Gecko Rock - February 2026
- Gramps
- Feb 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 1
Our requirements for an anniversary weekend are simple. Quiet, secluded, remote, beautiful and surrounded by nature but not too far from Cape Town. Opportunities for easy hikes, swimming, hot tubs and photography.
We found Gecko Rock through Bookings.com and it ticked the boxes.
It is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Cape Town with some dirt roads at the end, which is even better.
Our choice, the Rheboksvlakte Cabin, was undoubtably the most secluded and private of the many options available and the views of the blue mountains across the Karoo Plains were breath taking.
View from the Rheboksvlakte Cabin porch
The hot tub was an important factor in our trip and this one did not disappoint. It was clean, well-positioned and, with a big enough fire, takes about an hour to warm up.
It is not sheltered from the wind, but under the water may be the best place to hide once it picks up as it did with a vengeance every afternoon/evening of our trip.
The braai is somewhat moveable and can be placed strategically to limit the wind exposure, but in summer it is best to just embrace the warm desert gusts.
This was the first time we had attempted to bake a loaf on fire while on a trip.
Alison prepped a gluten free sourdough bread mix and we left it to prove in the sun for about an hour until it doubled in size.
I put the cast iron pot next to the flames and rotated it regularly
The result was a success. A very tasty gluten free sourdough.
The morning sunrise is a drawn-out affair with the sky lightening and the distant blue mountains turning pink and orange long before the sun peeps through a gap.
The still mornings are best spent on the porch taking in the plains and the depths in the distant mountains.
Early on our first morning the Rhebokke came down to drink from the trough next to the Cabin approach road. This is about 70 metres from the cabin across the Karoo scrub so close enough to be viewable from the porch but not too close as to spook them.
They are effectively camouflaged against the bossies so keep a look out for any movement that could give them away.
Later that morning the klipspringers ventured close to the bedroom at the back of the cabin for their breakfast.
The water trough also attracted a Gemsbok as well as a Zebra with what appeared to be the result of a romantic relationship with a donkey. The stripy socks and agricultural accent bring obvious hints as to it's heritage.
There were surprisingly few birds whilst we were there, but this little guy rocked up regularly and was very relaxed around us.
There are a number of hiking and MTB trails on the property, one of which starts less than 100 metres from the Cabin.
It is a relatively flat and rocky 5km trail across the dry river gullies around the little hills and koppies on the farm.
Apart from the game (Zebras, Zonkeys, Rhebok and Gemsbok) there is a variety of karoo flora, termite mounds and game spoor to keep your mind off the heat.
The wind and bright moon did discourage evening astro-photography, but I managed to take this somewhat muted star trail picture that benefits from black and white conversion.
The next day we set off after coffee at around 9am to test our skills against the Botha’s Hoek 4x4 trail. We had not done as much 4x4 driving as we would have liked since the 4x4 course we went on when we purchased our first Fortuner in 2019. We had tackled huge dunes in Namibia and thoroughly enjoyed the Gharagab road in Kgagalagadi in 2022, but this was the first real 4x4 trail on rock that we were doing for the sake of the trail itself.
This is the baby of the three trails and began its life as a 4x2 trail. There is no cost for driving it and it is relatively gentle on your vehicle.
The main attraction for 4x4 aficionados is the grade 4 Seattle trail. A testing track with plenty of technical challenges, it comes with a warning. The venue offers no recovery service so unless you are an expert it is best to go as a group, walk the difficult obstacles and have someone guiding you through the tough sections. It costs R250 per vehicle.
The last option, dubbed Boys to Men, is a work in progress for experienced drivers in well-equipped machines. Good luck.
We were much more comfortable with our choice and to be on the safe side engaged low range and diff lock on any obstacle that looked even remotely difficult.
I drove the first half of the trail up over the steep, rocky inclines.
Half-way up the mountain our phones came to life and we took a break to check messages and take advantage of the signal. The next climb loomed dauntingly ahead of us.
We carefully picked our line and slowly but surely the Fortuner made light work of the dry river gullies.
About half-way Alison decided to take the wheel to allow me to take some video footage of the Fortuner on the trail.
The very first obstacle that she faced was probably the hardest of the lot and she did it without inspecting the road before tackling it.
She took some learnings from soft sand dunes in Namibia 2018 and applied to loose rock and boulders.
The tactic of "put it into third and put foot" worked and I suspect she may apply it to all driving conditions, but I do not suggest you try this at home.
There are one or two sections that could be a little challenging without a capable 4x4, but nothing that troubled us in any way.
The trail took about an hour and provided some tricky sections without any stress which was exactly what we wanted. Perhaps next time we will tackle the Seattle.
With all the activities and facilities available Gecko Rock is a great option for team building and conferences.
There is a sheer rock face for climbing enthusiasts, a shooting range, veld schools and star gazing so is a perfect place to get to know the Karoo.
End
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