(Yes, we’re back from our wild camping adventure at the picturesque West Coast. We had an incredible time at a place called ‘Waterval’ near Groenriviermond where we said goodbye to 2025 and watched the first sunrise of 2026. We will tell you all about it soon).

But first, we want to share two more camping weekends with you that we enjoyed towards the end of 2025 – and ironically, both are next to a river. Here is the first one:

October 2025

Camping next to the Berg River

It’s the beginning of a long summer here in South Africa, which means that camping is officially back on our list of fun things to do. And although we camped during the winter (remember those steaming hot tubs on a cold evening at BietjieDam – read here), it’s just so much more fun to camp when the sun is shining and it’s warm.

We decided to try a new campsite once again. After Berto did a bit of research, he found Kliphoek River Resort, and since it’s not far from Cape Town (just 160km/99 miles), it seemed like the perfect place to kick off our summer camping. Our friends, Frans and Fiela, joined us again on this camping trip, and we had a wonderful time by the river.

View of the Berg River from our campsite

Our camping trailer

The river campsites at Kliphoek are fairly new (December 2024) and the nice thing about these campsites (besides being next to the river) is that each site has its own ablution facility and kitchen area. So, you don’t share a bathroom with any other campers. The bathroom was also cleaned every morning by the cleaning staff of Kliphoek River Resort.

Kitchen area outside the bathroom

Clean bathroom with a shower and toilet

Not far from the campsite is the railway tracks of the well-known Sishen-Saldanha Train (which transports iron ore). It’s an 861km/535 mile long heavy-haul railway line, also known as the Ore Export Line. We saw (and heard) the train a few times during our weekend stay.

Sishen-Saldanha Train passing Kliphoek River Resort

It was a beautiful first evening and we enjoyed the last light of the day while we made a fire to prepare dinner.

Lovely evening

The campers next to us had a small boat and they enjoyed a few outings over the weekend. If you have a boat, it’s always nice to launch your boat near your campsite.

Our camping neighbours returning from a sundowner trip on the river

Dinner was sweet potato wrapped in foil under the coals and the popular West Coast fish, ‘Snoek’ made by Frans. I mean, we are camping on the West Coast after all.

Sweet potatoes and Snoek

The next day we woke up to a damp morning. It had rained a little during the night and our surroundings looked fresh in the early morning light.

Beautiful morning with a river looking like a mirror

Rain drops on the leaves

Berto made one of our favourite camping breakfasts – Yellow Sands Riverside Brunch. This is a dish we invented on one of our camping weekends at Yellow Sands when we were living on the southeast coast in East London (read more here). It’s so good that we’ve been making it on almost every camping weekend since.

Our favourite breakfast

After the rain of the previous night, we were greeted with a beautiful sunny day. While Frans and Fiela had to drive quickly to their beach house in Langebaan (which, by the way, is only 40km/25 miles from Kliphoek River Resort), Berto and I decided to take a walk along the Berg River.

Our camp setup at Kliphoek River Resort

A glorious day next to the Berg River

Early morning stroll

We saw different types of ‘soutslaai’ (an annual fig species) on our walk

Birds are abundant at the river

It’s always nice to see tortoises in nature

Lovely flower blooming on a cactus

Berg River

Looking at the fence, this area may have been dried years ago

Relaxing area next to the Berg River at Kliphoek River Resort

The river campsites at Kliphoek River Resort are very popular and we had to wait a month for a spot at our preferred campsite. But if you want to experience the tranquility at Kliphoek River Resort and are not able to get a river campsite, we have good news. There are also a few campsites a bit higher up from the river (they may not be directly next to the river, but in my opinion, they are probably more sheltered from the wind and have beautiful views over the Berg River).

Campsites higher up from the river

View of the Berg River from the upper camp sites

View of the river campsites and chalets from the upper camp site

Back at our campsite, Frans and Fiela returned from their outing, and we made a fire again to ‘braai’ sausages (‘boerewors’) for hotdog rolls. I’ve said it before, but it still amazes me how something as simple as a hotdog can be so delicious when enjoyed outdoors.

A fire for our ‘boerewors’

We spent a lazy afternoon next to the river. Some of us took a nap, while others read a book. Later in the afternoon, Fiela and I enjoyed a glass of gin and tonic on the jetty at our campsite.

A sundowner drink on the jetty

During the last sunshine of the day, Fiela and I decided to take a walk – it was such a beautiful evening. We stopped at the playground (and had a bit of childish fun) while enjoying the golden colours of the setting sun on the river.

Playground at Kliphoek River Resort

Setting sun colours on the river

Berto made a chicken ‘potjie’ for dinner – a good reason to make yet another fire. This time we used charcoal instead of wood because it works better for regulating the heat when making a ‘potjie’.

Chicken ‘potjie’ in the making

The warm pastel colours of sunset over the Berg River

The next morning, our last of this camping weekend, we woke up to another lovely day. I love how the early morning sun turns water into a sparkling fantasy.

Our last morning at Kliphoek River Resort

Berto made a hearty breakfast to kick off the day. A delicious meal with bacon, breakfast sausages, fried tomatoes, and scrambled eggs was perfect to celebrate our discovery of yet another wonderful campsite.

Breakfast time

Yoghurt and berries – our breakfast ‘dessert’

It’s a shame to have a camping weekend without any Milo or hot chocolate on the menu. So, I fixed it by making a cup of Milo for Fiela and myself – with a touch of luxury in the form of mini marshmallows. Now, that’s how you camp in style.

Marshmallow Milo next to the Berg River

It was time to make one last fire before we had to start packing up and drive back home. Lunch was chicken, a colourful salad made by Fiela, and leftover corn from the previous evening.

Fire for our last ‘braai’

A healthy lunch

Kliphoek River Resort exceeded our expectations, and we will definitely come back again (hopefully then with our other friends who couldn’t make it this camping weekend).

The peaceful labyrinth at Kliphoek River Resort is picturesque during sunset (Photo Credit: Fiela Basson)