The gentle charm of Laingsburg

When you stumble upon an oasis in a dry, desolate landscape, you make sure to tell everyone about it. And here in the Great Karoo, there are two.

- Leon Botha

The first thing people usually ask when you say you're off to camp in Laingsburg is: Where? This modest little town sits in the heart of the Great Karoo – arid land – and most people only find themselves here because they're on the N1 heading somewhere else. But it's a pleasant surprise to discover you can park your caravan here for a few days at not just one but two campsites. They're both the kind of spots you'll rave about to your friends.

The Buffelsrivier campsite is on the farm Opzoek, 9 km outside town. You drive along the dry riverbanks of the Buffels River to reach it. It’s a lovely place where you can camp on a patch of grass or drive into the mountains until it’s just you and the stars.

About 44 km on the other side of Laingsburg, on the farm Elandsfontein, you'll find Potdeksel Karoo 4x4 campsite. Here, you'll camp among pretty ridges where the grass is so green it looks almost fake. It's the kind of place that will tempt you to stay longer than planned.

BUFFELSRIVIER

Upstream

The road through the Moordenaarskaroo (Murderers’ Karoo) winds out of Laingsburg next to the Buffels River. Half a kilometre out of town, you leave the tar behind for a good dirt road that leads to the Buffelsrivier campsite. After about 6 km, you cross a single-lane concrete bridge. To your right, the remains of the old bridge lie in ruins, washed away during the 1981 floods. You're now driving on the Wiegmanskraal Bridge - named after an ox that apparently fell into a hole here years ago. Some locals also call it the Honeymoon Bridge. Whatever its name, the surface is uneven due to damage from the 2008 floods.