Areena Riverside Resort
A nature lover's paradise near East London, offering wildlife encounters, adventure activities, and pet-friendly camping by the Kwelera River.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Fewer crowds, more relaxed vibe
Areena Riverside Resort
Best Time
Fewer crowds, more relaxed vibe
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A nature lover's paradise near East London, offering wildlife encounters, adventure activities, and pet-friendly camping by the Kwelera River.
"The staff is the BEST, from the Owner to the young, good looking office girls and each worker that is involved there."
Book Activities Early
Giraffe feeding & ziplining are popular. Book ahead to avoid disappointment!
Pet-Friendly Paradise
Bring your furry friends! Many campers rave about the pet-friendly atmosphere.
Quick Facts
Hours
Rating
4.4 · 69 reviews
Type
Lodging
Website
areenaresort.comHighlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Giraffe Feeding Experience
Areena Game Park
Get up close and personal with Abby the giraffe for an unforgettable feeding session. A must-do for all ages!
Safari Quad Bike Tours
Resort trails
Explore the scenic trails and river valleys on an exhilarating quad bike adventure. Thrills guaranteed!
Zing Zipline Tour
Resort adventure park
Soar through the trees on this exciting zipline tour, offering stunning views of the Kwelera River Valley.
Wildlife Encounters
Throughout the resort
Enjoy spontaneous sightings of buck, ostriches, peacocks, and even tortoises right at your campsite.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Book Activities in Advance
Embrace the Wildlife Encounters
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Activities Early
Giraffe feeding & ziplining are popular. Book ahead to avoid disappointment! +1
Pet-Friendly Paradise
Bring your furry friends! Many campers rave about the pet-friendly atmosphere.
Embrace Nature's Visitors
Expect wildlife sightings right at your campsite. Keep snacks secure! +1
Pack for Adventure
Comfortable shoes are a must for exploring trails and activities.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Activities Early
Giraffe feeding & ziplining are popular. Book ahead to avoid disappointment! +1
Pet-Friendly Paradise
Bring your furry friends! Many campers rave about the pet-friendly atmosphere.
Embrace Nature's Visitors
Expect wildlife sightings right at your campsite. Keep snacks secure! +1
Pack for Adventure
Comfortable shoes are a must for exploring trails and activities.
Restaurant Reservations
While food is great, service can be slow. Book activities with ample time.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Areena Riverside Resort is lauded for its stunning natural setting, abundant wildlife, and exceptionally friendly staff, creating a paradise for campers and families. While the restaurant can experience slow service, the overall value, pet-friendly atmosphere, and memorable animal encounters make it a highly recommended destination for a relaxing and adventurous getaway.
"Nestled right in nature. What sets this Areena campsite apart is its unwavering commitment to giving their campers the best time at the best price. The fact that you can camp with your 4 legged fur babies makes the experience unforgettable. Now you start counting the birds, fluffy little rabbits and the rest of the animals you will find yourself in paradise. With a river and mountains that looks like you are in Vietnam you will wonder in what country you are... don’t let the campground cheat you with its beauty, you will wonder if you walked into a small Switzerland village.
The staff is the BEST, form the Owner to the young, good looking office girls and each worker that is involved there. Friendliness and eagerness to assist with a big smile and the humour with their jokes, unbelievable. The ablutions was perfectly cleaned and moped every single day. Never ran out of toilet paper or hand soap.
Oh, if you are a pensioner you are in for a treat. Free pensioners lunch with sandwiches, pudding, cake and coffee once a week. Special rates at their restaurant, what more must they do to treat you like royalty. We planned and booked for 3 months camping, we cancelled another appointment and stayed a month longer. The best long-term camping price in the whole South Africa.
AREENA WANTS YOU THERE. :)"
Fanus Mare
"Well maintained. Great food. Friendly people. But poorly coordinated. Restaurant made it impossible to make our booking for activities although we left an hour to do so. Asked for latitude but landed up waiting an extra hour. Through no fault of ours. Each individual event great but the blaming each other and poor efficiency messed up the day."
Felicity Coughlan
"What was meant to be a 3 night stay, ended being 7 nights. What a wonderful campsite. Perfectly appointed and so clean. The ablutions were spotless. Situated on the Kwelera river and plenty of trees for shade. Canoes available at a very reasonable rate, so made the most of the opportunity. Loved the fact that we were visited daily but a buck, ostrich, peacock and even a big tortoise. One of the friendliest staff we have experienced in our road tripping in our campervan. Altogether, a fantastic experience and we will be back again. Thank you for giving us that space to chill and reboot. Well done to all"
Lyn Krebser
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
Areena Riverside Resort is conveniently located just about 30 minutes from East London, making it an easy getaway. +1
The resort is easily accessible via a short drive from East London. Many visitors mention it's a quick trip, often around 20-30 minutes. +1
While specific public transport routes aren't detailed, most visitors arrive by private vehicle or campervan, highlighting its accessibility for road trips.
The resort is situated along the Kwelera River, and directions from East London are straightforward, often involving a scenic drive.
If coming from further away, driving is the most common method. The resort is well-signposted once you're in the vicinity of East London.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
The giraffe feeding experience is priced at R250 per person for groups of 4 or more, or R800 for fewer than 3 people.
Yes, it's highly recommended to book popular activities like the Zing Zipline Tour in advance, especially during busy periods, to secure your spot.
Yes, Areena Riverside Resort offers various accommodation options, including camping sites and other lodging, with different pricing.
Absolutely! Areena Riverside Resort offers various adventure activities that are open to both day visitors and guests staying at the resort.
Yes, pensioners can enjoy special rates, including a free weekly lunch with sandwiches, pudding, cake, and coffee, and discounted restaurant prices.
🎫 🏞️ Onsite Experience
You can encounter a variety of animals, including giraffes, buck, ostriches, peacocks, and even tortoises roaming freely around the resort. +1
Yes, Areena offers numerous family-friendly adventure activities such as giraffe feeding, quad biking, and ziplining. +2
Yes, it's a highly-rated campsite with well-maintained facilities, situated by the Kwelera River, offering a serene camping experience. +1
Canoes are available for rent at a very reasonable rate, allowing you to enjoy the Kwelera River.
The ablution facilities are consistently praised for being perfectly cleaned, well-maintained, and always stocked with toilet paper and hand soap. +1
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
Yes, there is an on-site restaurant that receives positive mentions for its great food. +1
The resort offers a popular Sunday lunch for R150, which is considered well worth the price by many guests.
Some reviews mention that service can be slow, with waits for food, so it's advisable to factor this in. +1
Yes, day visitors can also enjoy the offerings at the on-site restaurant.
Pensioners can enjoy special rates at the restaurant, adding to the value for older visitors.
📸 📸 Photography
The Kwelera River Valley offers stunning views, and the presence of diverse wildlife like giraffes and ostriches provides excellent photo opportunities.
Yes, with animals like giraffes, buck, and ostriches roaming freely, you'll have plenty of chances for memorable wildlife shots.
The resort boasts views of the Kwelera River Valley, which are often compared to landscapes in Vietnam or Switzerland, offering picturesque backdrops.
Mornings and late afternoons often provide softer light and more active wildlife, ideal for capturing stunning photographs.
While activities like ziplining are thrilling, it's best to secure your phone or camera beforehand. For quad biking, consider a phone mount for action shots. +1
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit