Long-term , Long-stay , All-season or Lankstaan campers is a fast-growing camping group that consists of pensioners (retirees), remote workers and people who camp permanently.

All these groups are able to camp long-term at any time of the year because they are not time- or place-bound.

We coined the term “all-season camper” to describe a person who is not season-bound when camping. An All-season camper camps in any season of the year and any season of their lives – from young and single to retired and relaxed.

We also publish the Altydkampers website for all campers, not only long-term campers. (https://altydkampers.co.za/)

Types of long-term campers

• Pensioners which include retired people (but not pensioners for different reasons) are able to camp at any time of the year anywhere they can find a camping spot. They are mostly pensioners who receive a monthly income from other sources.
• Remote workers camp at any time of the year in any place from where they can work. They are usually dependent on WiFi connections or at least reliable mobile phone connections. They tend to tour the country, moving from one camp to another.
• Permanent campers are mostly people who have sold or rented out their houses, and camp all the time. They mostly remain on the same camping site.

Why do people become All-season or Lankstaan campers?

Retirees are on the increase as the population ages.

Remote workers are also growing as technology gets better and companies let their employees work from home. Covid 19 accelerated the growth of this group.

Permanent campers are two groups: one group are people who are such keen campers that they rent out or sell their houses, to be able to camp continuously. Another group are people who camp permanently due to financial constraints. These are often people who lost their jobs and can’t find work elsewhere in the economy.

Each of these groups has its own approach to camping based on the reason why they camp.

Camping Definitions and Terminology

The term ‘campsite” (Afr: kampplek) is wrongly used interchangeably for both a campsite and a campground in South Africa.

The correct terms are:

Campsite (Afr: kampplek) is a single plot with space for a caravan or tent. Occupation is usually limited to 4 people, which indicates that it is meant for a family.

Campground (Afr: kampterrein) is a collection of camping sites. The number of sites indicates the number of families, caravans or tents it can accommodate. The number of sites is usually dictated by the number of people the infrastructure of the camp is designed to accommodate. Wikipedia description.

Break camp (Afr: kamp/tent afslaan) means to take down a camping structure. Strike camp means to remove a tent and leave.

Pitch camp (Afr: tent/kamp opslaan) means to set up camp.

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In Afrikaans, the words “tent/kamp opslaan” and “tent/kamp afslaan” are often used interchangeably.

“Opslaan” means to erect camp, not break camp.
“Afslaan” means to break camp, not erect camp.

The incorrect use is probably because people talk of “opslaan” as they relate it to “oppak” (packing).

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When is camping long-term?

There are mainly three groups of campers which are classified according to how long they camp.

These are:

• Weekend or holiday campers are mostly families who camp over weekends and school holidays. They are the in-season campers.
• Long-term campers are campers who camp for longer than a month and who move from campground to campground, staying from a week to a month or longer at each campground.
• Permanent campers are mostly people who camp in one campground without moving.

The three groups can overlap in the way they camp.

The distinction between long-term camping and other types of camping has not been decisively debated mainly because long-term camping has only in recent years become more popular.

Campers who sold or rent their homes and are always on the road camping, call themselves long-term campers.

Campers who camp for a month and then return home, often consider themselves long-term campers.

We consider long-term campers as people who camp for at least a month in any campground regardless of whether they return home or move to another camp ground.

All Season Campers

Terminology is not important, lifestyle is.

Whether you are a weekend, a long-term or a permanent camper should be determined by how your camping lifestyle differs.

What camping accessories do the different camping groups take with them?

Long-term campers may take accessories that weekend campers may not, such as:

• bread makers,
• mixers for bread dough making,
• water filters,
• books,
• sewing machines,
• accessories to practice their hobbies,
• vacuum cleaners to keep caravans neat,
• air fryers,
• washing machines,
• Air coolers.

All-season campers tend to use accessories that they would use at home. They are more permanent than weekend campers.

How do all-season campers spend their time when they camp?

All-season campers are usually older people who have time on their hands, so they run the risk of boredom because they camp for long times and may find it difficult to keep themselves busy.

They do activities such as:

• hiking,
• reading,
• jewellery making,
• birding,
• biking,
• watching movies on Netflix,
• sewing,
• Investing and trading.

These activities are mostly the same as these campers would do when they are home.

In-season campers are usually younger or working people who don’t have much time because they only have a weekend or vacation available. They often visit campgrounds that offer entertainment and water sports.

What is the purpose of camping?

The purpose of camping is to rejuvenate and give oneself new vigour although the reason why people camp depends largely on the individual.

Some people camp to get out into nature. This is a popular motivation among South African campers because they grow up “close to the soil”.

With all-season campers, it is often to lead your life in pleasant surroundings. Pensioners and other retired people are often limited to their homes or retirement villages. They want to get out and be in pleasant surroundings, which nature offers them.

Health benefits of camping

Serotonin is a chemical messenger or neurotransmitter in the body that sends signals between nerve cells. The effect of Serotonin is that it puts you in a good mood.

It occurs mainly in the digestive system and assists in sleeping and digestion and plays a big role in counteracting anxiety and depression. Camping has health benefits because it creates opportunities for your body to manufacture serotonin.

What do you find in camping that increases serotonin levels?

• Exercise such as swimming, cycling, walking, jogging and hiking.
• Sunshine increases serotonin levels in the body.
• Observing nature aids human health by reducing anxiety and stress, creating a lower heart rate and aiding in shorter hospital stays.

The main health benefit of camping could well be that it is fun.

The fun in camping comes from different factors:

• The challenges posed by pitching camp and general camp life, force you to focus on what you are busy with to the exclusion of other matters. This keeps your brain healthy.
• Camping stimulates the brain because of the many new observations and experiences it creates.
• Research has shown that camping resets the natural biological clock because of less artificial light.
• It increases your vitamin D intake because campers are more in the sun.
• Camping increases the opportunity for more exercise even if it only leads to more walking.
• A better sleep experience helps in creating a positive mood which is experienced as “having fun”.

Camping is mentally and physically good for you. That may be why All-Season or Long-Stay Campers are social and nice people!

What should I take with me when camping long-term?

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