Ripples in the sand are typically not preserved long enough to solidify into rock formations, as they are usually eroded away soon after they are made. However, there are some places where ripples are found in rock layers.  Vlakfontein farm is one of few places to host  some of these rare and ancient  phenomena.

The ripple marks on this rock were created some million years ago by waves in a shallow body of water as seen on a river bank. Buried by deposition of silt and subsequently subjected to great pressure, the rippled sand became sandstone. This particular specimen was tilted from the horizontal in a  east/west slope by a crumpling of the earth’s crust. Sometimes there are different beds of sandstone as  can be seen here, which implies an abrupt change in the direction of the shoreline or current. Ripple rock is therefore evidence of an ancient river or lake.

There are various examples on the farm of ripple rock, but this one is the largest one found, only a stone-throw away from the chalets. It has been cleared only partially, and the ripples can be seen  stretching  further underneath the layers of stone and earth, suggesting a much larger solidified sand bed.