Baviaanskloof Doodsklip campsite — what to pack, facilities, and what to expect
Back from 4 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Bloemfontein.
The spot: First-come-first-served on weekends so we arrived Thursday to secure a site.
Facilities: Fully equipped with power points, hot water, and a communal kitchen area.
Wildlife: The bird life alone is worth the trip — 47 species on my list for the weekend.
What worked: The Engel fridge ran the full trip on 105Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 289W solar. Didn't need the generator once.
What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.
Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.
4 Replies
The campsite you mentioned matches what we found when we went. Definitely worth the effort to book early.
Did you see any large wildlife in camp? We had an elephant push over a tree about 15m from our rooftop tent at just before midnight. Incredible to experience — absolutely terrifying in the moment.
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 160Ah battery with 214W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 29 months.