Buffelspoort, Canyon and heritage site in Western Cape, South Africa

Buffelspoort is a nine-kilometer-long canyon cutting through the Swartberg Mountain Range, connecting the northern foothills with the Little Karoo to the south. Steep rock walls line the passage, which follows the course of the Buffels River through the mountain formation.

Buffelspoort is one of five defiles that cut through the Swartberg range, the westernmost of them, lying in the Klein Swartberge about 10 km from the range's western limit. The Buffels River carved the 9 km gorge, entering from the north after leaving Floriskraal Dam and passing the Wit Nekke foothills. South of the defile the river is renamed the Groot River.

The name Buffelspoort comes from the Buffels River, which enters the defile from the north after leaving Floriskraal Dam. Downstream of the gorge the same river is called the Groot River, so the poort marks the point where the Buffels changes name. The gorge is often confused with Buffelspoort Dam near Marikana in North West Province, an unrelated landform far to the north.

Buffelspoort lies in the Klein Swartberge, about 10 km from the western limit of the Swartberg range, reached from the north via the Wit Nekke foothills below Floriskraal Dam. The gorge runs 9 km south to the Little Karoo, where the Buffels River leaves the defile and becomes the Groot River. Do not confuse it with Buffelspoort Dam near Marikana in North West Province.

Buffelspoort is often confused with Buffelspoort Dam, an unrelated landform far to the north near Marikana in North West Province. The gorge lies in the Klein Swartberge, about 10 km from the western limit of the Swartberg range, and its succulent-rich Gamka Thicket holds endemics such as Astroloba cremnophila.