The Valley of Desolation, one of South Africa's most dramatic sights and a national monument, has a 19 kilometre game-viewing drive and several hiking trails. The valley is within the Camdeboo National Park, a day trip from Nieu Bethesda.
Vertical cliffs and columns of dolerite soar 120m above the valley floor. The unusual features are the product of volcanic and erosive forces taking place over 100 million years. This unique landscape and ecosystem is in contrast to the arid Karoo that surrounds it.
