ZANDVLAKTE - a Sensual Oasis in the Baviaanskloof - Thank you very much for your interest in the Baviaanskloof. Take a leisurely trip through our environment of extremes and may it be a special experience for you. Please feel free to sign our guest book as well. Zandvlakte is our heimat, a secret hideaway where life is balanced between the great wonders of the world's eco-systems and the technological challenges of the new millennium. Remote but not isolated. Of all the tourist destinations in South Africa Zandvlakte farm can be regarded as a destination where the full palette of sensual experiences is combined in a holistic unity. Since the first inhabitants arrived in this area development has taken place at a stubbornly slow rate. This did not change even when the present farm was sold to Petrus van Staden in 1817 for 60 riksdaalders by the Netherlands Government. The influence of the forces of Nature on human activity is overwhelming and continues to dominate the inhabitants. It moulds the unique character of the area. Through the centuries, as history has been written through the lives of the daily activities of the people including those of the earlier Khoi and San Bushmen families, one aspect has remained dominant: the pioneering spirit of the people encompassing their rebellion against order, and their timeless union with Nature in the process. Zandvlakte stimulates the adventurer, the inquiring spirit, the perpetual traveller who constantly yearns for the unusual and the unique. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on the quality of life and values amidst the peace and quiet. Unquestionably, it is an opportunity for the re-evaluation of human Nature and the sincerity of spirit. The overnight guest is also in a position to absorb the ever-present patience of the residents of the valley. The farm itself, surrounded on three sides by proclaimed wilderness is a surprising green paradise after the adventurous journey over the mountains from Patensie (south east) and Willowmore (west). To reach the destination is in itself a unique experience and must be absorbed by an unhurried spirit. An overwhelming natural paradise stands in stark contrast with an urban vacation with its high concentrations of people, commerce and entertainment. THE ROAD Overnight visitors can use hire vehicles, four by four vehicles, motor bikes and mountain bikes. The route is one of the major adventures and should be carefully weighed by people who hold in high esteem their expensive vehicles! The seasonal rain can sometimes cause wash-aways and Zandvlakte will be able to report on road conditions, before you set out. The approximately 97 kilometres from Patensie to Zandvlakte takes two to three hours. Two majestic mountain passes are crossed. From Willowmore the journey is 97 kilometres and takes one and a half hours. CLIMATE While there maybe daily variations in temperature the general norm is that summer is sunny and warm with maximum and minimum temperatures ranging between 15� and 41� Celsius. The easterly sea wind ensures wonderful cool evenings. During winter the maximum and minimum temperatures are 28� to 0� Centigrade. The climate remains sunny and is complemented with warm winds from the hinterland. Zandvlakte offers the ideal overnight spot for visitors. The recreation in this unexplored paradise is provided by Nature. Performances are plentiful: the birds, which dramatically protect their nest with eggs and young ones, from thieving snakes and hawks; the leopard that playfully strikes out at inquisitive goats and in the process slays a few; an African goshawk, which sees the first light of day in the Bluegum in front of the old trading store. At night you sleep mesmerised by a symphony of night calls while a blanket of stars enfolds you. In the spring the aromas and pheromones in the pure oxygen laden air is a sensual experience. VEGETATION The farm falls in the Little Karoo region and is thus, according to the rainfall, a semi arid region. The valley, known as " the Kloof" is protected by two mountain ranges: the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountains. One moves swiftly from one vegetation type to the other, there being five varieties in the Kloof. In some instances the transition between the types is dramatic. On the northern slopes are the Spekboomveld and Valley Bushveld. On the southern slopes flourishes the Fynbos biome. In the long side valleys is concentrated the Knysna Forest vegetation. On the mountain plateaux are the Rhinoceros Veld and Grassland. The widespread succulent Karoo bush in the valley is probably why the Baviaanskloof is classified as a par of the Little Karoo. The valley lies at a lower altitude than the Karoo in the north. The rainfall of the Karoo thus filters through to the Baviaanskloof and it is for this reason that the valley is surprisingly luscious and supports a wider variety of plant types than would have been otherwise expected. Lying between the Karoo and the Langkloof the 200-kilometre long gravel road between Patensie and Willowmore is one of the best-kept secrets of Nature in South Africa. For the eco-pioneer it is not a question of IF the Baviaanskloof should be visited but rather WHEN. Enjoy your virtual journey through our world. For us recreation and relaxation is not a business. It is a way of life. Regards from Pieter and Magriet Kruger. |