A River Runs Through It

[ RESORT REVIEW ] KUDU KAYA, BAVIAANSKLOOF, EASTERN CAPE

- Nick Yell

The first time I arrived at Kudu Kaya was after an adventure-motorcycle ride through the epically beautiful and challenging Baviaanskloof.

One member of our group had dropped his big BMW when exiting a river, and had cracked the tappet cover on one of the cylinder heads. After we’d limped the 25 km to Kudu Kaya, dribbling oil along the way, our hosts ushered us into a well-lit workshop. Their son, the late Johan van der Watt, a keen enduro rider himself, soon had a Pratley-putty mix covering the crack; and once the water sullied oil had drained and the sump had been refilled, we were again ready to ride.

Johan’s repair saw the Beemer all the way home to Cape Town.

The next time I stayed at Kudu Kaya, I was driving a LWB Pajero, and we had no problems with any of the river crossings.

My co-pilot and I stayed in a chalet that time, and when our plan of crossing the Groot Rivier en route to Steytlerville was dashed as it was in flood (something our hosts alerted us to before we wasted hours driving there), we redid the Baviaanskloof the very next day.

The point of these anecdotes is threefold – 1: As it is just outside Cambria, Kudu Kaya is a well-positioned stay-over when in Baviaans country. 2: It offers fine chalet and camping accommodation. 3: The Van der Watts are salt-of-the-earth hosts and a most hospitable family.