Alan Tours

BAVIAANSKLOOF - WORLD HERITAGE SITE (OV01)

At a Glance

• Tour duration: 2 days / 1 night
• Group size: 2 to 6 people per tour
• Tour departs from: Port Elizabeth
• Price: From R3900 to R7800 per person

Tour Highlights

• Wildflower reserve overlooking the Van Stadens river gorge
• Largest Sundial in Africa and visit Sarah Baardman’ s grave, a Khoikhoi woman born in Hankey in 1787
• 4x4 drive through Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve
• Cape Buffalo, Kudu, dainty Klipspringers, Mountain Zebra, Reed Buck, Black Rhino and Chacma Baboon
• Walk into the valley’s sub-tropical thicket and fynbos habitat
• Karoo town of Steytlerville where characteristic country houses and buildings can be seen

Suitable for those interested in Countryside, Nature, Wildlife

Itinerary

1. DAY 1: Port Elizabeth to Baviaanskloof

   8:30 am pick up at your place of residence in Port Elizabeth. A short trip along the southern coastline, we stop for a refreshing cup of tea or coffee at a wildflower reserve overlooking the Van Stadens river gorge before we continue through the river pass to view the spectacular arch bridge spanning the precipitous gorge.
   
   Continuing to Hankey we stop at the largest Sundial in Africa and visit Sarah Baardman’ s grave, a Khoikhoi woman born in Hankey in 1787 and coerced to leave South Africa as an exhibition. Her remains were returned to her native soil after the first democratic elections from France. She was re-buried here, where she quietly overlooks the fertile Gamtoos valley of her birth, its banks neatly laid out with vegetable gardens and orchards.
   
   Passing extensive citrus orchards, scented sweetly in spring with the millions of white blooms, we continue to the picturesque farming town of Patensie where we stop for lunch at a farm stall. Here there is a wide selection of preserves and traditional foods.
   
   After lunch we depart for the start of Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, entering at Komdomo, we travel slowly through the floor of the valley, crossing the clear tannin stained waters of the Groot river a number of times, while exploring the reserve and its inhabitants such as Cape Buffalo, Kudu, dainty Klipspringers, Reed Buck, Mountain Zebra and Black Rhino to mention a few of the creatures found here, while of course the Chacma Baboon after which the area has been named is abundant. The nocturnal Bushpig and Leopard occur but are difficult to find.
   
   We reach our accommodation in the late afternoon, check in and settle down while the guide prepares the evenings fire. A hearty meal is served and a well deserved nights awaits you.
   
   

   OVERNIGHT: Guest house

2. DAY 2: Baviaanskloof to Port Elizabeth

   Early wake up for coffee or tea and rusks before a walk into the valley’s sub-tropical thicket and fynbos habitat. Returning to our accommodation for breakfast we depart to explore the rest of the World Heritage Site on our way to Willowmore from where we exit the reserve.
   
   Passing through the typical small Karoo town of Steytlerville where many characteristic country houses and buildings can be found some originating during the Victorian and Edwardian period with open balcony’s onto dusty streets.
   
   We freturn to Port Elizabeth through the picturesque Little Karoo and the valley bushveld of the Zuurveld and Uitenhage and drop you off at your accommodation that marks the end of the tour.

   TOUR ENDS

Note

Tour includes:

* 2 day guided tour, vehicle, fuel, guide
* 1 night accommodation
* Excursions into area available to us
* Entrance/conservations fee
* Meals as per itinerary
* Bottled water


Not included:

* Bar bills
* Personal shopping
* Gratuities