Camdeboo National Park — Attraction in Camdeboo Local Municipality

Camdeboo National Park is a unique and captivating destination located in the Karoo region of South Africa. Established in 2005, it spans approximately 194 square kilometers and almost completely surrounds the historic town of Graaff-Reinet.

Key Highlights: Valley of Desolation: This iconic feature of the park is renowned for its dramatic dolerite pillars and breathtaking views. The cliffs rise up to 120 meters, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape. Nqweba Dam: The park includes the Nqweba Dam, which provides opportunities for water-based activities such as fishing, boating, and bird watching. Wildlife: Camdeboo is home to a variety of wildlife, including kudu, springbok, Cape buffalo, and numerous bird species. The park's diverse habitats support a rich array of flora and fauna. Activities: Visitors can enjoy game drives, hiking trails, and 4x4 eco-trails. The park also offers picnic spots and bird hides for a more relaxed experience. Accommodation: Options range from campsites at Nqweba Camp Site to more comfortable stays at Lakeview Tented Camp and Camdeboo Rest Camp.

Visitor Experience: Camdeboo National Park offers a serene and picturesque setting, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Its combination of rugged landscapes, rich biodiversity, and historical significance provides a memorable experience for...

Exquisite mountains and views. Majestic scenery at the Valley of Desolation. Camdeboo is great for game viewing at the far end of the park. Graaff Reinet is a special historic and cultural experience.

Saw a variety of antelope including Duiker, and Cape Mountain Zebra.

The tented accommodation is pleasant, braais are cleaned daily.

But - very sadly Vervet Monkeys in prolific numbers are an absolute plague. They rule the roost. One has no freedom to handle food, tents have to be zipped if the zips work, and locked, even going to the bathroom.

The Park needs to maintain their property. Toilets had missing plastic roof sheeting so you are moving in and out of a puddle while getting rained on.

Showers are hot and pleasant. Kitchen facilities with a locker in the locked up cage area has everything needed.

The park was quiet, green, friendly staff, with clean tents and bedding.

Tell staff on arivals you do not wish to have your room serviced. Ours was serviced without us being aware of it.

Love the park and Graaff Reinet. Just know that entering and exiting takes you past the local...

The park is not a Big 5 park, and is a bit on the small side, but is great for an overnight camping trip. The open savannah area was flush with bok and wildebeest, with meerkat and ground squirrels aplenty. Birding was decent, although I only recorded 48 species in a 36 hour period. Make sure to stop at the cistern near point 5 to look for some of the smaller birds.

My one main complaint was with the south-east part of the park. Although it is marked for 4x4, the reception told us that the first loop is alright for lower clearance vehicles. Although you may be alright if you take the first left and turn around at the base of the hill, we forged on to finish the loop mentioned, and had a precarious and unpleasant experience once we made it up the hill and saw it only got worse. So, to clarify, DO NOT go up the hill and finish the loop. Turn around and go back along the same road if you decide to come to this area at all. That being said, there was very little game (one kudu) in the area, so perhaps only come if you want a fun...