What's inside?
* Garden Route Tour
* 4x4 Training Day
* Ben 10 Eco Challenge
* Lesotho
* Pass of the week
Trips & Tours
There is plenty of action on the tours front as we gear up for the busy part of the year.
Garden Route Tour - Fully booked and commences on Saturday this week. This is our inaugural Garden Route Tour so we will be keeping a beady eye on proceedings and you will be able to get real time feedback if you follow our Facebook page on facebook.com/MountainPassesSouthAfrica as the tour progresses each day.
Seven Sisters Tour - 15/16 Oct 2022 - Fully booked.
Grabouw 4x4 Novice Training - 30th October 2022 - 1 place open.
Kouga Baviaans Tour - 15th to 19th November 2022 - Fully booked
Ben 10 Eco Challenge V6 - 10th to 15th December 2022 - 4 places open
Lesotho Tour - 12th to 18th March, 2023 - There is a huge amount of interest for this tour. We are still waiting for two of the venues to revert to us on the dates we have requested, which should be concluded by the end of this week. Online bookings will go live on or about the 20th September. Those that have pre-booked will get advance notice.
Swartberg Classic Tour - the journey continues...
After a thoroughly enjoyable stay at the Swartberg Hotel, we had our group ready to roll by 09.00 heading east out of town, destination Swartberg Pass. The goal sounded easy enough. Die Hel by lunchtime and back down the Swartberg Pass before sunset. It didn't quite go as planned.
The Swartberg Pass never disappoints and despite it being the second most popular pass page on our website (with Sani Pass being #1), the Swartberg Pass is different to Sani in so many ways, but perhaps it is the rugged history and pioneering road building efforts by Thomas Bain, that make this pass a hit with so many South Africans. The overlooked allure is that it can be driven in any car (unlike Sani).
Flood Waters
Northern start of the pass near Eerstewater
As the first kloof is entered on the Prince Alfred side, one experiences the magic as the road is compressed into a very narrow ravine - the limited space being shared by the river. Mostly the little stream looks benign and pleasant, but when the storms rage in the mountains in this area, this river becomes a death trap. There have been countless flood episodes since the road was first built in 1888, with the river destroying the roadway, carrying huge boulders with it. The latest efforts at rebuilding this section look very good and it's a big thumbs up to the Divisional Council for having taken the time and effort to emulate Thomas Bain's construction style.
The road meanders under the towering cliffs towards the first point of interest, which is Eerste Water (First Water). This spot where the road crosses the stream via a drift. Here the ox wagons and horses could be watered before starting the long pull up the pass. This is also a very attractive place to have a picnic (but remember there are no fires allowed anywhere along the pass). There's a vertical slab of contorted sandstone right next to the road, which is known as Horlosierots (Clock Rock). Just before the stream on the right hand side is a level area, which is where Bain set up his northern camp during the construction phase. There are still signs of ruins to be seen.
Once over the river, the road hugs the left hand side of the ravine and soon Tweede Water (Second Water) appears, which was the final watering point for the early travellers. The road moves over onto the right hand side of the river and continues heading gently upwards towards Malvadraai. This section is always the most severely damaged after floods. If you look around you will see plenty of evidence of the most recent flood.
Malvadraai is a much loved picnic spot and also marks the start of a tough hiking trail. The path can be seen snaking its way up the left hand side of the ravine ahead of you. Malvadraai translates into Geranium Corner and the spot is so named after the wild geraniums that grow there.
Mullers Kloof
Mullerskloof with its captivating hairpins
The ravine opens up allowing more expansive views as the direction also changes in preparation for the climb up Mullerskloof, which is the most photographed section of the pass, where a series of tight hairpin ends awaits, with some of the dry packed retaining walls reaching heights of 13m.
A sign marked "Blikstasie Tronk" (Tin station jail) allows you time to pull over to a wider clearing on the right, if you wish to have a look at the ruins of the building where some of the convicts were housed. It wasn't really a jail, just a place of shelter during the construction phase. Getting to the ruins is a bit awkward and involves a short, steep scramble up a loose, rocky slope adorned with thorn bushes. Trees and shrubs are slowly overtaking the site, making viewing and photography a bit of a mission with a high likelihood of copping a thorn or two.
Before you get back into your car, take a look up the slope on your left. The retaining walls of the road blend in so well with the environment that they are difficult to see at first. The next few kilometres have the road narrowing considerably, making overtaking impossible and passing risky. Look up towards the top of the switchbacks to check for any descending vehicles. It's sensible to rather wait for a descending vehicle to safely pass you, even though ascending vehicles have the right of way.
From Droe Waterval to the Wall of Fire, Mullerskloof is an absolute thrill to drive. Stop where you can (remember to ensure your handbrake is fully engaged) and take photos to treasure for a lifetime. This climb takes one to the upper plateau, where the steepness reduces considerably. Here you will see lots of proteas and other fynbos. Springtime is probably the best time of year if you enjoy the flower displays. The road can be seen a long way ahead as it works its way towards the Teeberg view point.
Looking north from Teeberg
The Teeberg view site is most likely named as a perfect point to break for a cup of tea by the ox wagon travellers. Space at the view site is limited to about three vehicles and its also on a very sharp right hand bend, but stopping here is a must as you will be treated to the most impressive views of the mountains northwards. Make sure your vehicle is far enough off the roadway to allow others to pass.
Next week: Gamkaskloof.
PODCAST: This week we chat about a range of subjects - like the origins of the Ben 10 Eco Challenge, our upcoming Lesotho tour and the final day of the Swartberg Tour over Lawson's Pass. Click here to listen.
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BOTSWANA - CAPRIVI - VIC FALLS - Self Drive Guided Tour by Platteland Tours
Departing from Gauteng
2nd to 15th September 2023
Special offer for our readers – Book before 30th September 2022 and save!
Tour price: R25,500 pp (R3,000 per person discount if booked before 30th September 2022)
One of our joint-venture partners, Platteland Tours (based in Gauteng) are hosting two Self-Drive Guided tours to Botswana during May & September 2023 to cater for the demand to visit the beautiful neighbouring countries and to travel safely in a group. The May 2023 tour was fully booked within 3 weeks. However, there is still space available on the September 2023 tour.
Have you ever dreamed of visiting Botswana? Traveling in your own vehicle (no 4x4 is needed) but not knowing where to go, where to find the best tourist spots, where to sleep, what else to do and what to experience en route?
The trip will take you on tar and good gravel back-roads, to places where tour groups normally don't go, as well as to popular destinations like the Okavango Delta, Makgadigadi Pans, Baobab Forest, Tsodilo Hills, Chobe, Kasane, as well as the Zambesi region (previously called Caprivi) in Namibia; as well as to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and much more.
This is NOT a camping tour. Accommodation is in lodges, resort, hotels and on guest farms. Certain meals, 2-way VHF radios, an experienced tour leader and lots of info and laughter are included.
People from all walks of life travel with us – many of them single ladies traveling together.
Click on this link to read the full Info Doc and/or to obtain the Booking Form. OR send an e-mail to
Now is the time to book!
PASS OF THE WEEK
With the wildflower season being upon us, many people will be wanting to visit the flower hotspots in the Cederberg, West Coast and Namaqualand. This week's pass is the final pass that takes one down to Wupperthal from the Clanwilliam side.
Trygve Roberts
Editor
"Before you marry a person, you should first observe them using a computer with slow internet connection to see who they really are"
