The Nieu-Bethesda Camino is a 100km circular route that offers unique and varied views of the Karoo landscape. Prepare to embark on a captivating journey that commences at Kareelaagte Guest Farm, our starting point and base camp in Nieu-Bethesda. Over the course of five days, you’ll venture an average of 23km each day, requiring a solid fitness level.

To ensure a serene and personal experience, we accommodate groups of up to eight walkers. This allows you to fully disconnect from urban distractions and embrace the essence of simplicity, amplified by the remote setting and limited cell phone reception. Your day-to-day essentials like water, snacks, and clothing will fit comfortably in a day pack. Meanwhile, we handle the seamless transportation of your main luggage to the next destination. This service lightens your load, enabling you to completely immerse yourself in every step of the journey.

Rest assured, all your meals are thoughtfully provided throughout the expedition. Additionally, we encourage you to bring your own light, portable snacks to enjoy during the trek. It’s important to note that overnight stays along the route take place at fully functional guest farms. These farms offer amenities such as hot water, electricity, comfortable beds, and clean facilities. This ensures that your rest is as rejuvenating as the journey itself.

Slackpacking the Karoo also offers:

• The Nieu-Bethesda Mini Camino is a 60km, 3-day walking journey through the stunning Karoo. Covering 20km daily, this adventure offers a shorter, yet rewarding experience. Unlike our 100km Camino, the Mini Camino offers a single base camp, Riad Maroc Guesthouse, where you’ll return each night. This eliminates the need to pack up and move each day, allowing you to focus on enjoying.
• The Canyon Mini Camino is a 50km 3-day slackpacking adventure based on a working sheep farm just outside Nieu-Bethesda. Walk 15 – 20km per day across vast plains, private canyons, and fossil-rich landscapes, with each step offering a deeper connection to nature and farm life. From ancient rock art and seasonal sheep shearing to warm beds and traditional meals, this journey invites you to experience the Karoo not as a visitor — but as part of its living rhythm.
• Conquer Compassberg is a bold, summit-oriented 2-day, 3-night adventure by Slackpacking the Karoo, tailored for active, adrenaline-seeking hikers. It centers around the 4-5 hour steep ascent of Compassberg (historically referred to by locals as “Spitskop”), a striking, compass-needle-like peak rising to 2 502 m, standing as the second highest free-standing mountain outside of the Drakensberg massif in South Africa.