Anyone that's been there of late...better spot for camping? sanddrif or kromrivierl?

Is truitjieskraal still open for climbing? Was there earlier this year and it was.

The decision of course is influenced by the availability of climbs. In our group we will probably only be climbing Sport and up to 19's. Advise on accommodation?

Btw, truitjieskraal has been deleted off the routes wiki, I do still have info in my guide, but any specific reason this was removed?

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Strangers have the best candy!

Hi

If you are going to be sport climbing exclusively then Krom is a more sensible bet, make a day trip to Sanddrift crag (don't forget to get permits). On the whole Sanddrift is a nicer campsite with better shade and grass but it is busier. Krom is closer to Truitjieskraal.

Nuwerus/Rooiberg is another good sport climbing destination and quite close to both campsites (or you can camp there too)

Routes at Truitjieskraal
Routes at Rooiberg
Routes at Sanddrift

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Happy climbing
Nic

Just remembered...some time ago we went up to the Sanddrif cracks and saw bolted routes inside the main crack. What is that all about?

Thanks Nic. Been to truitjies before, awesome place, was only able to spend one day there last time. Sanddrif seems more set up and well looked after, even got electricity, whereas kromrivier doesn't, but again, not that it bothers me much. Wasn't aware of rooiberg, it looks like we might spend two days there as well.

Thanks very much for info! Will see what we do after the mountainbike trip at rocklands. De pakhuys is always a winner!

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Strangers have the best candy!

liz, the bolts at wolfberg are the remnant of some exploratory bolting done in the late 80s and early 90s - there hasn't been any bolting in years and it is prohibited. some classic routes like red rain (26) has a sell by date in that the bolts will not be replaced once they are obsolete.

ben, get tony lourens' guide "Wolfberg Cracks - Southern Cederberg"; it includes truitjieskraal and shows all the sport & trad routes (except the new ones opened from 2010).

Moks, those hangers on the true left are mighty shiny for 20 year old bolts. Was wondering the same thing last time I was there

I already find it so hard to contain myself. Ye, that book is on my list of to-buy's Mok, I assume city rock's got them or camp & climb. I was just wanting to check what's in the western cape crabs book, I mean crags. I remember I got a lof climbs in there, making buying another book obsolete. Unfortunately my book has been relocated and I will go fetch it this weekend. Knowing myself I would probably have created a detailed guide in pdf format from the route wiki and two other sites.

Dammit it's with trips like these that I wish I had enough trad experience (and a rack), the options are so limitless. As much as I love sport climbing, I feel so unfree following bolts and a chalktrail...

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Strangers have the best candy!

i assumed the current bolts are only for the routes as shown in the guide (which i think the newest were bolted in '91). were there some sneaky europeans up there?

bennie, trad season is around the corner boet - we'll get you in the game

There are bolts that have been added approximately 6 years ago, (two separate lines, I think) on the eastern wall of the main crack, about half way between the bottom of the crack and knobless Robot. They must have been put there illegally, probably by foreigners (or by someone who has never owned up to doing it). I have never seen anything written up about these routes (I presume Tony purposefully left them out of his route guide), or heard of anyone climbing them, but I think they may have been previously discussed on this forum, and I think there was talk of chopping them at that stage. I don't know if this was ever done?

Western Cape Rock only has some of the sport climbing and none of the trad routes, the Wolfberg book has almost all the trad routes and pretty much all the sport routes in the area so it is totally worth buying. New routes should all be on the Wiki.

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Happy climbing
Nic

Adding it to shopping cart in that case... Thx again Nic...

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Strangers have the best candy!

Ok, so had a look at both sanddrift and nuwerus now. It seems nuwerus has more activities onsite and the better bet for sport climbing, hiking and mountainbiking. Does anybody know how the campsite compares to sanddrift?

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Strangers have the best candy!

Rooiberg camping is very nice. similar to Sandrift. The owners have a Lapa/bar (DSTV for the sports fans, this is how I convince Tristan to go sport climbing!) at the campsite and usually build a big fire on busy weekends for a communal braai The climbing is very good but make sure and check out the wiki as not all the routes are in the guide. Enjoy.
Scott

here is the website. http://www.cederbergexperience.co.za/index.htm

Thx scott. It does seem not all the climbs are in the tony lourens book. Got info off wiki as well. We decided to stay at nuwerus ye. Thx all. If anyone is there come pop in for a drink, look out the green gazebo and silver toyota bakkie.

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Strangers have the best candy!

I feel I need to provide some feedback on our experience in the Cederberg, but more speficically Nuwerust. Holy Shit, I have not experienced such hospitality in a while. Simply speaking on the phone, the people at Sanddrift manage to piss me off with their "go-fuck-yourself" rude attitude within 34.5 secs. I will never ever camp there, I vote with my wallet and I open my mouth. This was exactly the opposite experience at Nuwerust. Not only did I spend almost 30 minutes with Louise on the phone as she explained and advised us with the our itenary, but she e-mailed me links and a specific weather-site.

On arrival Wednesday, they cleaned our campsite after assisting us in selecting a spot. On departure, they phoned ahead to find out about river crossings given the rain two days ago. The higher levels of water also stopped us from boulder hopping to get to Rooiberg, and Louise ran over to tell us that she phoned and arranged access over other's farms lands so we can drive closer on the other side of the river and get to climb at Rooiberg, and then ESCOURTING us so we won't get lost. They let me into their private home to watch a specific show I had to follow on DSTV on Thu eve. They also helped and advised us with what to go see and when and what to expect, to the lowest level of detail.

So as for accommodation, I will highly recommend Nuwerust Rest Camp. Louise and Steven are amazing people and maintains a venue of high standard.

As for the rest of the experience, shock horror at the grafitti in Stadsaal, but otherwise what an amazing few days in an awesome place. We only got to climb Ethel the Aardvark and Book of Fun at Rooiberg, but it was sooo worth the hike up.

Kudos to the bolters at Rooiberg and Truitjies...1000 internetz for you! Suggestion? What about we club together for a few more bolts at Rooiberg and have a climbing party at Nuwerus and open a few new routes? I am happy to contribute time/cash/transport/belay bitch capabilites.

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Strangers have the best candy!

Funguye

Glad you enjoyed your time in the Cederberg. It sounds like you were on the receiving end of some extraordinary hospitality. However, as a regular visitor, your criticism of Sanddrif - based on a single telephone conversation - seems harsh.

In my experience, the owners and operators of Sanddrif are friendly, professional and extremely helpful. Booking is a breeze, facilities are continually improved and the place is always spotless. Add a magical setting, and you get fantastic value for your money. The only drawback is that I am not the only one to think so. Securing a house for the weekend requires booking far in advance (although camping is usually available at short notice).

Without questioning your right to vote with your own wallet, I hope that your criticism will not cause other Cederberg virgins to needlessly avoid visiting one of its gems.

Hey Bennie

Give us some details of this phone conversation that managed to get you so the moer in with Sanddrift. Personally I've never had a bad experience staying there, always been a pleasure. I also prefer to stay there due to the proximity to the Wolfberg.

I do agree that Steven and Louise at Nuwerus are fantastic and the climbing is great fun, totally worth the visit.

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Happy climbing
Nic

I haven't had a bad experience at Sanddrif - but hey you can't argue away the guy's experience which was apparently unpleasant. What did they say?

My 2 cents

We go to the Cederberg quite often, and I love the area. It is a truly special place. When we go up there, we want a true and authentic experience. Some comercialisation is inevitable, but I personally feel that Sanddrift has the most commercial feel of the places I have been to up there.

I cannot critisize their campsites, because I have never camped there. The reason for this is simply because of the experience we have had every single time we went to get permits, wine, info, etc. On these occasions, they were short, not helpful, and had the attitude of " we dont care ". They acted like it was a hassle to deal with people (and we are fairly easy people to deal with). Why then run a guest farm? The same cannot be said of the wine maker. He is a great guy, and gave us a really good tour while we were there.

I personally prefer Kromrivier for camping. The campsites and facilities are not as up to date as Sanddrift, but the owners are friendly and helpful. But the main thing is, they build a relationship with you, and rememebrs you as a person, and not just a number coming through the campsite. Whenever I call they know who I am, how long it has been since we have been there, etc.

I might be a bit biased, becuase I am from the Karoo, and like/prefer more down to earth people, that actually care about the fact that you are staying with them.

Like I said, it's only my view, based on many experiences in the Cederberg.

I'll take the Cederberg anyway she is dished up. Really there is nothing to complain about any of the campsites. Its what you make of it.

The best is an overnight in the wilderness away from the camp sites, and the second best is the lack of cellphone reception.

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You may still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not. Cat Stevens

What Willem said pretty much sums up the core of my experience, in more detail I really don't think is fair to go into on a public forum. For one it would fuel my post-holiday depression. Simply, it is NOT just what you make of it, I am a very sociable person also from the platteland, and in my natural relaxed state outside of the corporate world of chasing money whilst maintaining a professional distance, not only do I prefer and adore the down to earth human experience with my hosts, but also have no time for even a slight attitude issue, regardless if this is from fellow climbers, campers or hosts. In the same light there is the experience at De Bos in Montagu, which has me returning there quite often and I love them, and Maureen and her fam is great.

This was my feedback, use it, don't use it.

The main gist of my post was that Nuwerust is amazing and I would strongly recommend it. It was a great experience. And about the money clubbing in for more bolting...or do you traddies wanna keep the bolts away?

We'll see what Kleinmond is like this weekend coming...anyone keen to join let me know.

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Strangers have the best candy!

Thanks Bennie

Even if you don't like the people at Sanddrift, you've got to try the wine...

Bolt all you like at Rooiberg, just try not to bolt obvious trad lines.

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Happy climbing
Nic

More like person...or two. I actually have never tasted their wine. I don't feel strong enough about this to NOT test their wine. The way to my heart is not through my stomach or pants, but through my liver. It will be had, but won't provide feedback on here about it, cuz I'd probably not remember.

Bolt? Myself? Are you kidding me? I pay people to do that stuff. . I'll leave the bolting, same as trad'ing, to the experts. Truth be told, contradictory to the stereotipe, I'm a get-my-hands-dirty kinda guy, so I'll get there. Until then, I am pretty familiar with how to shop and swipe

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Strangers have the best candy!