Attractions : Wildlife & Nature

Cape Nature, the Provincial Nature Conservation Authority, is responsible for the management of two of the Klein Karoo's largest wilderness areas:

1. The Swartberg Nature Reserve (which protects the Swartberg World Heritage Site)
2. Gamkaberg Nature Reserve - a succulent botanist's dream destination in the Red Mountain Range.

Most visitors know the Gamkaberg from exploring the Tierkloof Ravine - one of the country's most secluded and untouched places - and most visitors to the Swartberg know it from exploring the Swartberg Pass and from visiting "Die Hel" (The Hell).

Like most things in the Klein Karoo, there is a lot more to the Swartberg and the Gamkaberg than meets the eye - because both offer a real wilderness experience which can be enjoyed through a number of trails (including the Swartberg Hiking Trail and many 4x4 routes) and accommodation in comfortable camp sites, bush camps and historic cottages.

Meiringspoort

Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations line the 25 km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times.

Each crossing, or drift, has its own name and story - stop at the Waterfall information site to learn more.

The circle route from De Rust, via Meiringspoort to the Swartberg Pass, the Cango Caves and back to De Rust via the Oude Muragie farm road is one of the most popular drives in the area.

Gamkaskloof

The beautiful Gamkaskloof, or "Valley of Lions", is also known as "The Hell" due the hisorical difficulty of getting there. Today it is easily accessible.

The fertile Gamkaskloof valley is about 20km long and 600m wide. The valley is managed by Cape Nature Conservation.