Rocklands: Seven Weeks of Bouldering in South Africa

Rocklands in South Africa is one of the most iconic bouldering destinations in the world. Known for its endless high-quality sandstone blocs, powerful yet technical climbing, and reliable winter conditions, it attracts climbers from across the globe. In this article, Gripstone ambassador Viliam Jutka shares insights from a multi-week trip to Rocklands — from the atmosphere of the area to practical experience using Tokyo Powder chalk and CRUX tapes in extremely dry conditions. Here are some words from the man himself:

"For me, as a boulderer, Rocklands had always been a dream destination. This year it finally happened, and an amazing group of people came together for a full seven weeks – which feels almost miraculous these days. I fell in love with Africa from the very first moment. The small town of Clanwilliam, where we stayed, reminded me of a Wild West movie set. Locals spent most of their days outside, which felt like the complete opposite of our often-empty villages back home."

"The landscape itself was absolutely stunning. It had a very distinctive, almost monochromatic feel, and compared to it, Slovakia felt like watching a movie on an old television, while being here was more like sitting in an IMAX cinema."

"And the climbing – that was phenomenal. Endless amounts of colorful sandstone boulders with beautiful shapes and even better movement. I’ve traveled quite a bit, but I’ve never encountered such a concentration of high-quality bouldering as in Rocklands. The style suited me perfectly: mostly powerful, technical lines on edges and pinches, with the occasional sloper problem as a nice bonus. The conditions were another big plus. Our summer is actually the best time to visit – in South Africa it’s winter, relatively warm and dry, with daytime temperatures around 17–24 °C."

"With a full arsenal of Japanese chalk from Gripstone, I was curious to see which type would work best on the sandstone with its very low humidity. The high quality of the basic BLACK chalk was more than enough on many boulders, especially combined with my naturally dry skin (supported by Rhino Skin – Performance). When my skin became worn and slightly sweaty, however, RX chalk worked exceptionally well."

"The biggest challenge was one specific 8B+ boulder, which I dedicated the last two weeks of the trip to. Polished rock, dry wind, and open holds made it extremely demanding. I knew I needed more humidity to stop sliding off the holds. In the end, the most effective solution was a combination of React + Boost as a base, with an unusual layer of V3 on top – even though V3 is considered a dry chalk. I used a small trick: spraying a bit of water onto the rock, which, combined with V3’s excellent performance in humid conditions, created the ideal setup."

"I learned the boulder quickly and really believed in a quick send. In the end, it didn’t happen – even on my best day, when I fell twice on the very last move. Still, I don’t regret anything. I learned a lot, improved as a climber, and now I have a clear motivation to come back."

Rocklands is about more than just grades and sends. It’s a place that teaches patience, adaptation, and respect for conditions. Even without ticking the main project, the lessons learned, progression made, and motivation to return made the trip more than worthwhile — which is exactly what makes Rocklands so special.