great brak river

This is a semi-suburban old road demarcated on the government maps as an official pass. It is a straight forward fairly easy descent down a road which is a mix of gravel and tar and heads east towards Great Brak River and ends at a T-junction few kilometers later in the village.

This gravel pass connects the seaside town of Grootbrakrivier (Great Brak River) with the dairy farming coastal plateau to the north as well as being the main connecting road to the region’s biggest fresh water supply – the Wolwedans Dam. We filmed the pass in the descending mode to maximise on the scenic value. The pass carries an alternative official name - Charles Road.

This short drive is no longer open to the general public (as at 2020) and leads to the large Wolwedans Dam, built by the Dept. of Water Affairs as recently as 1990 in the mountains north of the seaside village of Great Brak. The road is a mix of tar (potholed) and concrete and also services a few farms in the area. The last 2 km which traverses the control area of the dam is in excellent condition and despite two very sharp hairpins and fairly steep gradients is a lovely, scenic drive and safe if you comply with the speed limits.

It is possible to gain access to the road, by requesting permission from the dam manager. This would be best done in advance. Don't be disappointed if you are refused entry.