Naudé’s Nek Pass Summit — High-Country Rustic Camp Above Rhodes

The summit of Naudé’s Nek sits well above 2,500 metres, on the road between Rhodes and Barkly East. Up here it’s treeless, open grassland and rock, with long views across the southern Drakensberg. The nights are cold even in summer. Expect wind, frost, and a sky with no light pollution. The only real company is livestock and the odd rig crossing the pass. The area is basic: no services, no shops, no fuel. Fill up and resupply in Rhodes or Barkly East before you climb. Bring your own water and pack out everything you carry in.

Land along the pass is a mix of farmland and municipal ground, so this is not a free-for-all. A rustic municipal campsite exists near the summit. Check with the Rhodes or Barkly East tourism offices before you commit, and ask permission if you plan to pull off elsewhere. The gravel is fine in dry weather but turns slick in rain, and snow can close the pass in winter, so a high-clearance rig is the smart choice. Verify access and conditions ahead of time. Have a dirty day.

Cold, windy camp on SA's highest gravel pass