Detour #346: You’ll Have a Blast on the Bainskloof Pass, South Africa

A tight and twisty climb that’s rewarded with terrific views of Table Mountain.

Thanks to its geological make up, the Western Cape, on the very tip of Africa, is chock-full of mountain passes. Snaking sections of tar that either wind along the scenic coastline, such as Clarence Drive, or climb over dragon-like mountains on the Franschhoek Pass.

About three dozen of the many, many passes in and around the Cape, were designed by just two men: father Andrew and son Thomas Bain, and it is the former after which our feature road is named. A local whisky was also named after him.

Scottish-born Andrew Geddes Bain wore many hats, one of them being that of an engineer. His handiwork included overseeing the construction of Mitchell’s-, Gydo-, Houw Hoek- and Bainskloof Pass. This connects the farming community of Wellington on one side of the Slanghoek Mountains to the fruit-producing Ceres region on the other. The pass technically starts on the outskirts of Wellington and ends at the Breede River bridge in the valley on the other side.

While Bain was the brains, the heavy lifting was carried out by convict labourers and reportedly the cause of slow progress. In 1854 the pass was opened and the (then) wagon track was lauded for its gentle rise and descent.

The road, which has since been completely tarred, is narrow and has a strict height limit as overhanging rock formations such as Dacre's Pulpit have remained in place since the very early days of construction. The initial stretch is characteristed by many hairpins and blind corners as it climbs from Wellington through a canopy of trees on mountainside forest. At its peak, some 590 metres above sea level, there are spectacular views over the vast plain that looks back towards Table Mountain in the distance.

The descent towards Ceres snakes its way into the kloof or valley. Bainskloof Pass is surrounded by the Limietberg Nature Reserve. As a result there is an abundance of fauna and flora for nature lovers to enjoy. In addition there are hiking trails and natural plunge pools to explore.

A recent revamp has left it with a near billiard-smooth finish. As a result it is now even more appealing to sportscar and superbike owners. Speed seekers have been known to scare rare and elusive wildlife in the area, such as leopards, which has irked local conservationists. Better to take a more gentle cruise down into the valley, soaking up the scenery and make a stop at the local bush pub, an ideal spot to enjoy a cool drink or warm coffee on a winter’s day. The deep Vee of the kloof means that there aren’t many hours of sunlight in the valley, which can be one of the coldest places in the Cape during winter.

Once over the Breede River the road flattens out into the plain, the occasional floodplain, that is. Keep going and you’ll eventually hit another arterial road, opening up routes to explore more of the surrounding countryside. Most people who have made the trip purely to experience this road simply turn around and head straight back up to double their thrills.

Words and Photography Sudhir “Banzai” Matai Instagram

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ROADBOOK

CLASS: Mountain Pass

NAME: Bainskloof Pass

ROUTE: Wellington to Ceres

COUNTRY: South Africa

Distance: 35 Miles

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