Words: Robyn Anthony | Images: Alan Straton from MyPE
Patensie in the Gamtoos Valley is the last town stop before entering the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area. It has become a very popular tourist destination with its numerous B&Bs, self-catering and camping establishments, as well as restaurants, fuel stops, banks and shops to choose from.
Property
Property in Patensie is always in demand, as it’s a small town supporting a large citrus-farming industry. Export citrus is the main crop of the Patensie area and the season runs from April to October.
The narrow-gauge rail line which was extended from Loerie to Patensie in 1914, the improvement of access roads, and the construction of the Kouga dam in the 1960s, sped up the development of Patensie as a town through the stimulation of agriculture and supporting industries.
Houses in the town range from small- and medium-sized dwellings that fall in the R600,000 range. Many of these haven’t been modernised yet.
Then there are the larger and more costly homes coming in at about R2m. According to local property insiders, there’s no real in between.
While there’s not much property available for sale at the moment, there’s quite a large rental property demand, since accommodation is always required for farm managers, as well as for people employed by the citrus industry and its packhouses.
Schooling
There are 12 schools in the suburbs and townships of Patensie. These include Andrieskraal, Chigwell, Cockscomb, De Mistkraal, Du Preez, Gamtoosvalley, Quagga, Rose Cottage, Masisebenze and Patensie primary schools, as well as Patensie High School, and Zanethemba Farm School.
According to Patensie resident Nichola Uys, who has lived here for the past 13 years, most of the farmers’ children attend Laerskool Gamtoosvallei. “The school goes all the way up to Grade 7,” she says.
Explore
Nichola says tourism has grown due to active marketing done at travel shows, on Facebook and Twitter.
“The restaurants serve superb dishes and there are so many activities available in the area: 4x4ing, hiking and mountain biking, birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, adventure packages, game drives, beautiful nature scenes and, of course, the Baviaanskloof, a World Heritage Site.”
Visitors can visit the Kouga Dam built in 1967, the first double-arched dam engineered in South Africa. Along the way, look out for the unique rock formations.
In nearby Hankey, visitors can experience the largest sundial in Africa, visit the grave of Sarah Baartman and play a few rounds of golf at the well-known nine-hole Hankey Golf Course.
Other attractions in the Gamtoos Valley to explore are Phillip’s Graves and Irrigation Tunnel, Bergvenster (window in the mountain), and the famous baobab trees.
However, the must-see attraction has to be the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve, an over-270,000ha conservation area, just a short distance from Patensie and home to an amazing diversity of habitat types and species.
From yellowwoods to Karoobossies, and thicket spekboom to fynbos and proteas, the kloof is a nature lover’s paradise. San art also occurs in the area.
According to Nichola, Patensie and the surrounding areas are mostly very peaceful. The busy times come when the area hosts the Plaasbasaar, Boerebasaar, Citrus Festival and Naartjie Festival, among other events.
For more information contact Gamtoos Tourism on 042 283 0437 or info@baviaans.net.
“What I love most about the area is the untouched nature, tranquillity, peacefulness, beautiful nature scenes and views, and all the activities one can enjoy in the valley, as well as the heritage and agritourism”
Nichola Uys, resident
Do:
- Enjoy 4×4 trails and guided day and sundown trips into the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area.
- Designed by Allen Brookes in 1966, Hankey Golf Course is a nine-hole golf course in nearby Hankey.
- With more than 200km of trails and more than 65km of single-track, you’ll have plenty of mountain-bike riding to choose from.
- See artwork from accomplished artist Hilde Alet Malan.
See:
- Hankey Sundial: the biggest sundial in Africa
- The Kouga Dam: the first double-arched dam in South Africa
- Queen Victoria’s profile as well as the geological feature known as Bergvenster
- The Phillip’s Graves and Irrigation Tunnel
- The grave of Sarah Baartman on Vergaderingskop
Eat:
- Tolbos Bistro and Deli: Sunday live performances and tourist information
- The Padlangs Country Restaurant & Shop: fantastic play area for children
- The restaurant at Ripple Hill Hotel: a diverse menu and the steaks are excellent
- Local is Lekker Pub and Grub: farm-style dining in Hankey
- Spekboomlapa: country comforts in Loerie
