Safe to solo drive to rocklands and easy to find spotter?

[rock86]

Hey guys,

Thinking of doing a solo rocklands trip from uk this week. Bit worried about the travel advice to avoid some roads near cpt airport and worried about how boring going solo would be not to mention having no spotter.

Is it easy safe to drive from the airport to cederburg alone and is it easy to find spotters for hard projects? 7c and above?

Also, is this advisable or am i better off just going to rocklands once i have found a climbing buddy? Do many people go there solo?

[Nic Le Maitre]

Hi there

You'll definitely find a climbing buddy/crew when you get to De Pakhys.

What time does your flight arrive? The N2 from the airport into Cape Town can be a bit dodgy at night but it is fine in daylight. The best (not the most direct) route from the airport would be to take the N2 to Cape Town, then the M5 north, then the N1 east and finally the N7 north to Rocklands.

[Thermophage]

Hey guys,

Thinking of doing a solo rocklands trip from uk this week. Bit worried about the travel advice to avoid some roads near cpt airport and worried about how boring going solo would be not to mention having no spotter.

Is it easy safe to drive from the airport to cederburg alone and is it easy to find spotters for hard projects? 7c and above?

Also, is this advisable or am i better off just going to rocklands once i have found a climbing buddy? Do many people go there solo?

Totally safe to solo drive. There have been limited incidents on the short strip of highway from the airport (the N2) in the past few years, but nothing enough to say it is unsafe.
Get a local sim card for your phone at the airport and use Google Maps. Works great.
If you want to find peeps to climb together at Rocklands, go to the Hen House coffee shop at Alpha Farm, or De Pakuis chill area. There will be no lack of people psyched to have you as part of a crew
Otherwise I will DM you the Cape Town Bouldering WA group join link and you can also post there about partners.

[raphaeltube]

People are funny.
That part of the N2 in part of my daily commute, which I also do frequently alone on a scooter at all hours (after midnight).
Nothing in life is totally safe. It would be easier to find people willing to drive on any of our roads, but who would never try any form of rock climbing because its too 'dangerous'.
Welcome to the cape, stress less. I'm sure you'll have a great trip.
*once you've met some locals, try some of the other Cape Town climbs. Rocklands is not the only good climbing in South Africa.

[rock86]

Anyone have any suggestions on sims that'll work in the cape town area and also up in rocklands?

Also when does it get too hot to climb in rocklands? I'm worried by mid sep it'll be too hot - is that fear founded or will I be fine?

Finally, does anyone know good relatively cheap cottage style accommodation for slightly longer trips in rocklands? I want to do a month, but only if i'm living comfortably. I did 2 weeks camping in ladakh last year and I climbed crap because I wasn't able to sleep and eat properly, so ideally what i'm looking for in rocklands is a cottage type accommodation with fridge and hob and shower so I can live normally whilst climbing. Alpha excelior have a room going but it's 1000-1200 rand a night and for solo person that's a bit much. Anyone know if there's somewhere with similar accommodation that is cheaper, or whether there's a place to find person to split costs with so can can both live like relative kings and split the bill to 500 rand pp/night or something like that?

Alpha have caravans going but they look a bit basic tbh - no showers either - shared loo and showers. Kitchen looked spartan in the photos too!

Thanks for your help guys!

[rock86]

Hi there

You'll definitely find a climbing buddy/crew when you get to De Pakhys.

What time does your flight arrive? The N2 from the airport into Cape Town can be a bit dodgy at night but it is fine in daylight. The best (not the most direct) route from the airport would be to take the N2 to Cape Town, then the M5 north, then the N1 east and finally the N7 north to Rocklands.

Hi Nic,

Not booked flights yet - trying to find some half decent accommodation before committing to booking flights. Will immigration let me in if I book a one way flight from the UK? Reading mixed things online about needing an onward ticket to get in etc.

[Nic Le Maitre]

Hi there

You'll need a return ticket of some kind to enter. UK citizens get a 90 day visa on arrival.

I don't know if you'll find much cheaper than what you already have, around R1000 ppn is the ballpark. You can try the CapeNature accommodation at Kliphuis, https://www.capenature.co.za/accommodat ... s-cottages, might be cheaper.

If you contact the accommodation directly, you might be able to negotiate a long term discount.

[zoed]

Best SIM cards in Rocklands are MTN or Cell C - they have the best signal coverage.

Decent and affordable accommodation options for 1 person:
- Caravans at Alpha: https://book.nightsbridge.com/27430
- Glamping or caravan at Basecamp: https://book.nightsbridge.com/35967
- Travellers rest have a backpackers lodge

Best places to meet people to climb with are Basecamp, de Pakhuys, and the Hen House coffee shop at Alpha.

There is also a whatsapp ride share group from CPT to Rocklands.

[rock86]

Thanks for all the info guys! Had a slight change of plans so may not actually make it to SA, but the info will deffo help for my future trip!