It looks like winter has passed us by...(although the advent of spring,
certainly doesn't mean winter has had it's final say) the kloof is a picture! We have had excellent rains & the veld is green and thankful. A myriad of flowers will welcome the traveller lucky enough to visit the kloof in September. Winter saw a fair turn-over of guests with a bumper crop on the evening of the the trans-Baviaans cycle race, when Anina and the girls catered for 27 desperados and supporters. As it turned out, the route through the mega-reserve was impassable and the trans-Baviaans became the langs-Baviaans...no less of a monster, however.
The intense cold caused the solar heater on the blouduiker cottage to
fracture & a replacement was required. A 'dump valve' has been fitted, which will apparently prevent a repeat performance next winter. Good news is the instalation of gas wall heaters in 3 of the units. They were received with extreme gratitude by those souls unlucky enough to be in the Kloof at the height of a cold front.
The main story of the winter was, however, the road to Patensie. The
unprecedented Winter rains caused havoc to the already tenuous route, which was closed for long periods. The road is currently open to high clearance
4x4 vehicles, subject to regular updates. For the enthusiast, the route is spectacular!
Building has commenced on the new staff accomodation and kitchen complex.
A small building team is being transported to and from Knysna every alternate week & as far as possible, materials from the kloof will be used.
The current wendy house is no longer adequate for the staff & the growing need for catering demands more kitchen space than is available in the lapa.
Dawie Visser, the creative genius of Duiwekloof, will be visiting periodically to ensure perfect aesthetics!
14-16 April 2011 Servier Laboratories visit Duiwekloof
Duiwekloof held it's first 'bosberaad' for the large French multinational pharmaceutical company, Servier.
The group of highly stressed executives arrived from the George airport on Thursday 14 April...a taste of the Kloof's hospitality in the form of refreshments for the journey had already been greatly appreciated.
The party took a pre-dinner wander round the lodge and returned to scrumptious fare at the lapa. The wining and dining, with envigorating short hikes and exhilarating vistas would not stop until the final Vuvuzela blast (quite literally) on the 16th of April at 5h30 am sharp!
...... and so began two days of work, fun and a wonderful opportunity for these colleagues to become great friends and to start a life-long affair with the Baviaanskloof( the kloof's charms and subtle allure will seduce even the most hardened city-slicker).
The cast was made up of acting-main-man, Shaun...or was that cave-man Shaun?....the klowenaars favourite teaser, JP.....rustige Rory ...Mr Smoothie, witty Bells - Travis.....blou duiker spyker, Dudley....and the roses amonst the thorns, Haute Cabriere Cheryl and botanist - photographer extraordinaire, Sarette.
For Duiwekoof staff, the 'klowenaars', this was their first 'Bosberaad'....and they performed like seasoned corporate entertainers...up to providing ice blocks to cool down Travis's shower temperature and 'turn down' JP's room several times a day!!!!
Die 'meerkatjies' van Duiwekloof gaan die spesiale groep van vriende aan die kloof beslis altyd onthou!.....especially sweet Rosaline....with her Vuvuzela....
It has been one of the wettest Summers on record at Duiwekloof with the river flowing frequently the length of the kloof. The weedeater has succumbed to the strain already and Jonas, the maintenance manager has already dropped a few hints about putting a tractor on his wish-list. Water pipes are continually being rescued and the sandbags at the water source beyond the crack are on short-term notice for replacement as despite their 50kg weight, the force of the water carries them meters downstream. The Kloof is a wonderland of lush growth and the plant life is ecstatic. The attached photos were taken by a Dutch couple who were out hiking when one of the frequent downpours took them by surprise. They were ecstatic at the impromptu performance provided by nature and thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
October 2010 UPGRADES FOR DUIWEKLOOF
October has been busy & extremely productive month in the Kloof. A long-standing priority, soundproofing the lodge, has been successfully completed. The solution, after a number of failed previous attempts, was quite simple. The ceilings were never boarded, and sound reflected perfectly off the angle of the roof into adjacent rooms. The ceiling boards have made all the difference and guests are now assured of a peaceful sleep.
The solar system has also received a complete overhaul, courtesy of Specialised Solar Solutions in George. We are now able to run the washing machine and Iron from batteries, again improving the wilderness experience for our guests. The generator will still be needed to top up the batteries on occasion, however this can now be done when the lodge is empty. A feasibility study for a wind generator is underway.
June 2010
Into Winter...and the first snow of the year!...Duiwekloof was transformed into a winter wonderland & visitors were welcomed into the kloof by a snowman, artfully created by Christene at Uitspan. Surprisingly, for the severe drought experienced in the Southern Cape, the kloof has exceeded its average rainfall for the year to date and the flora is magnificent. We are happy to report that the core staff are well established with Jonas as maintenance manager and Petra as householder. The visitor numbers have continued to escalate with a gratifying percentage of re-visits. Our first wedding at Duiwekloof is scheduled for September which is the deadline for unveiling the honeymoon cave as our latest offering to the intrepid kloof besoeker.
Horses for Duiwekloof
We were most privileged to host Hennie Ahlers from Pezula Private Estate at Duiwekloof. Hennie has been instrumental in promoting the re-establishment and breeding of the legendary 'Kaapse perd'. This tough, indigenous breed contributed greatly to the success of the boere commandos during the anglo-boer war. Duiwekloof has been adjudged a perfect habitat for these hardy animals. They are perfect riding stock with a wonderful balance of placid temperament and unparalled endurance. 'Oom Hennie' as we have come to know him, has boundless energy and unbridled enthusiasm, not just for his horses, but also for the kloof. He has presented Duiwekloof with a variety of indigenous plants from his nursery & can't wait to return. The dream of having horses & horseback tours of the Baviaanskloof is one step closer to fruition.
Honeymoon Cave
Construction of the honeymoon cave is now well underway. Plans have been finalised and the team is braving the cold winter weather to ensure this new offering is commissioned prior to Duiwekloof's first wedding in September.
The cave is situated in the ridge behind the Blouduiker cottage and will have all it's own amenities. The construction will be largely stone wood & glass with solar lighting & gas heating.
Related to this development, an open air chapel with stone Pulpit near an ancient Willowmore Cedar beyond the lodge is currently under consideration.
What a day for Duiwekloof! Janti & Michelle from Plettenberg bay invited 60 of their family and friends to partake in a very special wedding ceremony at an ancient Willowmore Cedar in the Kloof. The preparations have kept the building team & staff busy for almost 3 months as we decided to complete the planned Cave unit in time for the wedding. Sure enough...after some desparate, late night work, the Honeymoon Cave was presented to Michelle on the evening of her nuptials. Later, the wedding party participated in a ceremonial cleansing ceremony at the Blou Duiker Cottage celebrating a spiritual awakening through dance. On the morning of the 24th of September, the men took a walk with Janti to the Organ Cave, while Michelle and the ladies walked up the riverbed to the Eye. Just after 11am, and despite the untimely intrusion of a convoy of 4x4 vehicles on their way to view the campsite, the guests made their way to the Cedar. The ceremony, conduced by the brother of the groom, was perfectly in tune with the setting and made a lasting impression on all attending. Thereafter it was time to eat, drink and be merry at the swimming hole & lapa, the day being concluded with another dance at the Blou Duiker and flaming torches lighting the way to the Honeymoon cave. A memorable day indeed for Janti, Michelle and for Duiwekloof!
