Over the years, I’ve explored national parks across the U.S., and one thing that’s made these adventures even better is having the right gear. From a gear that makes sleeping more comfortable, cooking simpler, and lounging more appealing, to having a capable truck and trailer, there is no shortage of gear you can utilize to have a better time exploring.
Not that long ago, I met some folks who have an equally enthusiastic outlook about outdoor adventures. The team at Kruger Bush Campers has spent every summer tent camping in national parks around the U.S. Then, in the summer of 2023, they spent five weeks in Africa, and discovered a whole new way to camp. They brought this improved camping method to our shores with campers like the Springbok.
The Kruger Springbok camper is ideal for off-road travel, thanks to its compact size, durability, and features that cater to overlanders like you and me. So, with that in mind, let me walk you through why this camper is perfect for national park adventures and highlight some of my favorite parks where the Springbok truly shines!
Table of Contents
- A Quick Overview of the Kruger Springbok Camper
- Yosemite National Park, California<
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Zion National Park, Utah
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
- Glacier National Park, Montana
- Death Valley National Park, California
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina/Tennessee
- Is the Kruger Bush Springbok for You?
A Quick Overview of the Kruger Springbok Camper
The Kruger Bush Springbok camper is designed with overlanders in mind. Its nimble design makes it perfect for narrow and rugged roads often found in national parks. Some of the standout features include:
- Independent suspension and dual shock absorbers: This provides a smoother ride over rough terrain.
- Compact design: The camper measures around 16 feet long, making it easy to navigate tight spots.
- Off-grid capabilities: With solar panels, dual deep-cycle batteries, and a 2000W inverter, the Springbok can keep you powered when camping in national parks where power isn’t available and generators are forbidden.
- Creature comforts: A stainless steel slide-out kitchen, diesel heater, air conditioning, and freshwater storage (120L) make it possible to camp in comfort no matter the conditions.
- Durability: With an aluminum frame and insulated body panels, this camper is built to withstand a variety of climates and environments.
So, despite the Springbok being a compact camper, it’s chock-full of features and amenities that make any adventure more functional and comfortable. With a better understanding of the camper’s capabilities, let’s dive into the national parks that are perfectly suited for a trip with the Kruger Bush Springbok.
Yosemite National Park, California
Photo by David Grimes via Shutterstock
Yosemite is known for its iconic granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, and massive sequoia trees. However, many of its best spots, like Tuolumne Meadows, require navigating narrow, winding roads. That’s where the Springbok’s compact size comes in handy. It’s small enough to easily handle the park’s roads, yet still has all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay.
When visiting Yosemite, it’s not just about the driving—people flock to the park to hike, climb, fish, and other outdoor activities that really take it out of you. That’s why returning to camp where you can whip up a great meal to refuel is so important!
The Kruger Bush Springbok accommodates on this front with a rear kitchen slide-out with a sink and two stoves. The stainless steel construction of the slide makes it both durable and easy to clean, while the integrated drawer gives you ready-made space for items like cutlery and cooking utensils. After a long day hiking Half Dome, there’s nothing better than coming back to a hot meal made on the Springbok’s functional slide-out kitchen!
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Photo by Framalicious via Shutterstock
Yellowstone is the nation’s first national park and is scattered with geothermal features like geysers, mud pots, and hot springs, as well as vast wilderness areas perfect for watching bison, bears, wolves, and other wildlife (from afar, of course). A trip to Yellowstone demands multiple days to see just a fraction of the park’s wonders, including the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone shown above. And those days can be very long due to the size of the park.
Those long days in the park translate into tired bodies when it’s time to head back to camp, and on those occasions, a comfortable cabin to sleep in is a must. Again, the Kruger Bush Springbok accommodates your needs with not one, but two beds: 6.73 x 3.77-foot top bed and a sofa bed that measures more than 6.5 feet long and nearly 5 feet wide.
Not only that, but since this camper has a pop-top roof, you get so much more interior space than similarly-sized campers. With the tent up, the interior dimensions are 5.5 feet long, 5.5 feet wide, and more than 10 feet high at the tent’s peak. That’s not bad for a trailer that’s 16 feet long, 7 feet wide, and just over 7.5 feet high with the tent closed.
Zion National Park, Utah
Photo by Fotos593 via Shutterstock
Zion’s towering red cliffs and narrow canyons are some of the most stunning sights in the U.S., but navigating the park can be tricky, especially if you’re in a large rig. The Springbok’s compact design is ideal for squeezing through Zion’s narrow roads, like the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, which features tight switchbacks and tunnels that negate having a big rig in the park.
Of course, most people who visit Zion don’t see it from the highway that runs east-to-west through its boundaries. Instead, many folks park their vehicles and set out on foot to see the most impressive areas of the park, like The Narrows.
But if you’ve been to Zion before, you know two things to be true: There’s a lot of dirt and dust and it can be oppressively hot. When you’re working hard hiking in a dusty, hot area, nothing beats a shower back at camp to freshen up.
Again, we see how the Kruger Bush Springbok is a perfect companion for this need. The external shower gives you hot and cold water taps for the perfect temperature for washing up. The included PVC washroom means you can get cleaned up without giving your neighbors at camp a show, too! And with approximately 53 gallons of freshwater capacity, you can take a more leisurely shower without worrying if you have enough water.
Keep Reading: The Best National Parks to Visit in the Summer
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Photo by Danita Delimont via Shutterstock
Just south of Yellowstone is Grand Teton National Park, which is home to rugged mountains, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife. Though Yellowstone gets more glory, locals know that if you want to get up close to nature without as many tourists, the Tetons is where you go.
The park’s quieter, less-traveled roads are best accessed by a camper that can handle off-road conditions. The River Road, a rough four-wheel-drive-only track that skirts the Snake River, is a great example of this. Though you can’t camp along the road, it’s a fun detour to take on your way from one end of the park to the other.
The Springbok’s independent suspension and high-clearance chassis make it easy to venture off the main roads and find hidden gems like Shadow Mountain, where the views of the Teton Range are unbeatable. With the Shoshone National Forest – the nation’s first national forest – nearby, there are hundreds of miles of rugged trails you can explore to find a truly off-grid spot to enjoy the scenery.
You’ll need every bit of the Kruger Bush Springbok’s rugged build to get to some of these places, too. But that’s what this trailer was built for! Some of its off-road features include the following:
- One-piece welded and fully hot-dipped galvanized steel chassis (which has a layer of tar paint for added protection).
- Heavy-duty two-inch independent suspension with dual shock absorbers.
- 265/75 rR16 tires with aluminum alloy rims.
- Electric brakes and hand brake.
Additionally, this trailer has an aluminum alloy frame that’s both durable and lightweight. It’s a perfect companion for on-road and off-road travels!
Glacier National Park, Montana
Photo by high fliers via Shutterstock
Glacier National Park offers some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country, from jagged peaks to alpine meadows. In fact, it’s like visiting another planet; mountains reach for the sky in every direction, and they aren’t little mountains, either!
However, the roads can be narrow and twisty, especially on the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. The park’s roads are often quite busy, too, especially in the summer, which can make navigating the park in a large rig a little difficult. The Springbok’s compact, lightweight body makes it an ideal choice for navigating these challenging roads, while its rugged construction ensures it can handle the rough terrain if you find places to get off the pavement.
In Glacier, weather can change in an instant, so having a camper that’s well-insulated and prepared for any conditions is essential. The Springbok’s insulated body panels protect against the cold, as does the 2-5kw diesel heater that’s included with the trailer. Even if the weather outside is really chilly – which it can be year-round, the combination of the insulated camper body and diesel heater will keep you toasty warm. You don’t have to worry about your water freezing, either, because the freshwater tank is insulated, too!
Keep Reading: 4 Less-Traveled National Parks Ideal for Overlanding
Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley is one of the hottest, driest places on Earth, but that doesn’t stop folks like me from exploring its many wonders. From the Mesquite Flat Sand Duens to Badwater Basin and points in between, Death Valley offers incredible experiences that you simply cannot find anywhere else.
Of course, visiting such a hot place necessitates that you’re prepared for the heat. On the one hand, you need plenty of water, sunscreen, and clothing to keep the sun’s rays off your skin, like a large hat and a long-sleeved sun shirt.
On the other hand, you need a camper that can handle extreme heat, and the Kruger Bush Springbok meets the mark! Developed in Africa, the Springbok has everything you need to weather high temperatures. It features an onboard air conditioner to keep the cabin cool, and with the aforementioned insulated body panels, the cool air does a better job of staying inside where it belongs.
The large freshwater tank I mentioned earlier is certainly a bonus for exploring areas like Death Valley. With roughly 53 gallons of water in the tank, you’ll have plenty to drink for a weekend excursion to this incredibly beautiful, yet harsh area. The Springbok’s ability to withstand extreme temperatures and provide comfort in one of the most unforgiving places on Earth is truly impressive.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina/Tennessee
Photo by Jon Bilous via Shutterstock
The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for their lush forests, misty peaks, and abundant wildlife. Fortunately, you can see much of the park from its network of narrow, winding roads. This combination of beautiful terrain, wildlife, and ease of access is what makes this the most-visited national park in the nation.
Camping in the Smokies often means dealing with unpredictable weather, from rain to fog, so having a camper that can handle rough weather is a bonus. Most of the park’s campgrounds don’t have electric hookups, either, so the Springbok’s solar capabilities, 30-amp DC charger, 2,000-watt inverter, and dual 100ah deep-cycle batteries kept everything running smoothly, even on cloudy days.
The electrical system offers benefits beyond keeping the lights on. For example, the Kruger Bush Springbok comes standard with a 78-liter refrigerator. Load up your favorite food and beverages, head out for a week of exploring the Smokies, and never worry about whether your perishable food will be good or bad when you come back to camp!
Is the Kruger Bush Sprinkbok for You?
Exploring national parks with the Springbok camper makes every adventure more comfortable and accessible. Its compact design, off-grid capabilities, and rugged durability ensure that you can take on any terrain, from the deserts of Death Valley to the mountains of Glacier.
Having spent time in these parks, I can confidently say that the Kruger Bush Springbok is the perfect companion if you’re looking to experience the best national parks in the U.S. It’s simply a well-rounded trailer that’s at home on- and off-road, at sea level or high in the mountains, and at any point in between.
Just so you know, some of the cool stuff we mention comes with affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission if you buy (no extra charge to you!). Plus, we occasionally feature sponsored content, but rest assured, we only shout out products we genuinely stand behind.