Wild camping in South Africa — what is actually legal and what will get you arrested?

Back from 4 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Upington.

The spot: Walk-in only, no advance booking, and we had it to ourselves mid-week.

Facilities: Full ablutions with hot showers, braai stands, and a basic tuck shop.

Wildlife: Heard lion calling two nights — spine-tingling from inside a rooftop tent.

What worked: The Engel fridge ran the full trip on 182Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 222W solar. Didn't need the generator once.

What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.

Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.