High in the Olifants River Mountains above Porterville, a valley opens with 5 000 hectares of folded mountains and two rivers threading their way through rock and reed. Howzit Beaverlac!
What a place to recalibrate your internal compass! The air feels rinsed, scrubbed clean by altitude and the peculiar delight of not being plugged in. Black eagles draw slow hieroglyphs in the sky above you, while leopards, we’re told, pass through with monkish discretion. Baboons, less so.
Days at Beaverlac adopt a pleasing rhythm: walk, lounge around and swim in either the Ratel or Olifants river. On the many hiking trails, rock pools arrive at steady intervals: Main Pool, Secret Pool, Totem Pool, Flatrock and Bumslide (where you’ll discover the joy of sliding on rock).
Accommodation options are either first-come-first-served rustic camping (no electric points and absolute silence after 22h00) or a choice of 10 cabins. These range from the pleasantly basic to the modestly functional (some with en-suite and electricity, others without). No bedding is provided whatsoever, so BYO.
However, civilisation isn’t banished entirely. The small on-site shop stocks essentials that prevent despair—wood, ice, bread, snacks, beer and wine.
And because there’s no Wi-Fi or cell phone reception, you’ll discover that the world will continue perfectly well without you checking in every five minutes. You’ll come for a weekend, but leave making plans to return pronto.
CAMPING RATES: R40 per vehicle, R60 – R90pppn, dogs R50 pdpn. Cabins: R200-R400pn. Enquire: 022 9312945; beaverlacbookings@gmail.com
