Camdeboo Nasionalepark Verblyf

 

With the great Eastern Cape Karoo as a backdrop, Camdeboo National Park lies in the foothills of the Sneeuberge Mountains. This semi-desert, Eastern Cape environment is home to the world famous Valley of Desolation - a magnificent Eastern Cape geological feature formed hundreds of millions of years ago. Evidence of its ancient beginnings are etched in the prehistoric fossils which lie on the valley floor, as well as in artefacts which bear witness to Camdeboo National Park's stone age occupation. The Khoisan, known as 'Africa's first people', have also left their mark in the painted rock shelters in the East of the Camdeboo National Park.

The viewpoints overlooking the spectacular Eastern Cape Camdeboo plains provide breathtaking vistas of the unique 'outerworld' landscape, with dolerite pillars which frame the southern slopes of the valley rising up like gnarled fingers pointing at the sky. These jagged obelisks were formed when the softer sedimentary bedrock eroded away, leaving the stark pillars stretching to heights of 120 metres.
Proclaimed a National Monument in 1935, the breathtaking scenic beauty of the Camdeboo National Park Valley of Desolation is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Also known as the 'Cathedral of Mountains', this imposing area of the Eastern Cape inspires a humbling sense of awe with it's towering peaks, carpets of spring flowers and sublime stillness bringing one close to the Divine.

WhereToStay in Camdeboo National Park, Eastern Cape

There are only a few places to lay your head in Camdeboo National Park, and in keeping with the 'down to Earth' character of the Eastern Cape Valley of Desolation, Camdeboo Accommodation at Lakeview Tented Camp offers rustic furnished tents which provide a relaxed, nature experience. Each tent sleeps two people and has a braai unit, fridge, table and two chairs. Bedding and towels are provided. There is a communal kitchen equipped with stove plates, cooking and eating utensils and microwave. Tents are booked as individual units, but there is also a communal braai area for group use. There are communal showers and toilets.

Eastern Cape Camdeboo Accommodation also offers caravan and camping sites. Fifteen caravan or tent sites are situated beneath the thorn trees at Nqweba Campsite. Each site has a braai unit and powerpoint. A communal kitchen provides deep freeze, stove top and microwave facilities, while the communal ablutions have showers, toilets and a universally accessible unit.
See the WhereToStay Camdeboo Accommodation page for more info.

Towns near Eastern Cape Camdeboo National Park with WhereToStay listings

The Camdeboo National Park is unique in that it embraces the historic town of Graaff Reinet, Eastern Cape, which lies in a bend of the Sundays River in the shadow of the rocky Sneeuberg Mountains. This little Eastern Cape Graaff Reinet village known as the 'gem of the Karoo' is well worth a visit, not least because of its preservation of the character of a typical 19th century town with over 200 buildings claimed as National Monuments, including some of the original slave cottages. For overnight lodgings, Graaff Reinet Accommodation offers Graaff Reinet Bed & Breakfast Accommodation at Aa'Qtansisi Guest House - the name ' Aa'Qtansisi' derived from the authentic, original Khoisan language meaning "we welcome you". Or, stay in traditional Graaff Reinet Self Catering Accommodation which upholds the towns 'old worlde' tradition.

Further North (67.8km from Camdeboo Accommodation) lies the charming little Eastern Cape town of Nieu-Bethesda, set in a picturesque and fertile valley dominated by the magnificent Eastern Cape Compassberg as a backdrop. The village of Nieu-Bethesda has become a popular retreat for artists, and because of its unique appeal, this is a place that no visitor should miss.

Stay in Nieu-Bethesda Bed & Breakfast Accommodation where you can relax on the stoep and watch village life pass by at the unhurried pace of bygone times. For longer stays, discover Africa's outback at Weltevreden Guest Farm - Nieu-Bethesda Guest Farm Accommodation tucked away in the folds of the Eastern Cape Sneeuberg Mountains. Weltevreden Guest Farm is also Eastern Cape Pet Friendly Accommodation, who will welcome both you and your furry friends. See the WhereToStay Nieu-Bethesda Accommodation page for more info.

Things to do in and around around Eastern Cape Camdeboo National Park accommodation

This spectacular Eastern Cape environment is a photographers dream, and playground to adventure lovers who love wide open, expansive  landscapes, and seek the thrill of rugged mountain biking and 4x4 trails which take drivers to the top of the Eastern Cape Winterhoek Mountain plateau. Along the way look out for Cape mountain zebra (an endangered species), blesbok, kudu, mountain reedbuck, klipspringer and baboons.
Those who prefer their feet firmly on the ground will enjoy the Camdeboo National Park hikes along one of the short or long hiking trails. Bird viewing is in abundance, with sightings of over 250 bird species which include ostriches, southern pale chanting goshawks, lesser honeyguides, speckled mousebirds, brown-hooded kingfishers, and of course, the mighty black eagle which soars overhead.

For the watersport enthusiast, the Nqweba Dam lying within the Eastern Cape Camdeboo National Park covers over 1 000 hectares when full, and provides 'cool' fun for the whole family with boating, canoeing and windsurfing. The avid fisherman will delight in the Eastern Cape Nqweba Dam fish selection, as moggel, common carp, African catfish, mullet, round herring, mosquito fish and river goby are plentiful.
If you're in the Eastern Cape Camdeboo National Park area around March, don't miss the annual 'Camdeboo Dam Day', which features the 'Anything That Floats' competition, where contestants create a home-built float and race each other on the E.Cape Nqweba Dam for a whole lot of fun.

How to get to Eastern Cape Camdeboo National Park Accommodation

- Directions to Lakeview Tented Camp and Nqweba Campsite - the gate is four kilometres out of Graaff-Reinet off the N9 to Middleburg.
- To the Camdeboo Valley of Desolation and game viewing area - the gate is reached 5km from Graaff-Reinet accommodation on the R63 to Murraysburg.

Cape Town Airport is the nearest international airport, and the nearest domestic airport in Port Elizabeth.
From Cape Town, take the N1 highway towards Beaufort West. Pass through the town of Beaufort West and then turn right onto the R61 to Aberdeen. At Aberdeen, take the N9, left towards Graaff-Reinet.
- Beaufort West to Graaff-Reinet - 209 km
- Cape Town to Graaff-Reinet - approx. 600 km
From Port Elizabeth, take the R75 to Jansenville and Graaff-Reinet. Port Elizabeth to Graaff-Reinet - 251 km

Camdeboo National Park Weather

The best time to visit the Camdeboo National Park is during spring when the wildflowers are blooming. The summer months between October to April can reach temperatures around 38.6°C, while in winter (May to September), Camdeboo temperatures can drop to -0.3°C.
It is important to know that the Eastern Cape Camdeboo National Park weather can suddenly change, with summer thunder storms bringing on cool weather in the higher Eastern Cape Camdeboo mountain regions.

Visit The WhereToStay Eastern Cape, Camdeboo Accommodation Page

We make a concerted effort to recruit a selection of suitable Camdeboo Accommodation, Eastern Cape, particularly the more popular category such as Camdeboo Game Reserve Accommodation.

Our aim is to present a mixture of Camdeboo Self Catering Accommodation to suit all pockets and tastes.

Suitable Camdeboo National Park Accommodation can also be found in Graaff Reinet - 15.8km from Camdeboo National Park Accommodation, and Nieu-Bethesda - 67.8km from Camdeboo National Park Accommodation.

Afrikaans alternate search phrase - Camdeboo National Park akommodasie or Camdeboo National Park akomodasie.