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Four kilometers outside Willowmore on the N9 (Willowmore - Uniondale), take the Baviaanskloof - Patensie road (T1). After a further 15km take the Baviaanskloof road and not the Winterhoek. The Baviaanskloof route ascends over a distance of ± 26 km to the top of the spectacular Nuwekloof Pass (± 1000m above sea level) and the official start of the Baviaanskloof. The pass stretches for 7km.  Over the next ± 80 km the route drops down into the Baviaanskloof passing through a number of farms such as Rietrivier and the Police Station at Studtis. Studtis is named after a German trader who once ran a store in the area. Continue pass Studtis and take the opportunity for one more refreshing jump into the river. By which time you've criss-crossed the river so often that you would have eventually lost count.  The road enters the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area under the control of Eastern Cape Nature Conservation. This long descent ends at Geelhoutbos a distance of ± 110 km from Willowmore. It is 4kms from the turn off to the Geelhoutbos cottages. Geelhoutbos to Cambria is 55km.  Leaving Geelhoutbos the road follows a series of switchbacks and runs along the plateau. The gradient is steep and driving should be very slow. The route becomes more strenuous, narrower and more difficult to negotiate.  The last part of the Baviaanskloof trip leads straight through the nature reserve up Combrinck's Pass. It's quite steep and there are some very tight turns with breathtaking drop-offs and dramatic scenery and breathtaking views, reaching a high point at Bergplaas, at ± 147 km from Willowmore, a plateau covered in grass with plenty of wildlife roaming.  From here it drop suddenly into the upper Gamtoos Valley past some citrus farms to Patensie . Going up the passes pay attention to the slopes covered in spekboom, aloes, and mountain fynbos, spot some proteas and marvel at the endless views of the Karoo. Admire the diverse vegetation, the dense forest vegetation in the ravine and the multitude of diverse plants along the slopes. Continue pass the turn off for Kouga Dam, formerly known as the Paul Sauer Dam. The dam with its beautifully designed wall, 365 meters wide and 94 meters high, holds 130 million cubic meters of water and is the main source of irrigation for the Gamtoos Valley. Continue on till the Elandsrivier turn off to your left and head to Steytlerville via the Grootrivier Poort.  From Patensie turn right at the Elandsrivier road. Follow the road for 16km up pass the Telkom Tower. Turn left at the turn off - No sign, but the road leads to the Grootrivier Poort. Drive slowly since this road is in poor condition and badly eroded.  At the bottom of the steep decent you'll cross the Grootrivier. Picnic at the river crossing and take a refreshing dip before once more heading up a steep ascent. From the Grootrivier Poort the road climbs steeply and dramatically, an ascent of 400m to Hadley (the first farm outside of the Baviaanskloof Nature Conservation) is 50 km and the road changes dramatically. The road runs through a series of ascents and descents and crosses numerous mountainsides; take note as the vegetation changes from mountain fynbos to Karoo landscape.  Hadley to Steytlerville is 48 km and the road continues pass Geduld se Hoogte which literally translates to Patience Rise and at the split in the road turn right to Steytlerville (6km further).  References Things to do in the Baviaanskloof  |
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