Five stars!
It may sound strange but the campsite with the greenest lawn is in the heart of the Little Karoo. Take a look for yourself – a stunningly tidy resort like Oaksrest isn’t something you’ll encounter every day.
Oaksrest makes you think of those campsites you just want to keep to yourself. This, of course, creates an internal conflict, because if you tell someone else about the jewel, you may soon no longer have a spot. But you simply cannot keep it to yourself.
Fortunately, Oaksrest isn’t likely to get too busy, as it’s slightly out of the way between Oudtshoorn and Laingsburg. So, when you’re here, it’s because you specifically wanted to – the road pretty much comes to an end at Oaksrest.
Do make sure you book, though, as there are only five sites.
THE LITTLE KAROO isn’t known for its green grasslands; rather, it is a scorched piece of earth where water and shade are intermittent. If you’re heading here from the Cape, you can make the most of the Tradouw Pass between Swellendam and Barrydale, which takes you along the deepest gorges over the Langeberg. But then, on the other side, you emerge into the dreariness of the Karoo.
If you’ve been this way before, you know what lies ahead as soon as you drive past Ronnies Sex Shop and the Warmwaterberg Resort. It’s not uncommon in the summer months for your towing vehicle’s thermometer to
indicate that the outside temperature is 43 ºC. From here, you’ve got just over 50 km to Oaksrest, but 4 km before the campsite – just before you cross the Dwars River – a dirt road turns left.
This last stretch has you thinking you’re entering the land of Canaan. It’s hard to grasp, because to your right stretches the greenest vineyards imaginable, and it continues until you drive through the gates of Oaksrest. The dirt road is good – at times it’s a bit rocky, but nothing to worry about when towing.
Inside Oaksrest, however, things look a bit different: here the road becomes too narrow for a road caravan and you won’t get a longish caravan over one particularly steep dip. Finally, a doubleaxle caravan will get stuck at the sharp turn just in front of the stands. The road is thus suitable for offroad trailers and off-road caravans that are up to the size of a Conqueror Commander. Plus, of course, nothing stops you from throwing a tent in your Datsun GO’s boot and getting away for the weekend.
The road to reception is directly to the right past a few camps containing the cutest ponies. At this point, there is a large parking area with enough space for towing combinations to make a turn.
Next to reception is an orchard with what looks to be peach trees. But the
owner, Phillip Pretorius, who welcomes you, explains that it is actually almonds. These trees don’t normally grow in the sandy valley, but they have grafted them onto peach trees.
In the office, Phillip uses a colour aerial photo on the wall to show you where your stand is and how to get to the campsite. You also get a set of keys for the bathrooms.
YOU’RE DEEP INSIDE the Dwarsrivier Valley now, at the foot of Towerkop, with the Klein Swartberg mountains in front of you. To get to the campsite, you have to drive some distance up the mountain. But first, you head back to the gate.
A narrow concrete bridge on its right has a sharp downhill depression as well as a steep ramp where you have to get out again – this is the point where long caravans will get stuck.
From here you climb the ridge until you eventually see the orchards to your right from your elevated position. Moments later, the road leads to a dam wall: the camp is now to your left, across the water and on the shore.
The five stands are next to one another, and if there’s one thing you needn’t have packed, it is your groundsheet, because you have a lovely healthy green grass carpet underfoot.
Kick off your shoes right away – it feels as though you’re standing on the fairway of the best golf course in the country. The grass strip is about 70 m long, with the five stands nicely aligned – all just over 10 m wide.
A wooden pole with a light on top stands like a totem pole on each of the stands. You have your own switch, and below the switch is the box with its 220 V three-point sockets. The stand number is affixed to the lid of this box. Your tap is also at the pole as well as your rubbish bin. Next to it is a round stone fire pit that’s a brick or two high. All that’s missing is a grid, so bring your own.
Right where you enter the camp area is a pump house where you’ll find a stack of black wattle wood in case you didn’t bring your own firewood. Settle with Phillip at R35 per bag when you leave.
There are a few trees, but none cast significant shade. The middle stand (number 3) has a few trees standing together and gives the most shade when compared to the others.
Your stand has one last slope to get to the water, and on the other side across the road, a 2,7 hectare Pinotage vineyard extends uphill.
BATHROOMS CAN MAKE or break a campsite, and at Oaksrest the facilities are truly excellent.
The building is just past the very last stand as you drive in. A double glass door opens into a spacious kitchen. Here you’ll find a fridge/freezer as well as a microwave oven, and you wash your dishes in the sink to your right. In both far corners are doors, each leading to a family bathroom.
As you walk into the bathroom, you see what a difference good materials, stylish finishes and the layout make. The toilet is close to the door with the sunken basin in a marble top diagonally opposite it.
If black bass gets your blood pumping, you’ll kick yourself if you didn’t pack your fishing gear
The shower cubicle extends over the entire width of the room and is partitioned off with a transparent glass panel. Unfortunately, the gas geyser is a bit grumpy and you sometimes have to stand with your hand on the tap to ward off a flow of water that’s too cold or too hot. Nevertheless, that won’t spoil your view… from the shower you look out over the dam.
To round it off, each bathroom also has a hair dryer if you want to stop the kids running off into the cold night air with wet hair. IF YOU SIT BACK and do nothing here, you’re doing too much. Becoming one with nature is one of the main reasons why you’d visit Oaksrest.
Then there is the dam next to the stands. Across from the last stand is a small pier made of planks – there is a handrail if you want to climb into the water. The water is crystal clear, and there are some body boards in the pump house if the kids want to float around.
If black bass gets your blood pumping, you’ll kick yourself if you didn’t pack your fishing gear. The fish bite like crazy and you pull them out just about everywhere. The catch-and-release rule applies, of course, but that doesn’t make the fishing any less fun.
There’s a second and smaller dam on the right of the road at the sharp turn before the campsite. It’s hidden away, but it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re an angler. This is where we hooked the biggest black bass of the weekend.
Because the sun disappears early behind the Swartberg, the day is gone a tad quicker than you’re used to. So get the kids to the bathroom a little earlier and light your braai fire earlier, too. Turn off your camp light and it’s pitch dark, and when the moon hides away, only the stars give some light. An outdoor light at the bathroom automatically switches on at dusk.
When it comes to bedtime, everything turns completely silent… until the frog choir’s conductor takes a stand. These guys put on a number of shows all night long for your appreciation while lying in your camp bed; with some breaks in between. And it doesn’t follow the same programme every night: on our second night, the frog choir was very quiet, but a single red-chested cuckoo delivered a beautiful solo performance.