STEYTLERVILLE TO HADLEY

Distance: 48 kms
Map ref 3324AD 3324CB


Leave Steytlerville on the road that runs due south out of the town. 14 kms out of town the dirt road climbs through Rietfontein se Nek. It then swings to the east after which the road splits (6 kms).
The right fork will take one round to Hadley but the quieter road is to keep left and head due east until the road forks again at Boesmanspoort (27 kms).
Keeping right at Boesmanspoort cross the stream and head gradually up to the south east and then through the foothills of the Baviaanskloof Mountains as the road drops down to Hadley (13 kms).

HADLEY TO GRASSNEK

Distance: 22 kms

Map ref: 3324DA, 3324DB


From Hadley, the road changes dramatically. The surface deteriorates. The road itself runs through a series of ascents and descents for as it crosses the spurs running out from the mountain range and the vegetation becomes mountain fynbos.It then flattens out and swings away from the main ridge and starts dropping until it passes a sign announcing the entancd to the Wilderness Area(5 kms).

On entering the Wilderness Area the road drops down very steeply and dramatically, a descent of 400 metres, to reach the Groot Rivier (5 kms).

This is then followed by an equally ridiculous 400 metre climb over after which the road, which is badly eroded in places on the climb, climbs gradually upwards before a short pull brings one up on to the watershed at Grassnek (9 kms).

Its worth stopping at this point and going 100 metres off the road to enjoy the view southwards over the Baviaanskloof. The Osseberg Jeep Track, the route for the brave into the Baviaanskloof, can be seen cutting across the hillside opposite.


From the view site it is a short descent to a gate on the right which takes one into the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area. This is the beginning of the Osseberg Jeep track (3 kms)  .

GRASSNEK via OSSEBERG to GOEDE HOOP

PERMIT REQUIRED

Distance: 27 kms

Map reference: 3324DA

The Osseberg Jeep track is badly rutted and steep in places, offering some very technical riding - but for the cautious there is nothing that cannot be pushed.

The track descends a total of 600 metres over 10 very scenic kilometers until it meets the Groot Rivier in the valley bottom.  There are freshwater streams along this section (10 kms).

Once in the valley bottom the track then follows the course of the Groot River crossing over it a number of times before the valley opens out  Some of these crossings are fairly wide but they are knee deep and can be easily negotiated - although they may look debilitating when confronted in darkness. Much of this part of the track runs through coastal thicket and there is an abundance of game – setting the tone for the rest of the Baviaanskloof. (12 kms).

When the track emerges from valley it then follows the general course of the river as it makes a wide arc before the final crossing brings one to the camp site at GOEDE HOOP (5 kms)

GOEDE HOOP TO CAMBRIA

Distance 13 kms

Map ref: 3324DA


From the Goede Hoop Camping Site the jeep track climbs upward to the Reserve gate, which is 3 metres high and kept locked (3 kms).

It then descends passing through a stream before meeting the dirt road that runs the length of the Baviaanskloof between Patensie and Willowmore (5 kms).

Turning right the road runs through to Cambria (5 kms).

CAMBRIA TO GEELHOUTBOS

Map ref: 3324DA 3324CB


Distance: 59 kms


Leaving Cambria the road soon climbs out of the cultivated valley and enters the nature reserve where it runs alongside the Witrivier before climbing steeply through a series of switchbacks and then running along the plateau to the turn off to the Bergplaas Camp Site on the right (13 kms).


From Bergplaas the road continues along the plateau for a few kilometers before a long descent back into the kloof. This is followed by a series of climbs and descents which can be broken by a picturesque stop and swim in the Kouga River. (a 3km detour reached by turning off at Doodsklip) (15 kms).


From the Doodsklip turnoff, it is necessary to overcome the deception of the track to the Elandsvlakte before the road descends to the Baviaanskloof River itself (5 kms).


The road then climbs through the Droepoort before descending down the Grasnek back to the Baviaanskloof River (14 kms). I

t then continues along the valley bottom climbing slightly through the Ysterhekkloof before reaching the turnoff to GEELHOUTBOS (8kms).

It jeep track then takes one from the turn off to the Geelhoutbos cottages (4 kms).

GEELHOUTBOS TO STUDTIS

Map ref: 3324CA

Distance: 25kms


From the Geelhoutbos turn off the road climbs again before the valley opens out into farm land and the road flattens passing the farm Sandvlakte (13kms).


The road then continues to with a series of gradual climbs to the Studtis Police and Damsedrif where it is possible to get a great meal (11kms).

STUDTIS TO VOORKLOOF

Distance: 39 kms

From Studtis the road continues up the Baviaanskloof with a combination of climbs and flat sections until it reaches the turn off to MatjiesRivier and Makkedaat Cave (39 kms)

Just beyong the turn off is an information centre.

VOORKLOOF TO WILLOWMORE

Map ref: 3323 DA 3323BC 3323AD

Distance 47 kms

The road then continues through the cultivated valley of the Voorkloof until it swings north to enter the Nuwekloof (7 kms).

It climbs to the end of the end of the Nuwekloof (5 kms).


The road then continues on through open countryside until it reaches the intersection with the R57 from Uniondale to Willowmore (30 kms).

At the tar road turn right to Willowmore (5 kms)