East Cape Crag Lizard Trail - (Valley of Desolation, Camdeboo National Park, Graaff Reinet)

This short loop starts and ends at the Valley of Desolation parking lot in Camdeboo National Park above the Eastern Cape Town of Graaf Reinet. The national park is easily accessible from the town and after entrance is payed (Wild Cards enter for free at the time of writing) one drives through scenic karoo flats before ascending a pass to the top of the plateau. Here one parks near the bathrooms provided (do not consume water from the batrooms). The trail then sets out on a well defined path to the various viewpoints that overlook the 100 million year old sheer dolerite cliffs and the desolate valley beyond. One is relatively free to explore the area but please take caution as the drop of the cliff is 120m in some places to the boulders below. If wet or windy take extra caution and be careful of lighting storms in summer months. After the main viewpoints have been visited the trail then allows one the option to go straight back to the parking lot or do the longer trail route. When following the trail route it rewards one with more views and angles of the formations, it also gives a view of the mountains to the west and north that wouldn't otherwise be visible from the main tourist viewpoint. From this vantage point one can see out onto the plains of the karoo and many of the familiar Mesa's and buttes (especially Spandaukop) as well as the high peaks of the Swartberg to the South and the high escapement peaks to the North. After reaching the summit trig beacon the trail then cuts back to the parking lot using a much shorter path away from the views of the cliff. One still has views to the North but the return route pales in comparison to the first half. An option would be to do this trail in reverse if you prefer to save the best for last. The trail is very easy and well marked with lizard trail arrow markers, albeit that some may be faded. It would be easy enough for the vast majority of walkers to complete but take care of the heat and sun when a hot day is forecast. Trail safety is good with a security checkpoint at the entrance and rangers patrolling the park. Naturally the area is a national park so please be on the lookout for larger animals like wildebeest and antelope. Snakes as can be seen from the photos are also a reality so take the necessary precautions and circumvent but do not let a rare potential encounter deter you. The trail is scenic and very green after good rains (it won't always be this lush as seen in photos esp in drought years and the drier months) the cliffs would also be spectacular at sunrise or sunset. There is also a small pre parking lot at the hairpin bend near the top which has the large yellow frame of the cliffs, this walk to the Viewpoint is also easy and well worthwhile for a different perspective. The painter Pierneef painted the landscape of the Valley of Desolation from this vantage point (it can be viewed at the Rupert museum in Stellenbosch). Overall this is a great short and easy walk with rewarding views. Well worth it if one is in the Graaff Reinet area or even passing through.