Meiringspoort Rest Camp — De Rust, Western Cape

Meiringspoort Rest Camp is managed by CapeNature and sits on the valley floor inside one of the most impressive gorges in the Western Cape. You’re surrounded by near-vertical Witteberg sandstone cliffs streaked red and ochre, with the Groot River running right through the site. Shaded sites under eucalyptus and indigenous trees, ablution blocks, braai facilities. It’s a legit base camp for running the Swartberg Pass and the Meiringspoort 4×4 route in the same trip — they’re less than an hour apart. Busy over Easter and school holidays; quieter mid-week in winter when the pass is at its best.

Access is off the N12 between De Rust and Klaarstroom — fully paved to the camp entrance. The gorge road itself floods periodically and is occasionally closed after heavy rain; check with CapeNature before committing. Cell signal is limited inside the gorge. Water on site. No hookups.

Sandstone gorge camp below the great passes.