Do you dream of an adventure you can feel in every fiber of your being?
Where the air smells of wild grass and campfire smoke?
Where your tires crunch over rocky paths and your heart beats faster with every turn?
Welcome to the Baviaanskloof.
Hidden deep within the rugged wilderness of the Eastern Cape lies this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a breathtakingly beautiful place. Here begins a 4×4 journey that awakens all your senses.
Leave the crowds behind. Feel the sun on your skin, hear the calls of baboons echoing through the valley, and lose yourself in untouched nature.
This is South Africa at its wildest, and you’ve got front-row seats.
A true 4×4 experience
The route through the Baviaanskloof isn’t just any drive, it’s a full-blown adventure.
Due to the rough terrain, most areas can only be reached by 4×4, mountain bike, or on foot. The road winds through deep gorges, over mountain passes, and across rivers you sometimes have to ford. You’re literally driving across the backbone of the landscape.
This is South Africa as you’ve never seen it before: raw, untamed, and blissfully free of crowds.
Wildlife, where the baboons rule
As the name suggests, you’ll encounter plenty of baboons along the way, sometimes curious, sometimes cheeky. But that’s just the beginning. The reserve is also home to Cape buffalo, kudu, bushbuck, klipspringers, and even predators like caracals and leopards.
Thanks to its incredible biodiversity, the Baviaanskloof has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A sky full of stars
At night, something magical happens here: absolute silence, total darkness, and a canopy of stars that will leave you speechless. With no light pollution, the Milky Way reveals itself in all its glory.
Camping overnight in the kloof, preferably at one of the remote campsites, completes the experience. You’ll be surrounded by nature, hear the rustling of wildlife in the bushes, and feel like you’ve stepped out of the world for a while.
Practical and adventurous
You can start the route from Jeffreys Bay or the other way around, from Oudtshoorn, ending at the coast.
For those who prefer a bit more comfort, there are small guesthouses at both ends of the kloof. But if you really want to feel the magic of the Baviaanskloof, we recommend spending at least one night camping inside the valley itself.
From the Garden Route into the wild unknown
The Baviaanskloof lies just beyond the famous Garden Route, yet it feels like an entirely different world.
Here, you truly go off the beaten track. You’ll experience South Africa the way locals do: adventurous, raw, and real.
And the fact that it remains so pure is something even South Africans cherish, during school holidays, many bring their kids here to explore. It’s one of the country’s best-kept secrets, shared mostly among locals.
Why you shouldn’t miss it
-
A unique 4×4 adventure through one of South Africa’s wildest regions
-
Extraordinary flora and fauna
-
Spectacular night skies with zero light pollution
-
Off the beaten track, far from mass tourism
-
From camping under the stars to cozy guesthouses, something for everyone
The Baviaanskloof isn’t a stopover. It’s a destination in itself, where adventure, peace, and nature meet.
A place where memories are made that stay with you, precisely because it’s so different.
Are you ready for the wildest stretch of the Garden Route?
Let us know, we’ll help you craft your perfect route.
