Boegoeberg

Boegoeberg offers 20 camping sites, some self catering units, a guest house, lapa, 4×4 trail and spectacular views.

It is about 20Km from Clanwilliam and 18Km from Graafwater.

There are no formal hiking and mountain biking trails but you are allowed to walk on the 4×4 routes and on the farm.  The view from the route is spectacular. There is enough gravel roads and 4×4 trails to keep a muntain biker busy for most of the weekend.

I went for a short hike one morning and saw a pair of Verreaux’s (Black) Eagle (Witkruisarend) on one of the cliffs. According to the owner, Sybrie de Beer, there is another pair close to one of the rustic camps.

At the camping site you can relax in a big swimming pool. There are clean hot showers and flush toilets. The hot water comes from a “Donkey” .

At the camp sites you will have to choose between having grass on your camp site or camping under nice big trees. The grass does not grow under the big trees, thus you cannot have both.

There are spring water taps at some of the camping sites and the camping sites share some mobile braais.

Braai

There is a communal braai and lapa for big groups. The lapa also came in handy when it started to rain on our first night. There are two fire places, tables and chairs inside the lapa.

In the lapa is a shop which sells wood, ice, sweets, cold drinks and all the little ods and ends your normally forgot when you packet for the camp. You can even order freshly baked farm bread or “roosterkoek” if you feel like it. Please note that you must order this in time, they do not keep it in stock.

The 4×4 routes vary between a upper 3 and lower 4 grading. I would suggest that novices do not try this route on their own. If you go with experienced 4×4 drivers you will be able to do the route. It is a well maintained route and if you know what you are doing you will not damage your vehicle, unless of course if your vehicle are fitted with those silly aluminium side steps. If you have a soft 4×4 you might loose some tupperware. Your vehicle MUST have low range, high ground clearance and a diff-lock just makes it so much easier.

This is one of the best routes I drove so far. You can see Clanwilliam, Lambertsbaai and even Klein Tafelberg when on the route. There are some scary parts and enough challenges for those who seek some adventure. As I said before, if you are not an experienced 4×4′er, do not try this one on your own.

While on the route you will find one rugged little house and one rugged camping site.

Buurman se gat

The house at “Buurman se gat” is about 2.5km from the base camp. It is a stone house build behind a huge rock. It can sleep six people. There is an long drop toilet and cold shower. No running water and  no electricity. All you will find here is peace, quiet, stars, spectacular view and perhaps you will even find your soul here. (see pictures below)

At “Die Kliphuis” camp which is about 5km from the base camp you have the luxury of a hot (donkey powered) shower, flushing toilets but you have to pitch your tent for the night. I would highly recommend this camp for those who would like to get away from it all.

Over weekends you can also order a prepared meal. This normally includes a starter, so meat for main course with 2 salads and freshly baked bread and fresh jam. If you go in a big group (15 or more vehicles) you can also order a spit braai for the evening. If the group is big enough Sybrie will sponsor the sheep and you only pay for the salads and bread.

Die boerseuns (en dames) onder ons kan selfs Avfal bestel indien jy dit vroegtydig doen.

All and all the camping site, facilities and 4×4 route are all well maintained. The host is very friendly and helpful and has a good knowledge about the plants and animals in the area. It was a pleasure to visit Boegoeberg and I will definitely return, perhaps next time it would be a week long stay at one of the rustic camps.

To book your spot at this popular camping site give Sybrie or Julize a call on

Telephone Number +27 (0)27 482-2933
Fax Number +27 (0)27 482-2933
Cellphone Number +27 (0)83 632-2634

Boegoeberg Entrance

Camp Site at Boegoeberg

Campsite at Boegoeberg

Mobile braai at campsites

Water at campsite

Communal Braai at boegoeberg

Swimming pool at Boegoeberg

Stoep at Lapa

Ablution

Kitchen sink

Shower

Donkey

Boegoeberg 4x4 route

View from Boegoeberg 4x4 Route

Boegoeberg 4x4 route view

Buurman se gat Camp at Boegoeberg

Buurman se gat Camp at Boegoeberg

Toilet at Buurman se gat

View from Buurman se gat Camp at Boegoeberg

Kliphuis Camp

Bathrooms at Kliphuis Camp

Playing in the sand in the river at Boegoeberg

More information supplied by Boegoeberg:

This scenic route with a panoramic view of the sea in the West and the Cederberg mountains in the East, is set high in the “Engelsman-se-berg” on the Farm Lambertshoek, overlooking Graafwater and Clanwilliam. Buchu is still being actively cultivated and a variety of activities is offered to visitors.

The initial roads in the mountains were made to harvest the Buchu, which grows high in the mountains. Prior to the roads, the harvested Buchu had to be carried down the mountain by hand and donkey. These roads now form part of the Boegoeberg 4×4 trail. From the start of the trail, the climb begins passing interesting places en-route like “Buurman-se-gat”, “Sarel-se-kop”, Kliphuis, Die Poort, Groenvlei and Stillerus until you reach the Platklip viewpoint where a panoramic view awaits participants.

The 4×4 trail with a distance of ± 30km offers a variety of challenges from steep ascents and descents to technical driving sections where you will negotiate your passage around and over large rock formations. On the last section to the Platklip viewpoint a stream is crossed on numerous occasions. The difficulty of this section can vary depending on the time of year the trail is visited. Your driving skills and your vehicle traction will definitely be tested, but with the peace of mind that you will not damage your vehicle.

The farm also offers a guesthouse, a farm shop stocking basic necessities and the beautiful sandstone cottage, “Buurman-se-gat”, about 2km from the start of the 4×4 trail. This thatched roof cottage, built against a natural rock overhang, with an indoor fireplace, an outside bush shower and a sea view toilet, is an ideal breakaway place for a weekend. The charm of this cottage is unbelievable. A short hike of 10 minutes will take you to a beautiful waterfall in the valley, with shade and water all year around.

A further two sandstone cottages are to be built in the mountains, one at Kliphuis and the other at Kliphoutkop. Both these cottages will have the same charm as “Buurman-se-gat”.

Two campsites are available on the farm for visitors, one at the start of the trail, under large trees and next to a dam, the other on top of the mountain at the Kliphuis. Both campsites offer basic toilet facilities and fresh water.