The Baviaanskloof is South Africa’s 9th, World Heritage Site, and is situated in a valley between the Baviaans and Kouga Mountain ranges. This trip is designed to explore this wonderful part of our country, together with a lesser-known part of the Karoo. The tour starts in Port Elizabeth and ends in Johannesburg.
Day 1: Tuesday 1 March:
Guest will be picked up from their homes in Johannesburg and transferred to OR Tambo airport. The time for the pickup, transfer, and flight will be confirmed closer to the date but it will be early morning. Enjoy the flight to Port Elizabeth, where your host will be waiting for you on arrival. We depart from the airport on a 2-hour drive to the outskirts of the Baviaanskloof. We drive on a very scenic route via Jeffreys Bay, Cape St. Frances, Humansdorp, and Kareedouw. On the outskirts of Kareedouw, we check into the well-known Assegaaibosch Country Lodge for the first two night’s stay. Relax at the pool, or take a walk in the forest areas surrounding the lodge. Dinners will be enjoyed at the lodge.
Day 2: Wednesday 2 March
Today is the first day to experience parts of the Baviaanskloof. After breakfast, we depart to Hankey to a Private Nature Reserve. Here we will enjoy a guided game drive with light snacks and beverages during the game drive. Also, enjoy a Honey & Gin tasting experience or just Honey tasting if you prefer. We will enjoy lunch in the Reserve. It will be a day out in nature in a lovely reserve, the drive there and back is scenic. We return to the lodge in the mid-afternoon.
Day 3: Thursday 3 March:
A day of wonderful scenery and into the Baviaanskloof. The first part of the route is through the Langkloof on route 62, via Joubertina, Misgund towards Uniondale, where we will enjoy an early lunch. Here you will meet your guide from the area who will give you a town tour of Uniondale telling you not only more about the famous ghost but will explain to you more the role the town played in the Second Boer War and the 1917 Spanish Flu. Then it is a short 40 km drive towards Willowmore, where we turn off onto the gravel road which leads into the “Kloof”. A real surprise will await you, with
wonderful passes, rock formations, farming communities, waterfalls, fynbos, and forests. We drive slowly on this route to enjoy the scenery, and in the mid-afternoon, we arrive at the Kamerkloof Guest Farm, which is a living Farm situated in the Baviaanskloof Hartland that is widely recognised for its extraordinary biodiversity, human history, uniqueness, and friendly Klowenaars. The farm is known for its harvesting of olives producing olive products. We check-in for the next 3 night’s stay. Guided walks can be undertaken, or you can just relax before dinner and enjoy the atmosphere.
Day 4 + 5: Friday + Saturday 4 & 5 March:
Over the next two days, we will explore the area in the kloof. Discover San Rock Paintings and beautiful walking trails exploring the wonderful nature the area has got to offer. In the afternoon enjoy olive oil tasting, time at the swimming pool, or enjoy a guided walk. There are 4 walking trails depending on your physical level you can explore
including the Voetspadkloof which is the old trail used in the Second Boer War. Along these trails, you will find beautiful mountains and water pools along the river. In
the evening enjoy homemade food and good hospitality.
Day 6: Sunday 6 March:
We leave this spectacular area, driving through the kloof back towards Willowmore where we will enjoy lunch. Continuing further north, we travel via Aberdeen and Graaff Reinett towards Nieuw Bethesda. If we have time on the route, we will also visit the Valley of Desolation. On the outskirts of Nieuw Bethesda, we check into the Ganora Guest Farm for the next two nights. It is a typical Karoo farm on the outskirts of the town, and delicious farm dinners will be enjoyed as well.
Day 7: Monday 7 March:
We today visit some very interesting rock art paintings and some archaeological and paleontology sites on the farms. Our hosts are also keen paleontologists, and it is one of the main reasons why we stay on the farm. We also visit the woolshed on the farm, and if the shearing is taking place, we will also see how the sheep are sheared. We also visit the charming town of Nieuw Bethesda.
We also visit the world-famous Owl House, as well as some of the arts and craft shops and projects in town. It will be a relaxing, fun-filled day. A short drive will take us back to the farm to relax or explore more parts of the farm.
Day 8: Tuesday 8 March:
Our journey continues through the Great Karoo, and we travel via Middelburg, Colesberg, Phillipolis, and Trompsburg towards Bloemfontein. In Bloemfontein, we visit the Women’s War Memorial and Museum. The Diaz Guesthouse is our last night’s stay on tour.
Day 9: Wednesday 9 March
Driving through the Free State at this time of the year is also very scenic. Farmers will be harvesting the first of the maize, peanut, and sunflower crops, so the scenery will be busy. Before you know it, we will be crossing the Vaal River again, and entering Gauteng. Guests will once again be dropped off at their homes, around midday.
