After shopping for some groceries in Graaff Reinet, I went looking for my grandmother’s house. As I drove past all the houses in the street I wondered if I would recognize it. But when I saw it, I recognized it immediately. But it was painted an odd colour, and it just didn’t feel right.
I checked in at the camp and set up my tent. The recent rains had made the crossing over the Sunday’s River impossible and I was only able to drive a short loop in the main section of the camp. There were a few birds around, including a Common Buzzard and a Peregrine Falcon.
I loved this pair of Ground Agamas.
.I saw a few Springbok and Blesbok in the distance.
The main reason I wanted to visit the Park was to visit The Valley of Desolation. I remember visiting The Valley as a child. I tried to remember how many years it had been since I had last been at The Valley of Desolation, but I couldn’t count that far!.
I stopped at the first look out point. I love how the main section of Graaff Reinet is built in almost a perfect circle. And I could spot my grandmother’s house from there as well.
Spandau Kop looks over the town like a protector.
I saw more Ground Agamas as well as a large Leopard Tortoise and some Ball Byter Ants.
But it is The Valley of Desolation that is the star attraction of the Park. 
According to the information board, The Valley of Desolation is 150-190 MILLION years old. It boggled my mind.
As I stood there in the late afternoon sun watching Kestrels, Starlings and Martins fly between the giant rock pillars, I was in awe.
The afternoon sun bathed the rock pillars in the most beautiful light.
I sat there for almost 2 hours. I did a lot of reflection. And once again I was incredibly grateful that I was able to experience and enjoy this beautiful world of our Creator.
I had to feed the addiction and went for another night walk. If you had ever wondered what Toktokkies ate, now you know.
I found a few spiders as well. A Nursery Web Spider was very protective of her egg sack.
This Tailed Comb-footed Spider was a lifer for me.
I went for a run the next morning. The scenery was quite lovely.
I had two little spectators.
After breakfast I drove to the other side of the Park.
There were lots of Eland. I saw a heard of about 70 eland – the first time I’d seen so many in one place.
In addition to the Eland, there were lots of Blesbok, Black Wildebeest and Springbokkies.
In one of the clearings I found a family of Meerkat. They were obviously not used to cars and ran in the opposite direction every time I came near. But the babies were undeniably cute.
A Jackal seemed very interested in what I was up to.
There were loads of Birds around. I saw Common Buzzards, Greater Kestrels and Amur Falcons. A Karoo Korhaan flew past.
I loved the colourful European Bee-eaters.
There was a large group of Ostriches.
I liked this Black-headed Heron on top of the dry tree with the misty mountain behind it.
Camdeboo is a great little Park. The scenery is really beautiful, and of course The Valley of Desolation is breathtaking. The camp site is fantastic But as I drove back to the camp I decided that instead of spending a second night there, I’d drive to MZNP for an extra night in my favourite place.