KLEINPLAAS CARAVAN PARK OUDTSHOORN
Kleinplaas Caravan Park in Oudtshoorn town, was our campsite for November, but on the way there from Silwerstrand, we passed by the last snow-capped peaks of Winter.
This concluded our “winter at the West Coast” experience of Langebaan, Strandfontein, and Dwarskersbos which we enjoyed but would not recommend to any camper due to the weather (which we were told was unusual this year)
Kleinplaas
Kleinplaas Self Catering and Holiday Resort has a 4-star caravan park with 30 stands.
This is a well-managed caravan park that is also popular with tour companies. We had a number of busses with tour groups who stayed in the chalets as well as tour groups in RVs and Rotels. All the tour groups who camped with us were from Germany.
The ablutions were always kept spotless despite the number of campers. Every camper has a key to the ablutions.
Kleinplaas is in the town of Oudtshoorn with a fairly busy street along the campsite. Light sleepers like myself may not enjoy the Golf GTIs and motorcycles, especially at rush hour, but other campers said it did not bother them.
The campsite has adequate trees for all the campers with only a few that would be preferred by campers who do not want to camp under a tree.
The campsite is safe and they have a night guard. This is the Western Cape, so crime is less of a threat than other provinces, although one can see which political party is in charge of the town by the state of the streets. That is one thing I picked up as we travelled the country: look at the streets and you have a good idea of who is in charge.
Swartberg Circle Route
The Swartberg Circle Route is a tourist route with some of the most breath-taking scenes you can experience in South Africa.
We drove the part via the Swartberg Pass which is not for everyone due to the height and the dirt road. We encountered tourists with sedan vehicles, so it is quite possible to negotiate the pass. It depends on the individual, but if you can do the pass at all, I strongly suggest you do it.
It was an experience that we will remember for a long time.
The first town we stopped at, was Klaarstroom where Johan de Beer’s Klaarstroom Farmstall is located at the town entrance.
This is a must-stop. Johan tries to preserve some of Klaarstroom’s history, and he has cars, motorcycles, an airplane (built by a local farmer in a hangar on his farm), and a small museum in honour of the well-known Afrikaans story “Faan se Trein.” Koos Roets, who made the movie Faan se Trein, lives in Klaarstroom.
Read on Google about Faan se Trein.
It is also closed on Mondays.
Click here for the location on Google Maps
The Swartberg Circle Route includes the famous Meiringspoort, De Rust, Klaarstroom, onion farms, Prince Albert, the Swartberg Pass, and back to Oudtshoorn.
At the foot of the Swartberg Pass near the turn-off Calitzdorp, you will come across Kobus se Gat, a farmstall and event venue. Stop there and have some of their products and a chat with the lady of the stall.
Here we learned about the etiquette of the Swartberg Pass: vehicles that come down from the top must yield for vehicles coming up. This rule is based on the fact that it is more difficult to stop and continue when facing the top than when you are travelling down the pass.
A kilometer from Kobus se Gat is the turn-off to Calitzdorp via Matjesrivier and Red Mountain.
This is also a spectacular route. The road is a dirt road but even after the floods, it was accessible to sedan cars.
At Red Mountain Ridge you can continue to Calitzdorp or turn left to Oudtshoorn which is the route we took.
In Oudtshoorn there are numerous restaurants.
We visited two, Enchanted Coffee Shop in St John street and Die Smitswinkel Farm Village in Langenhoven street.
They are two completely different styles of restaurants and one will benefit from visiting both.
Kleinplaas Caravan Park was worth the visit and we were quite satisfied with our November camp.
Slideshow of the Swartberg Circle Route
Our next stop is Steenbokkie Nature Reserve outside Beaufort West, where we plan on camping for December and meeting up with the children on their way from Gauteng to Cape Town for their annual holiday.
What Does KleinplaasCaravan Park offer?
Safety: Safe
Wi-Fi: No
Private ablutions: No
Standard of ablutions: Modern. Cleaned daily. Toilets and Showers. Toilet paper is refilled continuously.
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Plugs in bathrooms: No
Laundry: Yes, pay machines R15 per wash.
Condition of access roads: In town.
Nr of stands: 30
Paved stands: No.
Unpaved stands: Yes
Shade: Yes. Willow trees. Prepare for gum and flowers in Spring and early Summer.
Shop on-site: No, CBD is 2km away.
Nearest town: In Oudtshoorn.
Pet Friendly: Yes.
Load shedding: Yes. Gas but no hot water during load shedding.
Hot swimming pools: No.
Pensioners rates: Yes
Long-term camping rates: Yes.
Location:
Cnr Baron van Reede and North Street,
Oudtshoorn.
6620.
Western Cape
Map
Contact:
Cell:+27 44 272 5811
Email: kleinpls@mweb.co.za
Website