Travelling to a campsite is always a mix of excitement and anxiety. Will it look as nice as the website? Will there be enough space? Will the other campers be friendly? But when you arrive at Wilde Heimat in the Uckermark, any doubts you have disappear. Set amongst pine forests on the banks of the Havel river, this idyllic campsite does things very differently. Instead of metal fences and concrete parking spaces, you are met with meadows, wooden huts and endless trees. The people are equally welcoming, not least owners Kristin and Martin who have created a place that’s far more than just a functional place to sleep. You feel an almost festival-like sense of community amongst your fellow campers: there are nighttime guitar sessions in the covered campfire huts, natural playgrounds where children can make friends and a charming outdoor kitchen with a barbecue that moves on rails. Those looking for some quiet time won’t be disappointed: you can happily stay by your tent or camper van, for which there seems to be endless amounts of grassy space.
Located on the outskirts of “Wasserstadt” Fürstenberg 90km north of Berlin, the site is a great base to explore the Uckermark region, though there’s plenty to do locally: swimming or canoeing in the fish-filled Havel, cycling, walking, table tennis, archery… the list goes on. All the gear you need can be rented onsite, and Kristin and Martin will even lend you a pizza oven if you get tired of barbecuing. In keeping with the wild camping theme, sanitary facilities are basic but clean and have plentiful hot water, though you might not even need it after a dip in the crystal clear waters at the river bathing spot. At the end of your nature-packed day, you walk back to your tent amongst the stars, campfires and distant guitars, and wonder if you’ll ever bring yourself to leave…
Text & Photos: Benji Haughton
Wilde Heimat, Zehdenicker Str.34d, 16798 Fürstenberg/Havel; map
An online reservation is recommended; you can view live availability on the website. The site can be reached by car or train and bike via Fürstenberg.
@wildeheimat.de
