Karoo and the Garden Route. April 2024
2. Camdeboo National Park and Nieu Bethesda.
Camdeboo National Park.
Kevin and I have stayed here on several occassions but we've always camped.
This time we stayed in the tented camp which has tents set well apart with a separate communal kitchen area and ablutions. There's a braai at each tent as well as a communual braai / fire pit area.
We arrived in the early afternoon and after settling in went for a drive to the Valley of Desolation and then drove back through the game area.
We first stopped at the point which overlooks the town of Graaff-Reinet and the Nqweba dam which looked to be nearly full. The camp is amongst the trees to the north-east of the lake. It was a clear afternoon with hardly any wind so had a lovely view of the surrounding area.
These flat topped hills are know as Karoo Koppies.
The lookout point with the town far below.
From the lookout point we drove up to the car park and took the short walk to the area known as the Valley of Desolation where:
"Sheer cliffs and precariously balanced columns of Dolerite rise 120 metres from the valley floor, against the timeless backdrop of the vast plains of the Camdeboo. This is the product of volcanic and erosive forces of nature over 100 million years".
Nieu Bethesda
This little town is a green oasis in the Karoo as it has a permanent water supply. Originally a farming area the town is now known for its art - there are craft shops, galleries, potteries and sculpture gardens – most famously, the late Helen Martins’ unusual “Owl House”.
We stopped for a look around the town with a visit to the Owl House followed by lunch in the garden at The Brewery and Two Goats Deli.
Last updated: July 2024