“The most favourable part of the Union”
Saturday, 4th April 2015
It was in 1910 that the the Cape Director of Irrigation, FE Kanthack, visited the valley and called it “the most favourable part of the Union.” The Gamtoos Valley is known for its rich, fertile soils, its fresh water and its agricultural bounty. It is a conservative farming area — agritourism hasn’t moved centrestage and the Valley hasn’t embraced tourism fully yet — that is focused on farming: citrus and vegetables.
It is the eastern gateway to the Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site but hasn’t seen as much benefit from that as has Willowmore on the western side, which has made a concerted effort to clean up the town and encourage tourism offerings. But then, Willowmore has a DA-run municipality.