Baviaanskloof
If you’re looking to experience the breadth and majesty of the beauty of the Eastern Cape, then Baviaanskloof is the destination for you. Baviaanskloof is 120km west of the friendly city of Port Elizabeth and has derived its name from unique origins: the Baviaan part is taken from the Dutch language to mean ‘baboon’ and the kloof when translated from Afrikaans means ‘ravine’.
Recently honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Baviaanskloof dazzles all travellers lucky enough to explore its hallowed terrain and is a supreme and diverse kaleidoscope of indigenous forests, crystal clear mountain streams, waterfalls, veld, and sheer cliffs. The area is furthermore blessed with a stunning assortment of plants on display; visitors can expect to be riveted by the likes of fynbos, the karoo bossies, and yellowwoods. Your journey through the Baviaanskloof wilderness starts from the little town of Patensie and takes you along a single road through mountain passes, dry river beds, and over no less than 42 river crossings ensuring that your expedition is nothing short of adventurous and more beautiful as it progresses. The greater Baviaanskloof is home to the small Karoo towns of Willowmore and Steytlerville as well as small stock farms where the warm hospitality of the province is abundantly evident.
During your visit a local attraction that must not be by-passed is the sumptuous Gamtoos Valley which lies adjacent to the scintillating Garden Route and offers visitors breathtaking scenery and interesting little landmarks to discover along the route. To fully enjoy your sojourn through Baviaanskloof, visitors are urged to explore the park during spring before the heavy summer rains set in or in autumn before the temperatures around the region become too cold.
