Groenrivier Coastal Rest Camp

Accommodation

The Groerivier Coastal Campsites consist of 11 camping areas
The camps are all rustic and aim to maintain the wilderness character of this coastline.
Guests need to bring everything they may need for camping. The sites have no water or ablutions, and only some have enviro loos.
There is no cellphone reception.
The roads to most sites are poor with stretches of soft sand. Vehicles towing caravans or trailers should be careful, particularly if you are not used to towing in soft sand. Please ensure beforehand that your tyres are the recommended pressure for sand driving.
There is wood available at Groen river gate, but it is recommended that you bring your own wood.

Activities & Facilities

Activites:
Flower Season: During early August and September, seemingly overnight, the dusty valleys of Namaqualand are transformed into a wonderland, carpeted with wildflowers that draw visitors from around the country and from abroad.
Caracal Eco Route. 4x4 essential. Distance 176km - 200km (depending on the track selected) Contact the Skilpasd office to obtain a permit and eco route booklet. Strictly no driving on closed tracks (busy with rehabilitation) and on any beach
Mountain Biking, bring your own bicycles
Walking trails. There are two trails that depart from Skilpad Camp and the Heaviside Hiking trail along the Namaqua coastline
Birding. You can request the Bird Checklist for Namaqua park from your consultant
Facilities:
At present the Park has only a limited road network available to sedan vehicles. No shop, restaurant or fuel is available in Namaqua National Park and guests must take along their own firewood.

Important Information

Namaqualand falls within the winter rainfall region of South Africa. The highest rainfall period is between June to August. Average winter temperatures vary between 7 degrees and 19 degrees Celsius, while summer temperatures vary between 20 degrees and 42 degrees Celsius.
The use of drones inside (and over) our national parks is strictly prohibited.
Pets are not allowed in a National Park.
Vehicle fuel and ATM facilities are available in the nearby town Springbok (87km away)- not in the park itself.
There is no outdoor lighting in camps, a torch/headlamp is required when walking outside at night.
It is an offense to pick flowers or to remove plants or any other material from the park.
There are limited toilet facilities in the park.
Vehicle repairs, post office, and police services are available at Kamieskroon. Medical services only in Springbok, which is 67 km away.

Wildlife

Namaqua National Park is not home to big animals but there is an interesting array of smaller creatures such as the barking gecko, Namaqua chameleon, and the Namaqua speckled padloper tortoise (world's smallest tortoise)
You might be lucky to find caracal, African Wild cat, steenbok, springbok, refd hartebeest and gemsbok. Along the coast, there are Cape fur seals, dolphins, and southern right whales. The southern right whales occur during the winter months (June - October) the Southern Right Whales migrate to the coastal waters of the Western Cape of South Africa

Directions

Directions to Namaqua Beach Camp (Groen River)

GPS Co-ordinates to Groen River - S 30 49 43.9 - E 17 34 33.0

From Cape Town:
Take the N7 north to Garies (430km)
At Garies, turn left to Groen River. Follow the gravel road to Groen river (73km)
At Groen River you will enter the park at the sign ‘Namaqua National Park- Coastal Section’ to your right. To enter, open and close the gate again.
The office is approx 500m from the gate.

From Upington:
Take the N14 to Springbok (400km)
Take the N7 south to Garies (120km)
At Garies, turn right to Groen River. Follow the gravel road to Groen river (73km)
At Groen River you will enter the park at the sign ‘Namaqua National Park- Coastal Section’ to your right. To enter, open and close the gate again.
The office is approx 500m from the gate. 

From Skilpad:
Skilpad is the parks’ main office and lies 20km from the town of Kamieskroon (which lies on the N7)
From Skilpad there is a 4x4 track going down to the coast. It is essential to obtain the Caracal Ecotrail Booklet at the office for directions. This route can take 4-6 hours down to the Beach Camp (strictly 4x4 only!)