Day 1: Departure
Self-Drive meet in Willowmore, at Willow Historical Guest House by 15:00. Passengers pick up at George Airport by 13:00. Settle in the beautifully restored, historical house and ‘nagmaal’ rooms.
Dinner at Willow Historical Guest House (own account)
Accommodation: Willow Historical Guest House (B&B)
Day 2
After Breakfast we Gravel Travel to Nuwekloof Pass into Baviaanskloof, with spectacular rock formations and look out for indigenous plants e.g. Pelargonium and Kiepersol (Cabbage Tree) Raaskrans, Willowmore Cedar, The Key of Baviaanskloof and The Lions Head.
Drive onwards to meet Patrick, a local guide, who will take us through Sewefontein Wild Fig Forest.
Visit ‘Babes se winkel’ and meet Miss Baviaanskloof!
Further into The Kloof, to Zandvlakte, the last farm bordering the wilderness part of this Mega Reserve.
Meet Piet Kruger, owner of Zandvlakte, who will join us for an eco-tour to learn about the Spekboom and Leopard Project as well as farming with essential oils.
We drive up the mountain with beautiful vistas of the Kloof. Drive across the landing strip and admire rosemary & lavender (essential oils) fields.
Dinner is on the veranda of Damsedrif Farmstead. Meet Rune and Hestelle van Rensburg, local farmers in Baviaanskloof and enjoy Hestelle’s ‘boerekos’
Dinner: At main farmhouse (own account)
Accommodation: Damsedrif Guesthouse (B&B)
Day 3
After breakfast we leave on the 78-kilometre 4×4 Trail, starting at Boskloof Camp, and winds its way from the Baviaanskloof valley right up the Kouga mountain range, past Graskop to the summit and then down to Kareedouw in the Langkloof. This route does not follow the traditional east-west direction of the Baviaanskloof trail, but instead goes south, up and over the Kouga mountain range. The scenery is spectacular with stunning panoramic views over the Baviaanskloof catchment area, rivers, streams and farms below. Not particularly strenuous, the trail is rated as a ‘2’ in difficulty, and majors on breathtaking mountainous scenery with views all the way to St Francis Bay and the Outeniqua Mountains on a clear day.
A huge variety of plants, including 500-year-old cycads, protea and even daisies. Game and baboons are seen often and leopard if we are very fortunate. The trail takes about five hours to complete, at a moderate pace, from Doringkloof to the Ragelsrivier Guest Farm. 15km beyond the trail’s end, we will have a picnic on the perfect white sandy beaches and warm, deep water, of the Kouga River.
Accommodation: Ragelsrivier Guest Farm – Chalets (DB&B)
Dinner: Eco Ventures Braai
Day 4
After breakfast we leave and take the shortest route to Addo National Park.
The Park conserves the Big 7 that includes the Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Buffalo as well as the southern right whale and great white shark. The Addo Elephant Park also serves to preserve the Eastern Cape plant life.
Game Drives during afternoon
Accommodation: Addo Elephant Main Camp – Camping or Chalets(DB&B)
Dinner: Eco Ventures Braai
Day5
Leisurely day with game drives or time at the Camps Waterhole
Accommodation: Addo Elephant Main Camp – Camping or Chalets(DB&B)
Dinner: Eco Ventures Braai
Day 6
After breakfast we leave via the The Cambria Valley, boxed in by the magnificent Baviaans and Kouga mountain ranges, that forms the gateway to the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and Wilderness Area. The name Cambria, apparently Welsh for the country of Wales, was bestowed on the area by an earlier visitor who was struck by its resemblance to his homeland. The area has pristine natural forests, fynbos and valley bushveld. Into the Wilderness section of Baviaanskloof. The road through the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Reserve is a narrow, steep, gravel-surfaced, winding road through mountainous terrain. Many streams are crossed while driving the length of the Kloof. Buffalo, Rhino and other Game watching opportunities are plenty. Overnight at Zandvlakte, where Piet Kruger will wait for us to have a last ‘kuier’ around the fire.
Accommodation: Zandvlakte Guest farm Winkerliershuis and en-suite rooms (Dinner and Bed)
Dinner: Eco Ventures Braai
Day 7
We leave early and drive down memory lane, passing Damsedrif, Seven Fountains and The Key of Baviaanskloof. Breakfast stop in Willowmore (own account)
Drop off for passengers at George Airport by 12:00 or pre-arranged venue.
Drive safely home
Gravel Travel 4×4 Road-Trip Tours
Africa Eco Ventures offers Guided African Safari’s and expeditions with a combination of Camping and Lodge accommodation. with enough – bush – in style
Either join one of our tour’s from the privacy of your own vehicle, or join as passenger with us, in one of our double cab 4×4 vehicles.
Do not own your own 4×4 vehicle, but would like to self-drive? Hire a club cab 4×4 vehicle from us.
You do not need to have previous 4 x 4 driving experience to join in the fun, and the two-way radios we provide to every vehicle, enables the tour leader to effectively communicate with the convoy, ensuring your safety whilst in transit and at the same time involving everyone in the ecological, historical, cultural, ornithological components of the areas we visit.
Groups vary between 4 and 6 vehicles, with small group numbers, not more than 14.
While on tour, our mobile bush kitchen will treat you a hearty breakfast and dinner is always enjoyed around the campfire.
Whilst we offer a selection of meat-based meals that include traditional favourites like braaivleis and homecooked bobotie, we are also able to cater for vegetarian meal preferences, provided we are notified in advance.
Meals are accompanied by fresh salad and/or vegetables.
While in camp – tea, coffee and early morning homemade rusks are yours to enjoy!
Our bush kitchen provides crockery, cutlery, coffee mugs and wine glasses.
We will have ice ready for your sundowners
Important to note, alcoholic beverages and refreshments and of course, your own snacks are your own responsibility.
Passengers driving with us will be provided with dome tents (2.5m x 2.5m x 1.8m high) ground cover, camping chair, a tent light and small bedside table,
as well as a stretcher and mattress.
Bring your own sleeping bag and pillow
We can provide camping gear for self-drive clients, as well.
Prior to the start of each tour, you will receive comprehensive information on what is needed to prepare yourselves for the adventure that lies ahead – this includes recommended overnight accommodation en route, directional & route info, what you need for your vehicle, border crossing info, what to pack!
Tours spanning throughout Southern Africa – Botswana, Namibia, and of course, our own beautiful South Africa, we pride ourselves on being able to offer something for everyone.
Personalised small group tours and no extreme technical skills needed for 4×4 driving. Sometimes rocky sections and deep sand, but mostly we assist you for safety and to get to know your vehicle.
Rather enjoy nature with shorter distances per day
WE PROVIDE
ACCOMMODATION – Combination of TENTS AND CHALETS/LODGE
We provide camping gear
Dome tents 3m x3m x 1.82m high- go together with a light, a stretcher, mattress and bedside table.
Upgrade to chalets, with no camping is available
MEALS
Our fully equipped BUSH kitchen (including crockery, cutlery and coffee mugs) will treat you with a hearty breakfast that varies from continental to bacon/boerewors and eggs.
Dinner is always around a camp fire – South African Braai and homecooked meals like bobotie. Always accompanied by fresh salad and vegetables.
COFFEE Station – tea and coffee are yours to enjoy in camp – with early morning homemade rusks
ICE Bucket is ready before Wine O’Clock for sundowners.
SUPPORT Vehicle with Guides and 2-way radios for each vehicle
YOUR ESSENTIAL LIST
SELF DRIVE with own vehicle
Own 4×4 Vehicle or 2×4 with good ground clearance and off-road tyres. Own Alcoholic beverages/ refreshments, drinking water and snacks. Sleeping bag, pillow and your own camp chairs. Park entry fees, Road Tax and Restaurant meals as per itinerary.
YOUR ESSENTIAL LIST
AS PASSENGER WITH ECO VENTURES
Transport in Double Cab 4×4 Vehicle
Sleeping bag, pillow and alcoholic beverages/refreshments and your own snacks.
Park entry fees and restaurant meals as per itinerary.
