Respite on the N7

Turn the N7 into an adventure, one campsite at a time.

- Eloïse Botha

It's a highway with many faces: the 666 km-long N7 between Cape Town and Vioolsdrif doesn't just take you to the heartland of the country's most beautiful flowers, but also gives you access to the entire West Coast. It's an alternative route between the Cape and the north of the country and pulses like a lifeline it is between local campers and Namibia. We're about to head off for a holiday of camping under the stars along the Orange River - a planned trip that couldn't come soon enough. But we don't want to rush from the Mother City to Vioolsdrif in a single day. The rubber boats can wait a day or two because we're going to camp our way there.

Citrusdal is barely 200 km from Cape Town, making it an easy first stretch to ease into the Cedar Escape campsite just outside the town. There's no need to fill up the tank yet, as Vanrhynsdorp - the next stop is only 130 km along.

There, you can settle in at one of the country's most impressive (and newest) campsites. Letsatsi is just off the N7, across from the town.

Nothing stops you from sleeping in a bit the next morning, as Kroon Lodge in Kamieskroon is just two hours further north. After your stay there, you won't even need to set an alarm - Vioolsdrif is now a mere two hours away.

CEDAR ESCAPE (BOSRIVIER)
Boontjies River retreat

There's no office at Cedar Escape, but two days before your arrival, you'll receive a WhatsApp message with your site number and check-in and checkout times. The turn-off is 8 km outside Citrusdal on the R303 towards Ceres.