Avontuur and Haarlem are small neighbouring villages in the Langkloof valley of the Eastern Cape, situated along the R62 between Uniondale and Joubertina. The settlements lie in a fertile agricultural region surrounded by the Kouga and Tsitsikamma mountains, about 200 km from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and George. This rural area is known for fruit farming, particularly apples, and is connected by scenic routes including Prince Alfred’s Pass, which links the Langkloof to the Garden Route.

History of Avontuur and Haarlem

The lush and fertile Langkloof has been a home to people for thousands of years. The San were the first to inhabit this area, leaving behind rock paintings in the caves of the surrounding mountains. They were later displaced by livestock farmers from the north before European settlers arrived at the Cape.

In the late 17th century, Simon van der Stel of the Dutch East India Company sent 21 men, led by Isaac Schrijver, to the Langkloof to trade with the Khoi tribe. The town of Haarlem was established on the farm Welgelegen. In 1844, G.E. Heyns and J.C. Taute acquired the farm and its surrounding land. A township for white settlers was laid out on the farm in 1856, and in 1860, the Berlin Missionary Society purchased the Welgelegen settlement.

Haarlem and Avontuur are two villages located close to each other in the Langkloof. Avontuur, meaning “adventure” in Afrikaans, is near a river of the same name. Haarlem was named after the Dutch town from which many settlers originated.

Over time, more settlers from Europe arrived in Langkloof. Some came as labourers, teachers, and skilled workers, while others were freed slaves. These new arrivals helped create a more integrated community. Many leased land for subsistence farming. Even today, low-input agricultural practices are common, with farmers using horse-drawn ploughs and traditional methods passed down through generations.

Known as Apple Country, Langkloof was once served by the “Apple Express,” which ran as far west as Haarlem. Today, the area maintains its rural charm, with cows, horses, and donkeys roaming freely on the gravel roads. The nights here are quiet, offering clear, starry skies undimmed by city lights, providing a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life.