National Meet 2023 – Free State

Date

From Easter Monday 10 April to Sunday 16 April 2023.

Where

At the Balloch Camp site, in a pristine mountain valley in the North Eastern Cape Witteberge, 40km north of Barkly East.

Facilities

The campsite is rustic, but includes flush toilets and hot showers. Pitch your tent or stay in your camper. A huge overhang cave will serve as congregation place and shelter should it rain. Be prepared for moderate uneven ground. The whole area is virtually crime-free.

Accessibility & Communications

The last 40 – 50 km is on rough dirt roads. High clearance vehicles are needed with soft SUV’s possibly as a minimum. (Contact Deon on road conditions) There is no cellphone reception, except on the higher mountain peaks and no Wi-Fi facilities.

Hikes

Hikes of variable distances, grading and backpacking will take place in the sandstone valleys and high mountains around Balloch, Telle Falls and Ben MacDhui (at 3001m, the second highest peak in the Eastern Cape).

Wildflower, rock art, bird watching/atlassing excursions will also be organised. The area is also well-known for mountain biking and 4X4 roads and passes. The Telle Falls is probably the most scenic place in the North Eastern Cape, the views from Balloch peak is hard to beat, while the sandstone and basalt cliffs around the Balloch campsite are spectacular. See the Hiking Schedule for more details.

Balloch

Balloch has just been officially declared a Protected Environmental with a total extent of 4400 ha. It is also in the centre of phase 3 of the newly proposed Grassveld National Park, while several hikes and excursions will also be in the core area of the Park around Rhodes.

Other accommodation

We recommend that all hikers stay at the Balloch camp site. For more formal accommodation and especially before and after the camp, you can check http://wartrail.co.za.www106.jnb2.host-h.net/accommodation/

The closest stay is however at least 10km from Balloch – note that the Balloch (Willowstream) cottage is already booked for the duration of the camp.

Fees

Attendance fee – R300 (once-off payment)
Balloch Campsite – R150 per day with attendance fee included
Welcome Braai Pack – R100
Farewell Dinner – R250
Non-members Fee – R100 (once-off fee)
Buff – R100
Rock Art Study Tour – R200

Booking

https://forms.gle/czWA2zv24E2D4XU47

Entries close on 31 March 2023

Contact

fs.mcsa.natcamp23@gmail.com for more details

Deon du Plessis

Cell: 082 412 2732

Anneline Swanepoel

Cell: 079 884 8950

Downloads

MCSA FS – National Camp 2023 Notice (pdf | 1 Mb)

MCSA FS – Balloch National Camp Hiking Schedule (pdf | 214 Kb)