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Hankey

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Explore Hankey, the Gamtoos Valley’s oldest town, home to the Hankey Sundial and the Longmore Forest MTB route for mountain biking.

Best Of Hankey

About Hankey

Hankey, Eastern Cape Gateway to the Baviaanskloof

The Hankey Sundial, one of the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, casts its long shadow over the town, a fitting centrepiece for a place that measures its days by the reliable sun. Hankey sits within the Gamtoos River Valley, a location that provides a natural entry point to the vast wilderness of the Baviaanskloof and places it within easy reach of the coastal hubs of Jeffreys Bay and Port Elizabeth.

The area’s modern story is intertwined with missionary history, following the establishment of the Bethelsdorp mission station near Port Elizabeth by the London Missionary Society in 1802, which became a settlement for many Khoikhoi people. This historical thread connects Hankey to the broader narrative of the Eastern Cape’s development.

Activity here is firmly tied to specific landscapes. Mountain bikers head for the dedicated Longmore Forest MTB Route, while 4×4 enthusiasts can tackle the challenging Baviaans Lodge 4×4 Trail that probes into the rugged terrain. Golfers have the renowned St Francis Links course a short drive away, and the adventurous can take to the skies for skydiving above the valley. For a slower pace, the local farms offer strawberry picking, and the river and nearby coastline provide settings for fishing and various beach activities.

With a mild subtropical climate, receiving around 361mm of rainfall annually, Hankey functions as a year-round destination for road-trippers, active families, and outdoor enthusiasts. Its position makes it an ideal base for exploring rather than just a stopover. Visitors planning a June trip might coincide their stay with the Yellowwoods Jazz Festival, adding a cultural note to the outdoor calendar.

Practical travel connections are straightforward, with the nearby towns of Patensie, Loerie, and Humansdorp all within the Gamtoos Valley region, and the larger centres of Port Elizabeth and Jeffreys Bay under an hour’s drive. After a day on the Baviaanskloof MTB Route or exploring the backroads, you will find the local hospitality and a selection of places to stay provide a comfortable conclusion to a day of exploration.

Places To Visit

Aberdeen Addo Adelaide Alexandria Alicedale Aliwal North Barkly East Bathurst Baviaanskloof Beacon Bay Bedford Bhisho Boknes Strand Burgersdorp Bushman’s River Mouth Buyskloof Cala Cannon Rocks Cape Saint Francis Cathcart Centane Chintsa Coffee Bay Cofimvaba Cookhouse De Vlakte Despatch Dordrecht Dutywa East London Elliot eMaxesibeni Flagstaff Fort Beaufort Fort Brown Gcuwa Gonubie Gqeberha Graaff-Reinet Grahamstown Gxarha Haga Haga Hamburg Hankey Hluleka Hofmeyr Hogsback Humansdorp James Calata Jansenville Jeffreys Bay Kareedouw Kariega Kei Mouth Kei Road Keiskammahoek Kenton-on-Sea Khowa Kidd`s Beach Kirkwood Klipplaat Komani Kougadam Kromriver KwaBhaca KwaMaqoma KwaNojoli Kwelerha Lady Grey Loerie Lusikisiki Maclear Makhanda Malalane Maletswai Matatiele Maxambeni Mbizana Mdantsane Mdumbi Middelburg Molteno Mount Frere Mthatha Ncanarha Ndabakazi Ngcobo Ngqeleni Nieu-Bethesda Nomlengane Nqanqarhu Nqweba Ntabankulu Nxuba Oyster Bay Patensie Paterson Pearston Port Alfred Port Elizabeth Port Saint Johns Qamata Qolora Mouth Qonce Queenstown Qumrha Qunu Rhodes Riebeek East Saint Francis Bay Salem Selborne Seymore Sidbury Sterkspruit Sterkstroom Steynsburg Steytlerville Storms River Stormsrivier Stutterheim Sunland Tarkastad Thornhill Tsitsikamma Tsomo Ugie Uitenhage Umtata Venterstad Willowmore Xesi