By the rivers of Baviaans

Nestled between Willowmore in the Little Karoo and Patensie in the Gamtoos Valley, the Baviaanskloof offers 4x4 trails, campsites and an opportunity to sit down and be captivated by tales that elicit chuckles and sometimes tears.

- Cyril Klopper

Nobody can describe the Baviaanskloof more accurately than its natives. Consider the writer PH Nortjé’s rendition in the opening paragraph of his book, The Wild Grape Tree: “Hans’s father, Faans, was a fastidious man who ruled his house and his farm with an iron fist. For him, matters were either right or wrong. How could it be any other way here in Baviaanskloof between the Kouga andWinterhoek Mountains – in this harsh, rough country with its rock faces and mountain chasms, its spike-thorn, wild plum and prickly pear thickets and its scorching summers and freezing winters – miles from the nearest town or railway-line.”

Set aside a few days and join us on a drive through this rough country.We’ll explore chasms and cross six mountain passes – and traverse rivers and streams no fewer than 80 times.

THE BAVIAANSKLOOF STRETCHES along 99 km as the crow flies – provided crows fly as we think they do – and 130 km on our GPS device if you take the road. The western section (Willowmore side) is known as Baviaanskloof’s Heartland and is accessible in a family sedan. The eastern section (Patensie side) is a mountainous nature reserve with challenging gravel passes that may require four-wheel drive.You can travel in any direction – some people say it's easier from east to west - but on this tour, we depart from Willowmore so that we can end the route on a literal high note: the Combrink Pass being the highest pass in the Baviaans.

First, we drive the N9 motorway towards Uniondale, but 2 km outside Willowmore we meet a road sign that guides us left towards the Baviaanskloof. Follow the gravel road until you enter a narrow gorge between tall cliffs. A sign plastered with stickers welcomes you with the words: "Welkom In Die Baviaanskloof".