For a waterfall-and-camping weekend near Porterville, choose the actual campsite and the kind of walking you want before treating 22 Waterfalls as a checklist. Waterval offers an inland farm-and-mountain setting, with camping and roofed accommodation. A relaxed stay does not depend on reaching every waterfall.

Make one full day the centre of the break: arrive and settle in, take the current route advice the following morning, and keep time afterwards for camp. If waterfalls are the main reason for going, ask about present access and conditions before committing to the dates.

Researched by Aqua Terra on 2 November 2026. Sources reviewed on 3 November 2026.

Featured photograph: landscape on the 22 Watervalle walking route, 22 November 2014, by Lourens van Dyk, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Archival panorama, resized and cropped for the featured format under the same licence. It does not establish current trail access or water flow.

Choose the inland setting for the right reason

The operator's description places Waterval and neighbouring Laatson at the foot of the Olifantsrivier Mountains, about 4 km from Porterville. The farm is the setting for a private nature reserve, waterfall walking and other outdoor activities. Use its actual entrance when arranging the journey rather than simply navigating to the town.

If you are leaving after work on Friday and want trees, views and a waterfall walk, make the campsite your first decision. The appeal is a weekend in a wooded valley with time around camp.

It does not establish guaranteed seclusion. Ask where your proposed stand sits, how close neighbouring stands are and which facilities it shares. A place can offer a natural setting while still being a working farm and an occupied campground.

Compare the current powered and unpowered prices

The live prices page, checked on 3 November 2026, lists powered stands at R550 per night and unpowered stands at R500, each for one to four people. It counts children aged two and older as people for that calculation, and says exceptions can be made for families of five. Confirm the actual party and stand before relying on an exception.

The minimum two-night requirement makes a published-reference total R1,100 for a powered stand or R1,000 without electricity, before any separate extras. Unlike a per-person campsite tariff, those advertised amounts cover the stated occupancy band. Request the final quote for your dates rather than dividing a price from an old review.

The homepage still displays a winter special dated 1 June-31 August 2026. That period has ended. It is not the current November rate, and an older downloadable tariff also carries lower figures than the live prices page.

Consider a roof without changing the purpose of the weekend

The same live page lists a camp house for two and chalets with prices that vary by occupancy. A roofed option can suit someone who wants the landscape but does not want to bring a full tent setup. Ask about the exact unit rather than assuming all buildings have identical cooking, bathroom or sleeping arrangements.

Check what you must bring for both choices. The operator lists towels, toilet paper and a braai grid among the items guests should provide; roofed units have their own equipment descriptions. If access requirements matter, request the actual path from parking to the accommodation and shared areas.

Archival panoramic view at the 22 Watervalle camping area near Porterville — The 22 Watervalle camping area, 22 November 2014, by Lourens van Dyk, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Archival panorama, resized under the same licence. It does not identify a currently allocated stand or guarantee its facilities.

Ask about the walk before setting a distance target

The operator's trail page describes a route past 22 waterfalls, with yellow markings, and explains that the waterfalls themselves are not numbered. Do not expect a numbered attraction at every bend or use the name to decide how far the whole party must walk.

Request current advice about which sections are open, the terrain, expected duration and a suitable turnaround point. Describe the actual group's experience, including children and anyone uncomfortable with steep or uneven ground. Arrange qualified guidance if needed. A short distance on an app does not explain the full terrain.

The trip should work even if you choose only a shorter permitted walk or conditions change the outing. Agree on the objective beforehand: looking carefully at a section of the valley can be more satisfying than pressing on to complete a count. This article does not provide climbing instructions or certify a route for your party.

Respect the difference between camp and the waterfall route

The operator's rules prohibit picnicking at the waterfalls, pets, music and late-night noise. They also require adult supervision for children on the waterfall route and at the dams. Treat those as booking conditions, not optional suggestions.

Arrange meals back at camp rather than planning a waterfall picnic. Ask reception for the current trail's food and drinking-water instructions and plan supplies accordingly. Do not assume the stream is drinking water or a pool is suitable for swimming because a historic trip report says so.

Companions who are not walking can still share the holiday, but agree their permitted activities and meeting arrangements. A booked campsite does not automatically settle access to every farm area or activity.

Confirm the Friday arrival and finish the booking

The booking process starts with a telephone reservation, followed by the completed form and deposit. The operator says confirmation follows receipt of both. Use the contact number on its current site, 022 125 0583, and follow the instructions issued for your booking.

Confirm the latest arrival time directly. The price PDF currently linked from the forms page gives a 20:00 Friday office close, while the rules PDF says 21:00. Do not plan a late arrival around the more generous time. Resolve that difference before leaving after work, and allow enough daylight to settle into an unfamiliar campsite.

Keep departure day simple, with time to pack and meet the confirmed checkout requirement. If your wider trip also includes the coast, give the Cape Peninsula a separate stage rather than adding another substantial outing to the drive home.

For that separate Peninsula stay, Aqua Terra in Simon's Town welcomes guests aged 12 and older. Check direct availability for your coastal dates after arranging the Porterville weekend.