Leeukloof & Ruiterbos

Our guide to things to do in our valley - Leeukloof - and in the neighbouring Ruiterbos area.

Leeukloof

Leeukloof is a quiet, secluded valley in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains. It’s a great destination for birding, hiking, fynbos watching, mountain biking (MTB), off-road motor cycling, and motor bike touring. And swimming, too: the water in the Bosmans River is clean and pure. (This is the river you cross about a kilometre before you get to our farm gate; it also forms Blommekloof’s western boundary.)

Ruiterbos

Ruiterbos is a sleepy stop on the R328 between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn. It’s one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it places you don’t want to miss, and it’s situated at the foot of the Robinson Pass.

The Robinson Pass

The R328 becomes the steep, winding Robinson Pass just above Ruiterbos. It passes through the Outeniqua Nature Reserve, which helps to make it one of the great scenic passes of the Western Cape.

The Pass offers excellent birding: it’s generally a good place to see raptors in flight (mountain buzzards, forest buzzards) - often at eye level. It’s also a popular fynbos flower watching destination: the heathers (ericas) and proteas are usually at their best in winter and early spring (June to September), but there’s always something in flower.

The Robinson Pass was built by the famous colonial road engineer, Thomas Bain, who completed the project in 1869. It was rebuilt and re-routed between 1958 and 1963.

Lion's Creek Valley Boutique Distillery. Leeuwkloof. Gin. Mampoer

Lion's Creek Valley Distillery

Gin tastings on selected days right here in the Leeukloof Valley. Gin sales (seven unique flavours!); mampoer sales. Lion's Creek Valley Distillery is open by appointment only - please follow the link.

Book a tasting

Leeukloof Lapa

A rustic weddings and functions venue about 1.5 km from Blommekloof

Eight Bells Mountain Inn

A historic family hotel in the true tradition of South African Mountain Holidays. It’s about 9 km from Blommekloof - and a great place for a meal or afternoon tea. It has a fine bowling green, and the estate features a number of marked walking trails and mountain bike trails (MTB trails).

Western Cape Butterfly Sanctuary

The second butterfly sanctuary ever opened in South Africa - and the only one in the Western Cape - the Western Cape Butterfly Sanctuary is situated on the grounds of Ruiterbosch Lodge, on the R328 and just a few kilometres from Blommekloof. An on-site lepidopterist conducts tours every hour from 11h30 to 14h30, Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays. Enquiries: 082 557 6619.