Walking in the Camdebo National Park

I had serious lower back problems as a result of long days in the car and hours on bumpy dirt roads. A wonderfully skilled physiotherapist in Graaff Reinet helped me, but walking was essential in addition to the exercices. Going for a walk in South Africa, as one might do in England, or France where you park the car, take out the OS map or equivalent and set off is not possible as there are no public footpaths, GRs, or PRs. Instead there are hikes or trails and they are not always free of charge.

We presented ourselves at the Reception Office of the Camdebo National Park at opening time, 7.00am, bought a day permit and borrowed a gate key. We drove c.10 kms out of Graaff Reinet, parked inside the Lootsfontein Gate of the Park, and walked along the 4×4 track. (The Eerstefontein Trail, our other option in the Park, was closed because Wildebeest were in the area and so we were advised to take this route.)