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The Camdeboo National Park is located in the Eastern Cape Province and surrounds the Karoo dorpie called Graaff- Reinet.
This is the perfect stop when making your way to the Garden Route coast. We headed to the coast after we stopped at Nieu-Bethesda and Camdeboo. We paid the entrance fee at the gate and made our way to the viewpoints.
You can ask for a map or just follow the tar road that’ll lead you to the two famous viewpoints. But there are also so many other great things to do at the Camdeboo National Park.
Basic information
Operation Time: Monday to Sunday – 07h00 to 19h00
Cost: R50 per person
Things to do at Camdeboo National Park
1. Visit the viewpoints
The viewpoints are probably the main attraction at the National Park. Once you’ve paid the entrance fee at the gate, you just continue straight on the tar road. There are turn-off roads that are gravel roads but just ignore these.
1.1 Toposcope viewpoint
The first viewpoint is the Toposcope, which will be located on your left side. Park your car here and make your way up the viewpoint. Here you’ll have a great view of Graaff-Reinet and the Nqweba dam.
They also recently added the famous yellow frame, which has the Valley of Desolation in the far background. One to add to your photo list.
1.2 Valley of Desolation viewpoint
From the Toposcope viewpoint, make your way to the Valley of Desolation viewpoint. Park at the ablutions and walk the short walk up to the viewpoint. It is a steady climb at the beginning, but honestly easily manageable for the unfit.
Here you will find a platform overlooking the Valley of Desolation. So what is the Valley of Desolation?
It refers to the 120 meters towering and rugged dolerite columns with the stunning Karoo as its backdrop. These columns were formed by volcanic and erosive forces millions of years ago.
2. Go hiking
There are three trails to choose from:
2.1 The Crag Lizard Trail
This trail will take you about 45 minutes to complete. It is an easy 1.5 km trail that starts at the Valley parking area. Just follow the Crag Lizard logo.
2.2 The Eerstefontein Day walk.
There are three route options for this one which vary from 5km to 14km. The trails start and end at the Spandaukop gate.
2.3 The Gideon Scheepers Trail
This trail will take you about an hour to complete. It starts at the Gideon Scheepers Monument and ends at the Barbegat on the R63 to Murraysburg.
3. Visit the picnic sites
There are various picnic spots with braai and ablution facilities. These are:
- Impunzi picnic area
- Ribbokberg picnic area
- Mountain drive picnic area
- Babergat picnic area
- Piekniekbos picnic area
- Koedoeskloof braai sites
4. Game drives
North of the Nqweba Dam is 19km of gravel roads that will give you the opportunity to see some wildlife. These might include some buffalo, eland, black wildebeest, and different types of bucks.
Explore Graaff-Reinet a bit more
Graaff-Reinet is also a unique Karoo town with some really cute restaurants and shops. We stopped for breakfast at Our Yard and grabbed coffee at Maria’s Superior Coffee. It is such a relaxed vibe and the food was also really delicious. Definitely stop here whenever you are driving past or staying over.
There are also some great accommodation spots in the area that also gives that luxury Karoo vibes. Check out some of the accommodations:
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Definitely looking foward to the explore the Karoo,this desolation valley reminds me of the same mountains in some China province. Thanx for the tips at least I know we’re to start when I visit the Karoo
You will love it! Such a beautiful part of South Africa 😁 Enjoy your travels to the Karoo