Baviaanskloof Overnight Safari

Garden Route - Eastern Cape

Day 1.

Port Elizabeth to overnight accommodation in Baviaanskloof.

Early morning pick up in Port Elizabeth, depart for Patensie about one hour west of Port Elizabeth, where we stop for breakfast at a local roadside restaurant packed with local produce. After breakfast we travel to the Baviaanskloof entering at Komdomo some 25 minutes from Patensie, the official start of the of the Mega-Reserve.

The Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area lies approximately 120 km. West of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and comprises of approximately 270 000 ha. of unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain. Starting in the East at Komdomo, the road leads through the rugged beauty of the "Grootrivier" Gorge on its winding path through this pristine conservancy, all the way towards Willowmore in the West. A total distance of about 203 km. The area offers a wide range of eco-recreational opportunities as well as an unique wilderness experience!

The area is characterized by its extreme diverse landscape due to the region\'s high geological, topographic and climatic diversity. The colorful cliffs and rock formations are characteristic of the predominant hard sandstone, which is part of the Table Mountain group of sediments.

 

Plant Life

As part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and due to the areas diverse habitat, the spectacular landscapes harbor more than 1000 different plant species. These include species of the well known Erica and Protea families. The flora of the area encompasses a great range of genetic diversity, which include genetically distinct and ancient cycads. Two surviving species of these ancient plants are found in the Baviaanskloof.

Animal Life

The rich and diverse animal life of the area can be attributed to the diversity and complexity of its environmental component. Some of the larger mammal species found in the reserve are the Cape Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Kudu, Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Bushbuck, Mountain Rhebuck, Eland and Baboon.                                            
 
Recreational Opportunities

The Baviaanskloof which is an ecologically sensitive area, is an eco-tourism destination and offers the visitor various nature based recreational opportunities. These include; mountain hiking, rock and mountain climbing, camping, wildlife photography, bird watching and scenic drives.
Wilderness Experience It is impossible to describe the Baviaanskloof in detail using so few a word. For the more adventurous this vast mountain kingdom offers an unique wilderness experience. To the traveler it offers a memorable traveling experience through stunningly beautiful landscapes of a type only to be found in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

   

We travel through and explore the Reserve on our way to our accommodation in Chalets constructed in Caves where we prepare a traditional South African braai (Barbecue) on the open fire.

Of interest:

    *  Hankey and the Worlds largest sundial. The Khoikhoi, Sarah Baartmans grave.
    *  Patensie and the Orange orchards
    *  Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, Unique Animals, Birds, Reptiles, Plants and Geology.
    *  Accommodation in Chalets built into natural caves in the rock faces.

Day 2.

Baviaanskloof to Port Elizabeth.

Early wake up for morning coffee / tea and rusks before we depart for a walk into the Valley’s Sub-tropical thicket / fynbos habitat. After which we return to the lodge for breakfast before we depart to explore the rest of the valley on our way to Willowmore and Port Elizabeth via the characterful Little Karoo town of Steytlerville and Uitenhage.

The Little Karoo is the hot, dry region squeezed between the Outeniqua Mountains that separate it from the green and luscious Garden Route, and the rugged Swartberg Mountains that separate it from the wider, hotter Great Karoo.

The well marketed Route 62 extends further than the actual R62, including parts of the Breede River Valley. It\'s a lovely, quiet alternative to the rather more goal-oriented N2, passing through some interesting little towns and winds its way past loads of wineries and guest farms that specialise in rugged activities like 4x4 trails and quad bike trails. The major part of Route 62 runs straight through the Little Karoo towns of Ashton, Montagu, Barrydale, Ladysmith, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn and De Rust.

 

It\'s a lot of fun to zig-zag backwards and forwards between the N2 and the R62 over some very scenic mountain passes, alternating between the lush green Garden Route and the drier, more austere Little Karoo. Most well known for its ostrich farms, which have developed into mega tourist traps, the Little Karoo supports a thriving agricultural industry. Olives, deciduous fruit and wine add to the rather heady mix that most local restaurants exploit gleefully. Calitzdorp, which is most well known for its great port, holds a port festival every July, and there are fabulous wine farms along the whole length of the R62. Probably the most well known attraction in the region, though, is the enormous Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn. There are some great rock paintings in various parts of the Little Karoo.

The magnificent landscapes, locally known as red hills, offer some fun day walks, and the high mountains on either side of this long, thin valley, offer fantastic multi-day hikes. There are loads of really great cultural attractions, not least of which is the annual KKNK, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (Little Karoo National Arts Festival) in Oudtshoorn. It\'s a party. Big time.

 

Of interest:

    * Guided walk in the Baviaanskloof.
    * Bushman rock paintings.
    * Exploring the Mega-Reserve.
    * Little Karoo and Steytlerville.

After exploring this gorgeous region we will depart back to Port Elizabeth where you will be dropped off back at your accommodation. This can be pre-booked by African Enquiries on request.

Tour Includes:

• All accommodation
• Transfers to and from the reserves
• Entrance fees
• Conservation fees
• Two full meals per day
• Snacks
• Light refreshments, water and fresh fruit on the trip
• Cost of professional guide, tour vehicle and fuel.

Tour Excludes:

• Lunches on the days on the road
• Alcoholic beverages are not included but these can be ordered and bought in advance.

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