Patensie
Patensie is the last stop before entering the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area. Guarded by the majestic Cockscomb mountain, this little town's activities revolve around the Citrus Industry.
It has become a very popular tourist destination with many B&B's and self-catering establishments, as well as fuel-stops, banks and shops to choose from.
- Tourism Information can be obtained from the Tolbos Country Shop and Tea Garden. Visit the impressive Kouga Dam built in 1967 - the first double-arched dam engineered in South Africa.
- Along the way, look out for unique rock formations - you may even be suprised to see Queen Victoria's profile!
History
The farm "Patentie" of 3000 morgen was awarded to David Keyser jnr. In 1852 the farm was sud-divided and in 1858 Patensie was declared a town. The name Patensie has a Hottentot origin and means "lêplek van die beeste" (where the cattle lie). At first, because all of Patensie was privately owned, town development was difficult and the Citrus and Tobacco co-ops had to develop their own residential areas.
The first oranges were exported in 1907 by Mr Bean and in 1929 the Patensie Citrus Co-op. was founded. The first packing facility was built in 1937. The Co-op is today known as the PSB company and is the biggest citrus packing facility in the area. Export citrus is the main crop of the Patensie area and the season runs from April to October.
The Tobacco Co-op. was founded in 1936 and played a vital part in farming of tobacco in the area. It has since been sold to KaapAgri. Although tobacco is still planted the Tobacco Co-op no longer exists
The narrow guage railline which was extended from Loerie to Patensie in 1914, the improvement of access roads and the construction of the Kouga dam in the sixties, sped up the development of Patensie through the stimulation of agriculture and supporting industries.
Despite the ever present threat of flooding, the community is thriving and apart from citrus, vegetables, chichory and tobacco are also planted. Game farming is growing into a lucrative business and the area is fast becoming a big tourist attraction.
