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Date: 2025-04-09
Departure From: Kamp Uitsig Vanderkloof Dam
Departure Time: 08h45
Destination Name: Camdeboo National Park (Graaff-Reinet)
Arrival Time: 13h30
Total Travel time: 4.45 hours
Weather:
Overcast with patches of blue sky
Departure Temperature: 11C
Peak Temperature: 19C
Odometer Reading (km):
Start: 240 301
End: 240 675
Total Distance: 37
Includes 331km drive & 43km day drive
Passes:
Passes:
Lootsberg Pass [Tar]
Naudesberg Pass [Tar]
Paardekloof Pass [Tar]
Goliatskraal Pass [Tar]
Perrieshoogte Pass [Tar]
Trip Summary:
Trip Summary:
I woke up and it was chilly. I glanced through the rooftop tent window and saw thick mist. I put on the kettle for my morning coffee and Hennie came by to open the camp gate at about 06h45. We chatted for a while about his travels and the town. By 07h45 the mist started lifting.
We continued along the pot-holed R369 through big-sky territory where farmers farmed with sheep, goats and springbuck. As we got closer to Middelburg, road crews had erected stop / go's so they could repair the road.
Once we joined the N9 at Middelburg, the road improved and the traffic increased. We stopped off at the Jagtpoort farm stall just North of the Lootsberg Pass for compliance purposes. There was not much to offer except dried peaches, beef droewors (dry sausage) and biltong.
What a stunning view of Graaff-Reinet Landscape
Jagtpoort Farm Stall compliance stop
Philip feeling on top of the world
After checking in at Reception, we continued to our camp site to pitch camp. Reception informed us that we may not cross the Sundays River to view game on the northern side of the nature reserve due to all the rain and flooding. There were only a handfull of campers. The camp sites are located within hearing distance of large trucks travelling along the N9 highway. After all our hard work setting up camp, Daleen made lunch and we sat down to discuss the plan for the afternoon. Daleen opted to stay at camp so Mike and I took a game drive past the Nqweba dam (previously Vanryneveldpas dam), up into the Winterhoek mountains. We did not see a single sign of wildlife. They were all down on the grassy plains near the Nqweba dam.
The drive took us to the top of the mountain that overlooks Graaff-Reinet. What stunning views.
View from the mountain top looking at the Nqweba dam (Vanryneveldpas)
Nqweba dam (Vanryneveldpas) wall - Looking pretty full for the 1st time in many years
We returned to camp at about 16h00 for evening drinks. Due to threatening weather, we braaied early and sat under the Bush Lapa awning sharing adventure stories. By 20h15, the rain came down and we scurried into our burrows for the rest of the evening.
On our arrival, it was nice to see they were painting the reception area. A clean reception always makes for a pleasant arrrival.
The camp sites are really for one caravan and vehicle. We managed to squeeze in with one caravan and 2 vehicles. Each site has a braai, dustbin, electrical point and bench table. A water point is shared amongst 4 camp sites. Each camp site is pretty private because thick bush separates the various sites. The ablutions are clean and in good working condition.
Camdeboo Camp Site #2
The Route:
The Route:
Camdeboo Game Drive up the mountain
Places travelled:
Vanderkloof
Phillipstown
Hanover
Middelburg
Graaff-Reinet
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