From Stockholm’s nightlife to the wilderness of Småland
“The simple life is often the richest.”
The story of Hätteboda Wilderness Camping began long before the first guests pitched their tents by the lake.
At the legendary Stampen nightclub in Stockholm, Maj-Britt and Per met for the first time. Maj-Britt shared stories from her extensive hitchhiking journey across Africa – an adventure that had lasted a year and a half and left a lasting impression on her. Her story inspired Per, who soon set off on a great adventure of his own at sea.
Together, they went on to live a life shaped by curiosity, travel, and encounters with people from all over the world. For many years, they sailed the world’s oceans and ran tourism operations in the Caribbean. On the Caribbean island of Antigua, Maj-Britt worked as a teacher at the teacher training college, while Per organized sailing trips for visitors.
After several years in the Caribbean, they regularly returned to Sweden during the summer months. It was then that they discovered Hätteboda Gård, a place that was initially intended as a summer residence but would soon become their new home.
Life took a new direction. The farm filled with sheep, dairy cows, and dogs, while memories of the sea and simple encounters with nature continued to inspire them. When Maj-Britt and Per returned to the Caribbean for a visit in the early 1990s, an old idea was revived – to create a place where people could disconnect from everyday life and get closer to nature.
In 1997, Hätteboda Vildmarkscamping opened.
The vision was simple yet uncommon. Here, guests would experience the peace of the forest, the closeness to the lake, and the sense of community around the campfire. The camping pitches were placed far apart to provide privacy and a personal space in nature. Instead of noise and stress, the aim was to offer birdsong, fishing, paddling, and evenings under the starry sky.
That fundamental idea still lives on today.
Our boat even ended up on the ten-dollar bills!
“We didn’t build a campsite. We created a place for peace and freedom.”
Hätteboda Vildmarkscamping is still a place for people seeking something simple, authentic, and close to nature. A place where families and friends can create memories together, surrounded by the peace and beauty of the Småland wilderness.
