Campsite Etiquette: The Unofficial Rules Every Happy Caravan Park Lives By

Party Time at the caravan site!

Campsite etiquette isn’t just about being polite—it’s about keeping the peace, maintaining good vibes, and ensuring you don’t become that person… you know, the one everyone whispers about while braaiing.

Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned long-term caravanner, here’s a fun, practical, slightly cheeky guide to Caravan Park Etiquette 101.

🎪 1. Respect the Unseen Boundary Lines by observing Campsite Etiquette

• Every campsite has invisible borders.

• Don’t walk through someone else’s stand unless you’re being chased by a swarm of bees.

• Their matting is not a shortcut. Their braai area is not a scenic route.

  
  

🔊 2. Keep Noise Down (Especially at Silly O’Clock)

• Rule: Quiet after 10pm.

• Translation: No karaoke, no testing your new Bluetooth speaker, no loud philosophical debates about rugby.

• Early mornings count too—banging pots at 6am is considered an act of war.

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🐕 3. Control Thy Dog (Even If It’s “Friendly”)

• Keep them leashed.

• Clean up after them (yes, even those tiny “oopsies”).

• Not everyone enjoys a wet snout in their breakfast cereal.

• Bonus points if your dog doesn’t serenade the entire park at random hours.

  
  

🏃‍♂️ 4. Children Are Wonderful… But Not Everyone Thinks Yours Are

• Campsites are safe, but not lawless child kingdoms.

• Teach kids road awareness, respect for fellow campers, and that not every caravan needs a visitor every 4 minutes.

• Running, screaming, ball-kicking and bicycle races belong in open spaces—not between stands.

  
  

🚗 5. Drive Slowly Enough to Be Overtaken by a Tortoise

• Caravan parks = 10 km/h max.

• Dust clouds, near-misses, and tyre spin-offs are frowned upon.

• If you’re going fast enough to cause wind, you’re going too fast.

  
  

🔥 6. Be a Braai Legend, Not a Smoke Monster

• Keep the smoke going up, not into your neighbour’s tent.

• Avoid using firelighter brands strong enough to peel paint.

• Never leave your fire unattended—caravans and flames are not friends.

  
  

🚿 7. Ablution Blocks Are Shared—Act Accordingly

• Rinse shower floors.

• Don’t leave enough hair in the drain to knit a jersey.

• Keep grooming sessions short—nobody needs a 45-minute steamy concert.

• Flush. (It’s shocking how often this needs to be said.)

  
  

🔌 8. Mind the Power Points

• Don’t hog outlets like you're charging a spaceship.

• Use rated extension cords (Eskom already has a tough job).

• Don’t unplug your neighbour’s freezer to plug in your kettle. Yes… it happens.

  
  

🌙 9. Respect Privacy—Even in a Close Community

• Caravan windows are not TV screens.

• If someone’s sitting quietly, reading, or just staring at the clouds—they probably want peace.

• Knock before approaching a caravan or tent.

• Don’t assume everyone wants your life story before breakfast.

  
  

🚰 10. Water Is Precious—Don’t Treat the Tap Like a Jacuzzi

• Quick showers = happy water tanks.

• Avoid washing your bakkie at the communal tap.

• Filling containers? Step aside for others if you’re doing bucket number 12.

  
  

🧽 11. Keep Your Site Tidy

• Pack away rubbish—baboons, monkeys, and midnight bin diggers thank you.

• Don’t let your campsite become an archaeological dig of past meals and random socks.

• Store gear neatly so nobody trips (and blames you).

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🪑 12. Borrowing Is Fine… Returning Is Better

• Need a braai tong? Kettle? Lighter?

• Ask politely.

• Return promptly.

• Return clean. (Bonus: without teeth marks.)

  
  

🎉 13. Socialise Kindly—Not Forcefully

• Some caravanners love chatting.

• Others love hiding behind their awning with a cup of tea.

• Respect both.

• When in doubt: a wave is always safe.

  
  

✨ 14. Leave the Site Better Than You Found It

• The golden rule of camping.

• If we all follow it, every future visitor enjoys a clean, pleasant stay.

• Plus, it makes the camp manager smile—and that’s always a win.

  
  

Campsite etiquette isn’t complicated—it’s just good manners, good humour, and good neighbourliness, wrapped in a slow, relaxed caravanning pace.

Follow these quirky little rules and you’ll be the camper everyone loves having nearby.(Or at the very least, the one nobody complains about at the washing-up station.)