Activities

At Duiwekloof you are welcome to enjoy yourself as you will. Our only rule is that neither the natural environment nor other guests should be disturbed which, we are sure, is the way you would wish it.

Click here to download our Hiking Trails Map

The Lapa Entertainment Area

The entertainment area is spacious and comfortable with tables and chairs where one can sit down to rest and enjoy the view onto the rock faces. The two braai areas are large enough to make a good fire and provide a cosy atmosphere to the room. the pool table, table tennis & soccer will provide hours of fun and entertainment while the fire wood burns to coals to prepare a scrumptious meal.

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The Decks

There are 3 leisure decks close to the lodge, all offering spectacular views up the kloof ….

Sundowner Deck

A popular braai facility with bench seating

Reading Deck

A secluded, shaded area for a date with a good book

Games Deck

This is were young and old can have some fun. Playing a game of chess or play a game of darts

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The Swimming Hole

Close to the lodge is a beautiful, natural swimming hole supplied with water from the mountain. The pool has a natural rock bottom, really something special and a must in the summer heat!

For the Kids

An adventure playground with jungle gym and Land Rover sand pit will provide hours of entertainment. An impromptu cricket pitch tends to appear in the parking area whenever children are at the lodge. The swimming hole and facilities in the lapa remain popular with the kids.

Walks/Trails

Guests are welcome to explore the kloof at their leisure. There are four designated walks which can be undertaken with or without a guide. The walk to the Bushman paintings is strictly guided. To avoid injury, guests are advised to stay on the paths as the ground is often loose underfoot.

There are four walking routes from the lodge:

The Leopard Trail

This trail starts at the third campsite and leads up to the ridge above the cavern and Blouduiker cottage. After the initial climb, there is a small clearing with a comfortable bench and a panoramic view of the lodge and camping area below. Along the ridge the Tee-box for the par 3 is under construction and there is a view north and south of the valley. The route ends on the access road behind the cavern. Moderate 30 min.

The Source

Follows a track past an ancient Willowmore Cedar to the wilderness camp 800m from the lodge. Thereafter it winds through the towering cliffs along the dry river bed to the crack, a sand stone crevasse perpendicular to the valley course. Access to the water source is over ‘the neck’, a steep ridge bypassing the deep water pool at the entrance to the crack. Ropes make the walk over the ridge quite safe. The adventurous are welcome to explore further up the river, where several natural pools can be found. The marked walk is approx 6 km return and will take around 90 min.

The Bakkrans walk

Branches off from the track just before the wilderness camp. A stiff climb on a stepped pathway takes you up to a welcome seat on a ridge overlooking the lodge. The route then climbs upwards to the bakkrans or curved cliff, skirting a large overhang and then a rope assisted assent to the western plateau. Wonderful examples of the Cape floral kingdom succulents can be found in this section. The path runs along the edge of the cliff overlooking the lodge, offering magnificent view down the Baviaanskloof. On the western side of this plateau, a manganese composite rock formation makes a natural cave and a perfect spot for a picnic. The route then follows a disused 4×4 track off the mountain to a track leading to Duiwekloof ‘ s boundary gate on the main road. The walk leads back to the lodge following the main and access roads. Look out for the monkey head boulder on the opposite slope (looking back towards the lodge) at the start and the T Rex on the mountain opposite the Blouduiker cottage as you return. The walk is moderate, about 9 km and takes about 4 – 5 hours.

The Organ Caves

This route leads either to the Organ caves or to the neighbouring valley, Speekhout. The route starts behind the lodge, opposite the Bateleur suite and rapidly climbs the valley wall. A bench offers the opportunity to rest at the halfway mark. The saddle is a depression in the eastern plateau marked by a forest of tall aloe and magnificent views down the kloof. An ascending path branches to the left, and rewards the inquisitive with magnificent manganese conglomerate rock formations including flowstone, reminiscent of a giant church organ.

A little further on there is a small cave giving a natural outline to pictures taken from within and a perfect frame for a portrait taken from without. There is no maintained pathway on the Eastern plateau, but there are points of entry at the cave and the walkway. The entire trip return takes just under two hours and is moderate to hard. The choice remains to turn left to Speekhout or right back to the lodge. Speekhout is an arable valley and the walk out the entrance and along the main road to the Duiwekloof turnoff is pleasant. Add a further two hours and look out for the seven dwarves on the way. An extensive Bonsaido can be found at the dwelling on Speekhout and a tea garden is occasionally available.

Please note: the Speekhout route is not in part of Duiwekloof and the route and facilities may not be maintained or available.

Stargazing

People are awe-struck at the visibility of the milky way, many seeing it for the first time ever. Our distance from any big city and no pollution makes it the ideal place to lie on your back and gaze away at the billions of stars…

Game viewing

Kudu, Klipspringers and Rooibok have been regularly sighted and even black eagles occur in the area. There is also no shortage of the baboons for whom the Baviaanskloof was named. Game drives in the surrounding area is the perfect way to view wildlife.

4 X 4 Routes

There is a variety of 4×4 routes in the surrounding area. Henrietta at Makadaatsgrot offers an Info Centre which can provide further info on these routes and other activities in the Baviaanskloof or alternately contact the Baviaans Tourism Office at 044 923 1702 email: tourism@baviaans.co.za for additional info (Jane Zaayman).