The Travelling Tortoise
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Add your business details- Off-grid eco retreat six and a half kilometres from De Rust
- Set in the Klein Karoo area with spectacular views
- Outdoor pool and modern shower and toilet block
A fan of the slow life? Make like its namesake and wind down gently at The Travelling Tortoise, an off-grid eco retreat six and a half kilometres from the village of De Rust in the Western Cape.
Nature fans are going to love this one: the retreat is in the Klein Karoo area of grassland and semi-desert, with the green pastures of the Middelplaas valley in front, the spectacular Red Stone Hills to the right and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Swartberg mountains behind. The area's also a wildlife and nature haven, where tortoises, hares, small game and colourful birds are frequently spotted around the site and among the surrounding bush made up of cacti, succulent plants and pink fynbos shrubland. The Travelling Tortoise is a level site at the foot of the mountains, with a short hike winding upwards for scenic views.
The pool is a good size for essential dips on hot South African days. Evenings can be spent in the blazing light of a campfire or huddled around the barbecue having a good old chinwag. And all this hot weather is sure to help you drum up an appetite… handily, De Rust has plenty of restaurants to pick from and Oudtshoorn is another good spot for grabbing a bite to eat.
Campground type
7
6
4Open all year
Languages spoken
English
Nearby parks that are bookable on Pitchup.com
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.
Features
Dogs allowed
Campfires allowed
Leisure on park
Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis WatersportsAmenities on park
Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Forest Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Wild camping Wildlife havenUtilities
Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearbyType
Small (11-25 sites)Accessibility
Disabled facilitiesNearby leisure
Climbing nearby Horseback riding nearby Mountain biking nearbyLocation
The Travelling Tortoise
Tortoise Lane
Middleplaas
De Rust
Western Cape
South Africa
6650
Directions Timezone
Africa/Johannesburg +0200 (GMT+02:00)
GPS
-33.50405°N
22.62178°W
Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Local attractions
Crazy about hiking? The Meiringspoort Pass – a cliff-lined path connecting the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo – is only a 20-minute drive away. If you’ve worked up a bit of a sweat you can also take a dip at the popular Meiringspoort Waterfall (25 minutes).
No South African trip would be complete without visiting an ostrich farm, and luckily Oudtshoorn (50 minutes from the site) is considered the ostrich capital of the world. You can feed the birds and take a guided tour from a tractor-pulled trailer before stopping off for a meal or a drink at the café and restaurant.
Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn has over 90 different species of animals and they're so well treated here that the ranch has been duly accredited; share some snap-worthy experiences here, such as meeting a cheetah and cage diving with crocodiles. The Cango Caves – still in the city but a little further out – turns any stalag-mights into stalag-definites, with its vast halls and illuminated dripstone caverns.
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Frequently asked questions
- Does The Travelling Tortoise have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
- Is The Travelling Tortoise dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near The Travelling Tortoise? Crazy about hiking? The Meiringspoort Pass – a cliff-lined path connecting the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo – is only a 20-minute drive away. If you’ve worked up a bit of … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of The Travelling Tortoise?
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