December Climbing

[StevenLaw]

Hey everyone! I'm planning a solo camping climbing trip for December. want to focus on climbing and fittness. I'm based in Cape Town and am considering Oudtshoorn ( I have never been there) but am open to other suggestions for good vibes. Any recommendations? Im happy to lead till grade 23 and have all my sport climbing gear ready. Thanks

[Time2climb]

Any recommendations?

Take note that the Oudtshoorn crag is located 34km outside the town of Oudtshoorn (quite a windy road to get there). So the most convenient place to get accommodation is at De Hoek Mountain Resort, located within walking distance from to the crag. The main crag gets morning sun but then stays in the shade for the rest of the day. Grades at the Main Wall start at 22, but with enough rests, you should be able to tackle grades slightly higher than what you usually climb. Not many climbers can be found at the other walls, since the prime climbing is at the Main Wall.

For rest days, De Hoek Mountain resort offers numerous hiking trails, and two large swimming pools, and a well-maintained, clean campsite. The Cango Caves are a mere 11 min drive away.


The Kleinmond crag has the ocean, a lagoon and the Palmiet Caravan Park right next to it, and the Kogel Bay Resort not too far, both offering camping. But this could be considered too local, since it is close enough to Cape Town for just a single-day mission.


If you can overcome the logistical burden, and have not been there before, then Waterval Boven must be recommended since it is a really great climbing destination offering 1000+ sport routes with at least two campsites: Tegwaan and Tranquilitas, both being within walking distance to their closest crag.

Electric storms are common that time of the year, during which you should rather not be sleeping in a tent. They tend to be over quickly though, so in the event of a storm approaching you could quickly hop into your car (safe from lighting strikes). The storms tend to be over very quickly, typically within half an hour, after which you can resume sleeping in your tent, and they don't necessarily happen every day.

https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-tab ... n/Kaalbooi

Most crags in Boven get morning sun til about 11am


Last but not least: Montagu has numerous crags, some with morning shade, others afternoon shade, and some are in the shade all day.
Recommended campsite: debos.co.za/camping