Stay on the rock. All the Rocklands accommodation worth having is on one road: four basecamps line the R364 over the Pakhuis Pass in the Cederberg, Western Cape — Kliphuis, de Pakhuys, Traveller's Rest and Kleinfontein. Cottages, cabins and camping, all inside the bouldering area, all selling permits. Book well ahead for the winter peak.
| Place | From Clanwilliam | Type | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kliphuis | ~17 km | CapeNature campsite · cottages | Permits · Campground sector on site |
| de Pakhuys | ~25 km | Cottages · cabins · camping | Permits · own bouldering |
| Traveller's Rest | ~34 km | Cottages · restaurant · farmstall | Permits · crash-pad hire |
| Kleinfontein | R364 | Self-catering cottages · luxury tent · camping | Permits |
All four are CapeNature partner properties and all four sell permits. Distances are by road on the tarred R364 — a normal hire car is fine.
Which basecamp is right for you?
Traveller's Rest if you want it easy, de Pakhuys if you want range, Kliphuis if you want cheap. All four sit on the same road, inside the bouldering, and all four sell permits — so this is a question of style and budget, not logistics.
Traveller's Rest
The classic Rocklands basecamp, ~34 km from Clanwilliam at the far end of the pass road. Cottages, a restaurant and a farmstall most climbers end up in at some point, plus permits over the counter and crash-pad hire — so you can fly in with hand luggage and still climb. Closest to Sassies, Danger Zone and Eland Camp.
de Pakhuys
The widest range of anywhere here: cottages, cabins and a campsite, ~25 km out in the Agter-Pakhuis valley. It has its own bouldering on the farm and sits below The Plateau, and it sells permits from the campsite office. The usual answer for a mixed crew where some want a bed and some want a tent.
Kliphuis (CapeNature)
The cheapest bed in Rocklands and the first you reach, ~17 km out, just before the top of the Pakhuis Pass. A CapeNature campsite with a few cottages, and the Campground sector is on the site itself — you can boulder without starting the car. Booked through CapeNature rather than direct.
Kleinfontein
The quietest of the four, on the R364. Self-catering cottages, a luxury tent and camping rather than a big climbers' camp, and it sells permits too. Worth a look when the other three are full for the peak — and worth a look anyway if a busy campsite is not what you came for.
Can you camp in Rocklands?
Yes — at de Pakhuys, Kliphuis and Kleinfontein. The cheapest way to sleep in the thick of it, and for many climbers the whole point of the trip. Traveller's Rest lists cottages rather than camping — ask them directly if you want to pitch there.
| Basecamp | Camping | What else is on site |
|---|---|---|
| Kliphuis | Yes | CapeNature campsite plus cottages; Campground sector on site |
| de Pakhuys | Yes | Cottages and cabins too; own bouldering; permit office |
| Kleinfontein | Yes | Self-catering cottages and a luxury tent |
| Traveller's Rest | Not listed | Cottages, restaurant, farmstall, crash-pad hire |
Remember it is a winter season. Clanwilliam averages a low near 7°C (45°F) in June, July and August, and the boulders sit several hundred metres higher, so it is colder again where you are pitched — and June is the wettest month at about 64 mm (2.5 in). Bring a real winter bag, an insulated mat and a tent you trust in rain. See the packing list and the weather month by month.
Camping availability as published by each property. Rates and whether a site must be booked ahead are theirs to set — confirm directly.
Is there anywhere else to stay near Rocklands?
Yes, but the four basecamps are the ones inside the climbing. If they are full, two more sit in the same valley — and Clanwilliam itself, ~17 km before the first basecamp, has guesthouses, fuel and the last supermarket.
Rocklands Eco Retreat
One off-grid cabin, adults only, sleeps two. Solar power and spring water, and access is 4x4 or a couple of hundred metres uphill on foot. Right for a pair who want the quiet; wrong for a crew of five with pads. Listed on the booking sites rather than its own.
Alpha Excelsior
A guest farm in the Agter-Pakhuis valley, about ten minutes past the top of the pass and near the Plateau sectors. A step out of the climbers' camps without being a long drive from them.
We list only places we could verify, have stayed at none of them, and take no commission — confirm facilities, prices and access directly.
When should you book?
Before you buy flights, for the June to August peak. Rocklands fills with international climbers and the closest, best-value beds go first. Outside the peak there is more room, but the good ones still go.
Last updated September 2026 · booking links go to each place's own site — confirm rates and availability with them