We depart at about 9:00 from home via the N1 in order to meet our friends and travel companions for this trip, Danny and Garitha and their sons, at our favourite pit stop in De Doorns. We have to meet them at Die Veldskoen farm stall by 11:00 in order to be still in time before the kitchen closes for breakfast. We see beautiful water falls in the Du Toitskloof pass after some heavy rains and we wonder how the last part of our trip today will go. We have to do about 30 km worth of gravel road before we reach Gecko Rock Private Game Reserve.
It is our first time to a restaurant after Covid struck South Africa, and we are uncertain what to expect. Fortunately, everybody in the restaurant is following the lockdown rules and we have an uneventful, yet sociable, breakfast together. We leave at about 13:00 in order not to lose too much of the day at our destination.
We drive along the N1 to Touws River, turn right into town and leave again at a rail crossing near the station (please see the map above). The town looks somewhat dilapidated, which is probably due to the fact that railway traffic through it has basically disappeared.
From here on we are on gravel road for about 25 km. The road is in a good condition. We can see it must have rained somewhat but, given we have entered the arid Karoo on our way to Touws River, not enough to affect the road. Almost at our destination, we pass the turn-off to the R318 to our right. We know we are now close. We actually miss the gate to Gecko Rock and after a kilometre or two realise our mistake.
The road from the gate to reception takes a while, mainly because it is narrow and winding. No need for a 4×4 though. We get our keys at reception and then drive another 3 km or so to our cabin, the Southern Nights. It is a modern building with a spacious kitchen/lounge area in the middle and two rooms with en-suite bathrooms on each side – ideal for two families. There is a large stoep outside with braai facilities (otherwise I would not have come!). There is also a nice and practical fireplace in the lounge area. It is cold, so we will need it. The cabin has modern equipment that converts solar power to mains electricity and it is only the hot water cylinders and the oven that are running on gas. The place is very well kept.
It is quite cold with a chilly breeze and we decide to braai before dark. We then spend the whole evening in front of the cosy fireplace. The location is very peaceful and, combined with the cold and the luxurious bedding, makes for good sleeping.
The next day two days each person does what s/he wants to. Danny and the boys went jogging, Anette and I went for a long walk to the camp site a kilometre or two away and Garitha had some quiet time on the stoep. There are some nice views from the stoep towards the hills. Anette and I entertain the boys with card and board games during the remainder of the day.
After two nights we pack up the following morning and drive back to reception. I immediately recognise the guy who collects our keys – it is the well-known Jonathan Deal who became known for driving the Karoo anti-fracking campaign some years ago. The reserve belongs to him and his wife. He is also a gifted photographer and we saw his book Timeless Karoo, with many excellent pictures of the Karoo, on the coffee table at our cabin. Jonathan is very helpful and explains what to expect on the gravel road from here to Barrydale. When travelling on the tarred R318 from Touws River to Montaqu and then on the tarred R62 on to Barrydale, you go down the Keisie pass, so I was concerned that we may have to descend somewhere towards Barrydale and the road could be dangerous. Jonathan assures me that it is safe.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and can recommend Gecko Rock Private Game Reserve.
