Bush Tracks & Back Roads: 14 Wild Weeks in Our Urban Escape Vehicle

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you.” — Isaiah 55:12

Some people travel to reach a destination. We travel to find stories.

When we first hitched up our Conqueror UEV-14i—our rugged Urban Escape Vehicle—and rolled out of Thorn Tree Bush Camp, it wasn’t just another getaway. It was something deeper. A call to the open road, to dusty tracks and crackling fires, to sunrises that paint the sky gold and quiet valleys where only the wind speaks.

It was a call to live the very spirit that shapes Thorn Tree’s camping and caravanning, tented accommodation, cabins, and self-catering bush-veld experiences. Because at Thorn Tree Bush Camp, we don't just offer a place to stay in the Dinokeng wilderness. We live it. We chase it. And every journey we take breathes new life into what we share with you.

Why We Travel This Way

Our Conqueror isn’t just a trailer—it’s a passport to freedom. It’s morning coffee brewed under thorn trees instead of a kitchen ceiling. It’s the call of hadedas at first light and giraffes quietly moving just beyond the fence line. It’s knowing that the best moments aren't bought or booked—they are found.

We travel for those moments when a fire crackles into the silence, when stars spin overhead, and when you feel completely present, feet dusty and heart full. That’s the feeling we carry back to Thorn Tree Bush Camp. And that's the feeling we hope every guest finds when they arrive—whether they’re pitching a tent, staying in a safari tented camp, or settling into a cozy self-catering cabin.

14 Weeks, Countless Campsites: The Journey 

In early 2022, we answered the call of the road and set out for a 14-week overland journey. No rigid itinerary, just a map full of dreams and a deep need to reconnect with wild spaces. Each stop wasn’t just a tick on a travel list—it was a lesson, a story, an inspiration for how to make Thorn Tree Bush Camp even better.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park Towering sandstone cliffs catching the first morning light, campsites nestled between giants. A natural cathedral that reminded us how important it is to let nature frame the experience.

Mountain Zebra National Park Ten wild days of 4x4 trails, mountain passes, and meeting striped residents up close. A reminder to keep adventure accessible for all our camping guests.

Addo Elephant Park A week spent among gentle giants, mud baths, and the soft rumbles of herds moving through thicket. We learned the value of stillness—and patience.

Jeffreys Bay  A spontaneous seaside detour that turned into two weeks of sea air, sandy toes, and unhurried sunsets. Because sometimes, plans should give way to peace.

Baviaanskloof Real wilderness. Real adventure. Tackling rugged passes, crossing rivers, and camping beneath sheer cliffs at Kudu Kaya. It taught us how essential sturdy, soulful campsites are.

Knysna.  Short and sweet. Exploring the lagoon, riding the old Outeniqua power-van up misty mountains, breathing in green upon green.

De Hoop, Stillbaai & Jongensfontein. Coastal living at its purest. Tides in our blood, salt in our hair, hearts lighter than ever.

Bontebok National Park & Cape Agulhas.  The southernmost tip of Africa. Where oceans meet, and you can feel time slow to a sacred hush.

Sutherland.  High in the Karoo. Bitterly cold nights under a cathedral of stars, wrapped in the kind of silence that humbles you.

Tankwa Karoo National Park.   A stark, surreal moonscape. Empty and endless. It reminded us that sometimes, simplicity holds the most magic.

Augrabies Falls   The mighty Orange River in full flood—a roaring force of nature that left us soaked, awed, and deeply grateful.

Lessons From the Road

Every campsite whispered something to us—sometimes loudly, sometimes gently.

We took notes on what worked: the little comforts that made a tent feel like a home, the importance of clean, rustic ablutions, the value of shade, space, and silence. We packed smarter, traveled lighter, listened more. To each other. To the land. To the quiet teachings of the bush.

The biggest lesson? The best campsites aren't always the ones that shout the loudest. They’re often just a simple piece of earth, a tree casting afternoon shade, a view that takes your breath away and never quite gives it back.

That’s the spirit we've brought back to Thorn Tree Bush Camp—creating spaces that feel natural, easy, and deeply real.

Campfire Wisdom

"If you’re quiet enough, nature always has something to say."

Around countless fires, we shared stories with strangers who soon became friends. We followed lion tracks in the misty dawn and listened to the midnight laughter of hyenas threading through the darkness.

Those experiences—the shared silences, the unexpected encounters, the laughter that rises unbidden from a good, long day—those are what shape the soul of Thorn Tree Bush Camp.

When you stay with us—whether at a private camping site, a safari tented camp, or a cozy self-catering cabin—you’re stepping into a place built not just with hands, but with heart.

What’s Next? The Trails Keep Calling - We’re never truly finished exploring. 

Our wheels are already itching for the next adventure. Some of the trails we’re dreaming of:

Mapesu Private Game Reserve — Remote, wild, and untouched. Exactly our kind of magic.

Mapungubwe National Park — Ancient ruins, majestic baobabs, and a timeless sense of wonder.

Pafuri & Northern Kruger — Fever tree forests, hidden wetlands, and the feeling of being deliciously lost at the edge of the world.

Nthakeni Bush & River Camp, just 5.5 km from Kruger’s Pafuri Gate, is a peaceful, community-run retreat on the Mutale River—its name means “caring for the people.”

Magoebaskloof — Lush, misty mountains, waterfalls, and cool, green forests—something wildly different yet deeply healing.

Each place leaves its own print on our hearts—and eventually, on Thorn Tree Bush Camp too.

We Carry Thorn Tree With Us

No matter how far we roam, Thorn Tree Bush Camp is always with us. It’s there in every fire we light, every dust road we follow, every story we gather like wood for the next night’s fire.

That’s why when you arrive at Thorn Tree—whether you’re camping under canvas, staying in a cabin, or caravanning with your own rig—you’re not just checking in. You’re stepping into a place built by people who walk the same wild paths you do. A camp where the thorn trees lean close. Where the night fires talk in crackles. Where the bush breathes around you.

So the next time you hear tyres crunch gravel, or the haunting call of a nightjar under a full moon—it might just be us. Following the tracks once more.

Mooi loop, en kamp veilig.— Rodney, Elzabé & The Thorn Tree Team

Stay tuned for our next blog post.