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Elandskloof Valley
Elandskloof Pass starts just north of Villiersdorp and connects the fertile Elandskloof farming valley with the town. This scenic agricultural area is filled with fruit farms that are harvested and packed for export before being transported to other parts of South Africa. The road is short and steep, traversing the intensively cultivated Bo-Radyn farm, one of the first farms set up in Villiersdorp.
The Kaaimansgat or Crocodile’s Lair vineyard is blindly tucked away in the Elandskloof valley. Here they had the ideal hideaway with enough water and fertile land to sustain themselves and their livestock. According to legend, the beautiful valley was discovered by slaves who had escaped from Franschhoek and since there have never been any crocodiles in the area, the name is speculated to be derived from a nickname given to an old Hottentot captain. The property covers approximately 1,000 hectares, of which 118 hectares is used for growing apples including Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. 16 hectares is used for pears and another 16 hectares used for peaches and canning purposes. Most of the 10-hectare vineyard grapes are sold to Mr Peter Finlayson of Hermanus.
The highest Chardonnay vineyard in South Africa is situated on the slopes of Kroonland that towers above the valley. Other farms in the valley include High Noon, Hatherleigh, Lindani, Onsehoof and Perdekloof.
Locals treasure the valley because of its scenic and undisturbed beauty. It has views of the Klein-Tafelberg, the tallest peak in the Stettynsberg range, and the Elandsrivier. The area is also surrounded by nature reserves, with the Haweqwa Nature Reserve in the North and the Villiersdorp and Theewaterskloof Nature Reserves forming a green zone to the West.
