Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve
Cottages in Touws River, Western Cape
Sleeps 12 · 1–8 bedrooms · 1–8 beds · 1 bathroom · 15 units
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve is nestled in the Nougaspoort Valley, just 25 km from Touwsrivier, and offers visitors an eco-adventure destination.
General facilities
- Children’s play area
- Secured parking
- Free parking
- Outdoor Pool
- BBQ / Picnic area
- WIFI
FromR180per night
Rooms and Prices
Property features
- Braai
- Fireplace
- Hot tub
- Kitchen
- Free parking
- Swimming pool
- Wi-Fi
- Children's play area
Description
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve is an eco-adventure destination, nestled in the Nougaspoort Valley, 25km from Touwsrivier. Our mission is to offer our visitors an unparalleled outdoor experience in the South African Karoo – one of the most unique natural areas on earth.
Comfortable accommodation options vary from camping to fully equipped self-catering in a variety of cottages and houses. Guests enjoy unspoiled views, breathtaking stars, days and days of hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, photography and 4×4 trails, or simply relaxing with a good book.
The reserve presents opportunities to enjoy different activities such as hiking, 4×4 driving on approved routes, rock climbing, mountain biking, customised team building events and conference facilities, flower and succulent tours, bird watching, and star gazing.
No WIFI at any accommodation on the reserve. Only available at reception.
Nearby Attractions
- Anysberg Horse Trail.
- Diep en Deur 4x4 Trail.
- Game Viewing & Horseback Safari at Aquila Game Reserve.
- Leeuwenboschfontein 4x4 Trail.
Area Info
Gecko Rock is located within one of the World’s most unique regions. Known simply as the Karoo. The name, ‘Karoo’ originates from the Khoikhoi tribe, who long ago called the region ‘Garob’ – meaning place of great dryness. The word eventually changed to Carro, and finally its present-day form.
Described by Prof. Bruce Rubidge as a ‘Palaeontological Wonderland’ the Karoo basin contains one of the most remarkable records of prehistoric activity – from the Permian to the Jurassic age.
Plants and animals abound too – and on Gecko Rock one can observe three distinct vegetation types – succulent Karoo - (vetplante), rhenosterveld Karoo – (shrubs, bushes, and trees) and fynbos Karoo – restios, proteas, ericas.
The indigenous game is found on the reserve – leopard, springbok, gemsbok, zebra, grey rhebuck, duiker, steenbokkie, klipspinger, aardvark, African wild cat, caracul and even honey badger.
Area Info
Gecko Rock is located within one of the World’s most unique regions. Known simply as the Karoo. The name, ‘Karoo’ originates from the Khoikhoi tribe, who long ago called the region ‘Garob’ – meaning place of great dryness. The word eventually changed to Carro, and finally its present-day form.
Described by Prof. Bruce Rubidge as a ‘Palaeontological Wonderland’ the Karoo basin contains one of the most remarkable records of prehistoric activity – from the Permian to the Jurassic age.
Plants and animals abound too – and on Gecko Rock one can observe three distinct vegetation types – succulent Karoo - (vetplante), rhenosterveld Karoo – (shrubs, bushes, and trees) and fynbos Karoo – restios, proteas, ericas.
The indigenous game is found on the reserve – leopard, springbok, gemsbok, zebra, grey rhebuck, duiker, steenbokkie, klipspinger, aardvark, African wild cat, caracul and even honey badger.
Many bird species including the rare black harrier and Verreaux’s eagle that frequently nests in the valleys and cliffs.
Directions
- Directions from Cape Town
- Take the N1 head towards Worcester
- Through HexRiver Valley
- Through DeDoorns
Directions
- Directions from Cape Town
- Take the N1 head towards Worcester
- Through HexRiver Valley
- Through DeDoorns
- Here you can choose to take the R318 towards Montagu or continue till Touwsrivier.
- Gecko Rock via R318.
- Turn right from N1 onto the R318
- Continue straight on this road until you reach the Nougaspoort turnoff to the left
- Turn left onto the gravel road.
- Continue till T.Junction
- Turn right at T. Junction.
- in less than 50 metres our front gate is on the left hand side.
- Please use your gate code to unlock the combination padlock.
- You would have received this when booking your accommodation.
- Gecko Rock via Touwsrivier
- Turn right off the N1 into Touwsrivier.
- Drive through the town.
- At stop street (Spar on right) turn left.
- Continue till you get to the T.Junction
- Turn right at T. Junction
- Follow the train lines
- Go over the train lines and take immediate right onto gravel road
- Stay on this road for 23km till you reach our front gate on the left hand side.
- You will require a gate code to enter. This would have been given to you when booking your accommodation.
Cancellation Policy
- If cancelling 7 days before arrival, forfeit 100% of the booking total.
- If cancelling 14 days before arrival, forfeit 100% of the deposit.
- If cancelling 21 days before arrival, forfeit 50% of the deposit.
- If cancelling 30 days before arrival, forfeit 25% of the deposit.
Conditions
- Check-In Time: 14h00.
- Check-Out Time: 10h00.
- If you would like to spend a longer last day please be sure to check with management that there are no guests checking in later that day. If so, check-out will remain at 10am.
- Towels
Conditions
- Check-In Time: 14h00.
- Check-Out Time: 10h00.
- If you would like to spend a longer last day please be sure to check with management that there are no guests checking in later that day. If so, check-out will remain at 10am.
- Towels
- If you are staying in wooden cabins please remember to bring towels for personal use and for the plunge pool in the campsite.
- Anyone staying in Southern Nights, Montana Vista or Rheboksvlakte Cottage please bring towels for hot tubs.
- Shop
- We have a small shop on the reserve that sells wood, water, ice, firelighters, colddrinks, chips, sweets etc. We also have amazing regional's Karoo Lamb chops, ribs and boerewors.
- Gate code
- Please make sure you have received your gate code on booking. You will need this to access the reserve.
- Cardholder & ID/Passport is required at check-in / preferably prior to arrival
- Credit card used for online payment to be present at check-in
- Minimum two night stay
- Weekends, public holidays and school holidays there is a minimum two night stay requirement.
- No pets allowed on the reserve unless specifically agreed beforehand. They need to be socialised.
- Visitors to Gecko Rock have the choice of two campsites, a wooden cottage, 2 luxury self catered stay and wooden cabins. Please click on the links above to view further details.
- If you would like to purchase wood please indicate on your booking. Wood is R50 per bag.
- Rhebokvlakte Cottage: A cleaning service of R100.00 per occasion is available on request.
- Big Group or Functions - we require a damage deposit.
- Rhebokvlakte Cottage: R400 Refundable damage deposit
- Southern Nights: R800 Refundable damage deposit
- Montana Vista: R800 Refundable Damage Deposit
- Wooden cabins: R700 Refundable Damage Deposit
- Roads and Vehicles
- Please be aware that Gecko Rock is a rural venue. The public gravel roads are not suitable for low slung cars with low profile tyres - such as Mercedes Benz ‘C’ class and BMW 3, 5 and 7 series. We regularly have visitors in Toyota Tazz, VW Golf, Chevy Spark, Hyundai I10 and similar. Any saloon car that is overloaded will scrape on our roads.
- Gravel Roads
- You have booked accommodation at a rural venue. Gecko Rock is reached via 2 main routes, both of which include gravel roads – via the R318, the gravel is 18km and via Touwsrivier the gravel is 25km. As with all gravel roads, these are susceptible to downpours of rain and sometimes have eroded sections that require careful driving.
- We have had all types of passenger cars visiting Gecko Rock. If your car is not overloaded, and you drive with care, you will be able to navigate the roads. Once on Gecko Rock, there is a 5km drive to our reception area, these roads inside the reserve should also be driven slowly and carefully.
- Driving Time
- From Cape Town to Touwsrivier about 2 hours. From Touwsrivier to Gecko Rock reception 45-60 minutes, depending on what vehicle you are driving.
- By making a booking you consent to receiving communications regarding your booking from us. We may also send you marketing related comminications, from which you have the right to otp-out from at any time. We respect your privacy, and we comply fully with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act. We will never share your information with a third-party unless it is absolutely nessesary to do so in the act of sending you a communication, for example to give your email address or phone number to a communications carrier to affect such a communication. Your personal information may cross international borders, where that happens we ensure the our service providers in those countries comply with their equivilent to the POPI Act.
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