Tucked away
Driving past Tweede Tol en route to another campsite in his youth, Evan Lodewyks from Southfield made a promise to himself that he would go there one day.
We often used to take the Bain’s Kloof Pass past Tweede Tol in the Limietberg Nature Reserve when I was a teenager. But we could never camp there under the previous regime. So I knew I’d return. My wife Joan and I recently packed my Nissan NP200 with all our gear and we joined family (my sister Amberine Layman and her daughter Maxine Smith) and friends (Eugene and Audrey Dryding, and Leon and Charlene Manuel) who booked a private stand with us.
Describe Tweede Tol.
It’s beautiful. The natural beauty of the trees, mountains and rivers with a plethora of amazing rock pools is my idea of Heaven on Earth.
What do the stands look like?
They have no electricity, and that’s a good thing! They are generally shaded but sandy in places. Tree roots and the slopes of certain sites can also influence where you decide to pitch your tents. There are private stands that are fenced off, each with its own ablutions and scullery. All stands have tables and benches.
What did you think of the ablution facilities?
They are fair and basic. No frills but generally clean and well looked after. Lights in the ablution blocks are switched off at 10 pm.
What activities are there to keep yourself busy?
They have a park for the kids. Otherwise it’s hiking and swimming and relaxing at the rock pools.
What special preparations did you make for the trip?
As the plots do not have power, I packed in my gas bottles for cooking, charged my LED lamps, and made sure I had enough ice and wood so I wouldn’t have to drive out of camp for these essentials. The closest shop is 12 km away in Wellington, but we packed with this in mind. There is wood for sale at the gate.
What does it cost to camp here?
Private sites are R500 per night (for six people) off-peak, and there’s a conservation fee of R40 per person per day. The other regular stands cost R160 per night (for two people).