Baviaans

[AndreasR]

BAVIAANS TRIP REPORT - MAY 2021

Travelled from JHB to Graaff Reinet on day one. Along the way I popped in to Niue Bethesda. Maybe it was because it was a Monday or I didn’t give the place enough time but I found this so-called gem of a dorpie bitterly disappointing. Eclectic, ramshackle and boring.

I spent the next day at Camdeboo National Park. Definitely worth a drive around to see the Valley of Desolation. The views are amazing. I also stocked up on some nice Karoo lamb for the next few nights braais.

Met up with a group of about 10 vehicles at Steytlerville. From here we headed out on a very interesting route to Patensie. The Baviaanskloof is bordered by the Baviaans mountains to the north and the Kouga mountains to the south. The route took us on private farm land over the Baviaans mountains with an overnight stop at a very rudimentary camp near the Groot River.

After Patensie we entered the main Baviaans route and overnighted at Rooihoek, a beautiful campsite but with only longdrop toilets and no hot water or showers so not really an AG suitable site.

The following day we proceeded with the main Baviaans route to Doringkloof Bush Camp. A beautiful camp with extensive grass sites, hot showers and flushing toilets. A worthwhile stopover.

From Doringkloof we made our way over the Kouga mountains via a Honeybush Tea Farm to Kareedouw and the end of our trip.

One usually just passes these mountains on a route to or from somewhere but it was very interesting to get up into these mountains to see the amazing vistas and experience the flora and fauna. It is also incredible to travel the roads that the farmers have made in these mountains in order to get to their livestock.

Most roads and tracks that we drove were in good condition and ranged from plain gravel to two spoor tracks. The main Baviaans route is nice to drive and the road is in good condition. None of the roads were much of a 4x4 challenge as such but a lot of the time driving in low range made it more comfortable due to constant steep up and downhills.

Personally I would have loved to have spent more time in the area to explore a bit more but an entire family of sick people forced my hand and I had to return home.

I would highly recommend this area as an excellent place to visit. Try to get off the main routes as they are definitely more interesting.

Please excuse the photography. All done on cell phone, mostly while on the move.

[Mad Manny]

Nice Andreas.
Not sure you are the Eclectic, Artsy Fartsy, Hippy type - so I'm not surprised Nieu Bethesda disappointed you...

[Martin de Jager]

Andreas your report reminds me of our tour in 2016, Esther and i stayed in the Makkedaat Caves and exited at Patensie. It was the year when that area burnt so badly. What a desolate gem.
In 2015 we toured part of the route , then we entered from the Kareedouw side, and only saw a little bit of the Baviaans.
This is a unique eco system, hard country, specially when its dry, but unique because so many old farmers survive in this area.
The Baviaans offers so much more than what we saw. One day we will return.

[Johannes]

Nice Andreas. Looks like a worthwile trip.

[CornellMans]

Wow! This has always been a bucket list item for me. Thanks for sharing!

[BushWacker]

Very nice reports and photos ,
... will try and sew it in to our next trip
down that side.