Guarri Safaris

• Gamtoos

Typical three day Baviaanskloof trip with Quarri Safaris.

Day 1. Permits and a packed lunch, juice, coffee/ tea, drinking water and fruit included. No alcohol, but clients are welcome to bring their own. We depart from Patensie at about 9h00 stop at the conglomerate rock profile of queen Victoria and then at the spot where the Gamtoosriver begins.

On the way we talk about farming in the Gamtoosvalley and what time of the year which products are available. The road changed to a gravel road taking us past Comdomo, the office and campsite of provincial parks, thru the Grootriver Poort to the farming community Cambria.

After a permit check at the control point, we enter the Baviaans Wilderness Area enjoying the indigenous forest of Poortjies, crossing the same stream 12 times. The narrow mountainpass take us to Bergplaas where we stop to strech our legs and maybe use the toilet.

The vegetation changed to fynbos and we can see different flowers at different times of the year. Lookout for klipspringer, rooihartebees, mountain zebra and mountain reedbuck.

Going down, we can find bushbuck, buffalo, kudu, eland and baboons. After passing the signbaords for Doodsklip- and Rooihoek campsites, we cross the Baviaansriver for the first time and stop at Smitskraal to enjoy the picknic.

From here we travel another 2-3 hours to the guesthouse or cave, our accommodation for the two nights.

Day 2. Spend a full day in the Baviaans valley to hike in a kloof and hike Nuwekloofpass, visit rock art, visit Sewefontian Wildfig forest, enjoy roosterkoek and tea at Vero's tearoom. 

Day 3. Depart via Willowmore. Enjoy something from the menu in a coffee shop in Willowmore and check cell phone messages and calls. Start the journey back via Steytlerville and Uitenhage.