In the heartland of the Karoo is a national park that entirely surrounds the historical town of Graaff-Reinet. The Valley of Desolation (also known as Cathedral of the Mountains), is a rocky landscape formed millions of years ago. With the greater portion being 740 and 1480 meters above sea level. The park is filled with activities for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Including picnic and braai sites, 4x4 trails, short and long hiking trails, mountain biking, game viewing, birding, watersports, and fishing which are done at Nqweba Dam.
Tent or caravan sites are situated within natural bush on gravel. Each site has a braai unit and power outlet A communal kitchen provides deep freeze, stovetop and microwave facilities while the communal ablutions have showers, toilets and a universally accessible unit. Please ensure to provide your own tent and camping equipment, caravan or motor home.
Activities available to guests include game and bird viewing, viewpoints in the Valley of Desolation, trails and walks, 4x4 trails (4x4 compulsory), watersports which include boating, canoeing, fishing, and windsurfing which are allowed on the dam (permit fees apply).
There are six picnic areas in the park, each with braais and ablution facilities. You cannot buy fuel in the park, no restaurant, shop or ATM. The closest fuel station is at Graaff-Reinet about 5km away.
Please note the pricing above excludes the following:
Sep 10, 2024
Quick reactions to requests
Quick reactions to requests. Very efficient.
Sep 9, 2024
First Time Safari
Mel provided an amazing itinerary and took our feedback and adjusted accordingly. She was very helpful and would strongly recommend her to anyone new to the process.
Sep 9, 2024
It was a great experience dealing with…
It was a great experience dealing with Shann. She was most accommodating and patient. We managed to sort things out very eventually. The only sore point I have is the 2 % surcharge for the card handling fee, which I find too excessive. Otherwise, I am pleased with everything.
Sep 8, 2024
Keith went above and beyond…
Keith went above and beyond expectations arranging our holiday safari travels (for one vegan and one mobility-impaired traveller, no less:-). Safari.com is lucky to have Keith on board. He helped us feel confident in our choices, keeping us up to date with options, and finessing holiday scheduling issues with aplomb.
Sep 5, 2024
Tanya Lomas was very efficient and it…
Tanya Lomas was very efficient and it was a pleasure booking through her.
Sep 3, 2024
Knowledgable and responsive
Jayson created a fantastic itinerary within budget and answered questions promptly. Super helpful. I can't wait to get going!
Sep 2, 2024
Although we didn’t end up booking…
Although we didn’t end up booking through Safari.com the service we received was great and they were really helpful.
Sep 2, 2024
Trip to Kruger at Mdluli Safari Lodge
I loved working with Anja from safari.com. She put together my itinerary within my price range and was very professional, thorough and empathetic. She followed up with me many times to see if I needed anything throughout my trip and even filled out some forms for me when I was having difficulty. When the lodge I stayed at was not being accommodating in the slightest, she quickly contacted the manager and got them to rearrange their services to meet my needs. I would most certainly use safari.com again due to my wonderful experience working with Anja.
Aug 31, 2024
Nicole at Safari.com is AMAZING!!!
I would love to share my experience with Nicole. She has worked tirelessly to help me make my dream vacation a reality. I had no idea how to start planning. Nicole suggested the most wonderful South African resorts and safaris. No matter how many changes I threw her way it was always received with a happy, positive attitude. I live in Hawaii and even though we were on a 12 hour time difference she was always available to answer any questions or concerns. Her expertise, knowledge and patience are unmeasurable. I was plagued with numerous payment issues from my bank in Hawaii. Nicole never wavered from being patience and more importantly positive that we could resolve each issue and get my trip booked. Nicole is a huge asset to Safari.com and I will scream it from the mountains to let everyone know what excellent customer service I have received. Nicole is a ROCKSTAR!!! We are so excited for our upcoming adventure of a lifetime!