Wild about SA – Wicked rock climbs

South Africa offers some of the best climbing in the world with pitches to cater for all tastes, be they tradding, sport climbing or bouldering.

Rocklands
This climbing Mecca is roughly 20 minutes’ drive from the Cederberg town of Clanwilliam. It is internationally regarded as one of the best bouldering destinations in the world but there are also several spectacular sport-climbing crags. The area is peppered with bright orange boulders and cliffs of excellent quality and varying grades. Permits are required for all climbing areas, which are either owned privately or by CapeNature. Visit www.rocklandsboulders.com for information on where to stay, where to climb and where to obtain permits.

Table Mountain
This national monument offers hundreds of multi-pitch trad routes graded from very easy to brick hard, all with incredible views. No bolting is allowed because of its monument status, but there are some abseil points along with bolts and chains to assist with descents. Further along the Table Mountain range there is an abundance of sport climbing venues and excellent bouldering areas scattered around the Cape Peninsula. Visit www.climb.co.za.

Waterval Boven
The crags around Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga are some of the most developed sport-climbing venues in the country. There are over 600 routes of all grades. The scenery is spectacular, with waterfalls and wooded areas appearing between the orange sandstone cliffs. Contact Roc ‘n Rope Adventures for accommodation options, gear rental, guides and plenty of rest day activities. Tel 013-257-0363, e-mail climb@rocrope.com, web www.rocrope.com.

Oudtshoorn
The Oudtshoorn area has the only limestone crag in South Africa, 30 kilometres out of town around the De Hoek Resort campsite. You can get permits at the campsite’s entrance.

There are about 30 single-pitch routes that are up to 35 metres long, mostly overhanging, with stalactites and tufas. Visit www.climb.co.za for route topos.

Contact De Hoek Mountain Resort at 044-272-8214 for accommodation and permits or visit www.dehoekmountainresort.co.za.

Eastern Cape
There are a number of well-developed sport climbing areas around Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and East London and then some more remote, less-developed places in the Baviaanskloof, Langkloof and other locations. For bouldering, try Alicedale between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth.

For more details, visit www.mcsa.org.za or contact Derek Marshall tel 083-681-8713, e-mail marshall@qsafrica.co.za. Visit www.climb.co.za for area descriptions and topos.