words by Tony Lourens
pic by Willie Koen
Die Trap
Sanddrif Campsite, Cederberg
Niewoudt had showed interest in having some easy, friendly bolted routes on the little crag immediately opposite the bridge as you drive into Sanddrif Campsite. Routes that would be fun for beginners, families and kids.
So, after some discussions, they very generously funded the project and also put us up for a week in one of the chalets, and even more generously plied us with some of their outstanding wines.
So in March 2019, armed with my Hilti, a few batteries, and a sack full of ironmongery, Patsy and I, and me ol’ mucker, Willie and his wife Belinda, headed for Sanddrif,
It was a week fraught with gusty winds and squally rains, but none-the-less, after a bit of ‘wine tasting’ on a rare clear night, we lay on the grass outside our chalet, gazing up at the stars. ‘Hey Willie, are the stars moving round and round for you too?’. . . as I said, the wines were extraordinarily good!
Anyway, as the crag has a zero walk-in (and good wine is a deterrent against any weather), we managed to get seven routes set up on the crag, between bouts of rain and showers. The rock is surprisingly good and the crag is actually higher than one imagines when looking up at it.
There is still scope for a few more routes. And before long there will also be a nice flat boardwalk along the base of the crag which will make it even more friendly.
For some time now David and Cisca Niewoudt had showed interest in having some easy, friendly bolted routes on the little crag immediately opposite the bridge as you drive into Sanddrif Campsite. Routes that would be fun for beginners, families and kids.
So, after some discussions, they very generously funded the project and also put us up for a week in one of the chalets, and even more generously plied us with some of their outstanding wines.
So in March 2019, armed with my Hilti, a few batteries, and a sack full of ironmongery, Patsy and I, and me ol’ mucker, Willie and his wife Belinda, headed for Sanddrif,
It was a week fraught with gusty winds and squally rains, but none-the-less, after a bit of ‘wine tasting’ on a rare clear night, we lay on the grass outside our chalet, gazing up at the stars. ‘Hey Willie, are the stars moving round and round for you too?’. . . as I said, the wines were extraordinarily good!
Anyway, as the crag has a zero walk-in (and good wine is a deterrent against any weather), we managed to get seven routes set up on the crag, between bouts of rain and showers. The rock is surprisingly good and the crag is actually higher than one imagines when looking up at it.
There is still scope for a few more routes. And before long there will also be a nice flat boardwalk along the base of the crag which will make it even more friendly.
Bobbejaankop
A new family sport crag at Kromrivier, Cederberg
Bobbejaankop is an outcrop of very hard quartzitic sandstone, about 15 metres high, and only a stone’s throw from the reception and restaurant area at the Kromrivier Cederberg Park – how handy!
It is a fun place to climb and quite suitable for family climbing, or if the weather is unsettled.
The crag was originally a trad venue and had been utilised as such for decades, but recently most of the routes have been bolted and some new ones added. All in all, it has made the crag far more accessible to all and sundry. But be warned, the grades are quite bouldery!
Please be aware that a permit for climbing here is necessary, and is available at the office.
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