Willowmore, Baviaanskloof

The quaint little Karoo town of Willowmore is regarded by some as little more than a town en route to somewhere, for the most part because it’s on the N9 - the main route between the interior and the coast and ideal for those either on their way to or from Outdshoorn or George.

Despite the nature of people to pass through Willowmore, rather than stay there, the village offers freedom from the restrictions of time and is far enough off the beaten track that you could be forgiven for remaining much longer. The wilderness that lies between Willowmore and Patensie is a series of vast wild kloofs that make up the Baviaanskloof - a beautiful wilderness with various hiking options and a fantastic, if difficult, drive. Little towns are the heart and soul of the Karoo. Originally founded to meet religious needs of the sporadically placed farms of the region, each village has as its focal point a church of some description - more often than not a Dutch Reformed church with a steeple in ‘Kerkstraat’ or Church Street. Nights here are filled with stars and are unpredictably cold, whilst day temperatures can soar over 30 degrees.

Willowmore, laid out on the farm Willow in 1862, is only 85 kilometres from Plettenberg Bay and 94 kilometres from Knysna, placing it in an enviable position for day trips to both holiday meccas, yet far enough from each to more than escape the throngs. Safely ensconced on one of the typical Karoo farms on offer in and around Willowmore, life borders on decadent and time passes easily, even if ‘doing things’ isn’t high on the list of priorities.