Patensie, Eastern Cape

Patensie is a Town in Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Patensie lies along the R331 road just South of Noorshoek. The Antoniesberg Pass is not a lazy Sunday afternoon drive. This Pass is a remote, sheer gravel pass that links the Groot River with the Northern side of the Baviaanskloof Mountains. The Pass itself is not long, only 5 km, but there are several access roads that combine to make it something of an adventure, depending on how you drive it. First things first - You will not be able to drive this Pass without being in a 4x4 vehicle with good ground clearance. 'Soft-roaders' will not have sufficient ground clearance. Adventure bikers will need to be experienced to handle this Road, as it is long, rough, steep and dangerous over many sections, including the entire Eastern section between the Pass and Patensie. Patensie is the last stop before entering the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area. Guarded by the majestic Cockscomb Mountain, this little Town's activities revolve around the Citrus Industry. It has become a very popular tourist destination with many B&B's and self-catering establishments, as well as fuel-stops, banks and shops to choose from. Tourism Information can be obtained from the Tolbos Country Shop and Tea Garden. Visit the impressive Kouga Dam built in 1967 - the first double-arched Dam engineered in South Africa. The Farm "Patentie" of 3000 morgen was awarded to David Keyser jnr. In 1852 the Farm was sub-divided and in 1858 Patensie was declared a Town. The name Patensie has a Hottentot origin and means "lêplek van die beeste" (where the cattle lie). At first, because all of Patensie was privately owned, Town development was difficult and the Citrus and Tobacco co-ops had to develop their own Residential Areas. The first oranges were exported in 1907 by Mr Bean and in 1929 the Patensie Citrus Co-op. was founded. The first packing facility was built in 1937. The Co-op is today known as the PSB company and is the biggest citrus packing facility in the Area. Export citrus is the main crop of the Patensie Area! The season runs from April to October. The Tobacco Co-op. was founded in 1936 and played a vital part in farming of tobacco in the Area. It has since been sold to KaapAgri. Although tobacco is still planted the Tobacco Co-op no longer exists! The narrow gauge railway, was extended from the Town of Loerie to Patensie in 1914, the improvement of access Roads and the construction of the Kouga Dam in the sixties, sped up the development of Patensie through the stimulation of agriculture and supporting industries. Despite the ever present threat of flooding, the Community is thriving and apart from citrus, vegetables, chicory and tobacco are also planted. Game Farming is growing into a lucrative business and the Area is fast becoming a big tourist attraction.