MDF Magazine Issue 64 April 2021

TRAVEL
profile interrupted only by large flocks of seabirds resting
on the shoreline. The little road leading to the beach
also happens to feature what is arguably the most scenic
wheelchair accessible parking bay one is ever likely
to make use of! There are a number of walking trails
through the bush, and if one is so able they make for a
pleasant morning or afternoon stroll.
In the spring, which fitted in perfectly with our visit, the
veld features the famous Namaqualand bloom, infusing
the bush with a range of vivid colours. It all makes
for a very pleasant experience. None of the drama of
big game or predator viewing, but sometimes one looks
for a change of scenery and tranquillity, and Rocherpan
certainly offers both.
In 2015 Cape Nature decided to build four new chalets
at their Rocherpan reserve and took the somewhat
revolutionary decision to make all four of them fully
wheelchair accessible. These have stood the test of
time rather well and they still rank amongst the most
genuinely accessible units we have encountered in our
travels. This durability is largely due to the unusual construction
and use of simple, low maintenance materials
combined with a minimalist decor. The floor is entirely
polished concrete, the walls of galvanised corrugated
iron, the windows aluminium, and the exterior decking
and boardwalks all of durable wood construction.
The bathroom is spacious, with a full-sized roll-in shower,
a handbasin with accessible taps, and an accessible
self-composting toilet in keeping with the reserve’s sustainability
requirements. The open plan kitchen has everything
you need to keep yourself well fed and watered
(stove, oven, microwave, fridge) together with an exterior
braai area on a great big wooden deck. A network of
slightly elevated boardwalks links the chalets with each
other and the administration and parking areas. Everything
is on one level.
We were quite impressed with their commitment to sanitation
and hygiene during this COVID pandemic. On the
morning of our departure, by the time we had reached
our car, a gentleman in a full hazmat suit, armed with a
backpack container and pressurised spray, had already
collected the chalet key and was about to set to work
erasing all evidence of our stay! A year ago it would
have been a strange sight, but in September we found
it reassuring.
Cape Nature have a real gem here, and I would certainly
recommend that anyone wishing to enjoy the West
Coast scenery, the abundant birdlife, and the peace and
quiet of a nature reserve should add it to their list of
places to visit.
Resources
CapeNature. ©2021. Rocherpan Nature Reserve.
http://www.capenature.co.za/reserves/rocherpan-nature-reserve/
Wikipedia. 2019. Rocherpan Nature Reserve. Last edited
6 November 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocherpan_Nature_Reserve
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