The journey will be from east to west, originating in Port Elizabeth. From the N2 national road take the R331 turnoff to Hankey. This is the first turn-off after the end of the freeway.
Shortly before reaching the town of Hankey see on the left what is claimed to be the largest sundial in the Southern Hemisphere.
Turn off the road to the sundial, follow the track past it and come to the grave of Sarah Baartman, the celebrated "Hottentot Venus", who was born in the neighbourhood and led a short and tragic life.
After passing through the town of Hankey the road enters the lovely and fertile Gamtoos River valley with it's neat orchards and farms. This continues past the village of Patensie.
Patensie to the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area
When the road enters the cuttings past Patensie you will see exposed Enon Conglomerate rock formation which consists of pebbles in a sandy matrix. About 140 million years ago the Cape mountains were roughly three times higher than to-day. A period of high rainfall then eroded them and the Enon Conglomerate was the result. Much of the Gamtoos valley is composed of this.
Along these cuttings is a rock formation known as Queen Victoria's Bust. It can only be seen from the west so you will have to stop and look back, but be careful of traffic coming round the bends. Stop at the first lay-by after going over the bridge.
Shortly after the tar ends, the road winds through the looming Groot River Poort with its towering sandstone cliffs.
Once through the poort you enter the rich farming area of Cambria with orchards to the right of the road and succulent thicket to the left. Cambria owes it's name to the early settlers of the district who were reminded of Wales. After leaving Cambria behind, you arrive at the Baviaanskloof proper where the road enters the Wilderness Area.
Poortjies to Bergplaas
At first in the Wilderness Area, you are surrounded by riverine forest, with yellowwoods, white stinkwoods and Cape figs. In fact, such patches of forest will be found in kloofs wherever there is perennial water.
From the sign "Poortjies" a short walk and wade along the stream brings you to a picturesque small waterfall and pool in the depths of the forest. After good rainfall the waterfall is even better.
Next comes the first pass of the journey, Combrinck's Pass. If you do not like steep drops, watch the mountain to the left! Stop at the sheerest part of the pass and you will see cycads growing on the opposite side of the valley below you.
Bergplaas to Grasnek
At the top of Combrinck's Pass is Bergplaas. This and the other plateaux were formed during the period of erosion and are an accumulation of the softer elements of the Table Mountain group, mainly the Goudini formation. This finer and more fertile soil supports grassy fynbos. The presence of grassland means also the presence of a wider variety of grazing animals. On Bergplaas red hartebeest and zebras are frequently to be seen. At the far end of Bergplaas, a short walk off the road to the right will give you a good view of the old cableway which was used by the bygone farmers to transport produce and livestock across the chasm to and from the Enkeldoorn plateau, thereby saving several hours' drive.
The road then descends Holgat Pass. Notice the outcrops of Bokkeveld shale which occur here. Part way down is a fine view of the cone-shaped hill Langkop.
In the valley, succulent thicket predominates. This is prime country for kudu as well as the elusive Buffalo.
The road then climbs over Grasnek Pass, at the top of which is a lookout point which affords a fine vista of the ruggedness of the terrain.
Grasnek to Rooikloof
Past the ruins of the farm Coleskeplaas is a fine view of Scholtzberg, the highest peak (1625m) in the Baviaanskloof Mountain range. Both this range and the Kouga range on the other side of the valley are principally composed of hard Peninsula sandstone, the oldest of the Table Mountain group.
In the highest parts of these ranges is to be found Alpine fynbos, a shorter variety than usually seen.
The road through the Wilderness Area ends at the aptly named Rooikloof.
The Wilderness Area itself, however, continues along the Kouga and Baviaanskloof ranges to the left and right respectively.
Rooikloof through Nuwekloof
Hereafter the road goes mainly through farmland but the mountain vistas and rock formations on either side remain just as attractive. Along the road bottomland savanna or valley bushveld with it's sweet thorn trees is seen but, beyond it, much of the veld to the left of the road is either renosterveld or passerina veld, both composed of a mixture of fynbos and succulent karoo plants.
On the right you will see the Campbell memorial to the victims of a flood in 1916. The road then passes through Studtis Poort. A little further on can be seen The Crocodile, a rock formation best seen from the property Speekhout.
Back on the road, a very short distance further on, another interesting rock formation, The Seven Dwarves, can be seen on the right. At the same place, to the right of the dwarves is a cliff on which grow numbers of the rare Willowmore Cedar (Widdringtonia schwarzii).
Nuwekloof forms the western gateway of the Baviaanskloof. In it you will see two interesting sights.
One is the Sleutel or Key, a massive rock formation which has split right through from top to bottom. It is so-called because if it ever topples over it will lock the Baviaanskloof shut from this end. It is the bulge on the left of the road.
The other is the Hangleer or Hanging Ladder, the remnants of which can be seen above you. It was built by honey gatherers to gain access to the bees nests beneath the overhang of the cliff. Only a couple of rungs still exist so it can be quite difficult to spot. (If you are battling, look just below the left-hand tuft of grass on the skyline.)
The road thereafter continues through the Baviaans Wes area until it strikes the N9 road from Uniondale to Graaff-Reinet, a short distance from Willowmore.
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