Slide along it, or just move your mouse, to see what's happening at breakfast, mid-afternoon and after dark.

07:00
Cabins
Wake Up
Counsellors wake each cabin. Beds made, teeth brushed, everybody outside.
Drag to move through the day
15activity blocks in one day
7amfirst bell
10pmlights out, staff on night duty
3hot meals plus tuckshop
Across the seven days

What the week
is actually made of

Six of the fifty-plus, all on site and all in the fee. The Big 5 game drive leaves the estate and is priced separately - see the add-ons above.

Children playing in the shallow pool under the mushroom fountain, the slide tower behind them Water

Waterpark

Slide tower, splash pool and bungee trampoline, lifeguards on duty
Fire Show at Camp Wildside Night

Fire Show

Live fire performance, every single camp
Campers reach out to touch a small crocodile held by the handler during the reptile show Wild

Reptile Educational Show

Live snakes and a small croc, close enough to touch
Children beside a large Aztec sun-stone mural under purple and orange lighting in the escape room Indoor

Escape Room

Forty minutes, one locked room, no phones
A girl chest-deep in the muddy water trench under the cargo net, splashing and smiling Land

Obstacle Course

Under the cargo net, through the mud, out red
Campers in blankets on foam mattresses spread across open ground, a fire burning under an orange sky Night

Camp Out

One night out under the stars, fire and all

And then there is eight o'clock. One evening at every December camp the whole camp sits down together for the fire show - a live fire performance by our own staff, not a bonfire and not something on a screen. Ask your child about it in the car on the way home. They will already have started.

See the activities →
Two hours from Joburg

Getting them
there and back

You do not have to drive to the Pilanesberg. Most families don't.

Option one

The Sandton bus

A chartered coach leaves Sandton with our counsellors on board, so camp starts the moment they get on. Charged separately - book a seat when you book the camp.

Option two

Fly to Lanseria

Land at Lanseria and we'll meet your child at the airport and bring them safely to camp. Charged separately.

Option three

Drop them yourself

Sundown Country Estate, R565, Rustenburg - roughly two hours from Johannesburg or Pretoria, and 12 km from Sun City.

Directions and all the travel options →
Parents ask

The December
questions

If yours isn't here, WhatsApp us on 083 654 2784 or 064 916 7877. A person answers.

When are the December 2026 camps and what do they cost?
There are two December 2026 holiday camps: Sunday 6 to Saturday 12 December, and Saturday 12 to Friday 18 December. Each runs seven days and six nights and costs R6 000 per child. For school quotes or group rates, WhatsApp us on 083 654 2784 or 064 916 7877 or email info@campwildside.co.za.
How does my child get to camp?
Three ways:
  • A chartered bus from Sandton, with our counsellors on board for the trip.
  • Fly into Lanseria and we'll meet your child and bring them to camp.
  • Drop them off yourself at Sundown Country Estate on the R565.
The bus and airport collection are charged separately from the camp fee.
What should my child pack?
A day bag is compulsory and gets checked by counsellors - sunscreen, a refillable water bottle and a hat live in it. Also pack clothes for hot days and cold evenings, two swimming costumes, a towel, closed shoes that can get wet, closed walking shoes, a warm top, a raincoat, toiletries, any medication clearly labelled, and a torch. Nothing valuable - phones and valuables are collected and locked on arrival, and returned at departure.
What do you feed them, and can you handle allergies and religious diets?
Three hot meals a day plus a daily tuckshop visit, prepared fresh on site - fresh salads and freshly baked bread included. We cater for all religious dietary requirements, as well as vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly diets. Tell us the details when you book and we handle each child individually.
How is supervision handled?
Trained counsellors supervise the children 24 hours a day. Our core safety rule is that no two people are ever alone together - not two children, and not a child and a counsellor. If a camper needs to return to their cabin, at least two others go with them. Every counsellor is Level 1 First Aid certified and completes an apprenticeship before qualifying.
All the questions parents ask →
Book a place

Talk to a human

Most parents would rather send a WhatsApp than fill in a form at 11pm. So that's the front door.

For my own child

Tell us your child's age and which week you're looking at. We'll come back with availability, the full kit list and anything else you want to know.

WhatsApp 083 654 2784 WhatsApp 064 916 7877 Call 072 600 2996

Or send us a message

Prefer your own email? info@campwildside.co.za. We only use your details to answer you.

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