leisurewheels.co.zaREADERADVENTURE The Garden Route unplugged
WOESKA WAGON TRAIL FROM
BONNIEDALE TO VREDERUS FARM
Background: Threading itself between the Cloetesberg in the south and the
Perdevleiberge in the north, this route is the precursor to the Attaquaskloof
Pass. To my mind, it’s one of the greatest dirt tracks in SA. Not only does it
showcase classic views of the other-worldly northern faces of the Langeberg
range, it’s a rollercoaster-like dirt track on which you’re unlikely to see another
car, and it makes you feel like you’re discovering it for first time.
Difficulty: With steep ascents, descent, numerous switchbacks and chicken-
egg sized gravel, this rough track will test your skill, particularly if you’re on a
motorbike.
Vehicle requirements: Normal sedan with good ground clearance.
Length of the route: 20km
Time required: 45 minutes with a photo stop or two.
Permit required: Not required, but please report in at Bonniedale’s reception so
they know who’s passing through their property.
Cost: Nil
More information: Slingsby’s Garden Route and Swartberg and Klein Karoo maps
and http://www.bonniedale.comVREDERUS FARM TO
SUURBRAK VIA THE
BRANDRIVIER ROAD,
GYSEMANSHOEK PASS
(aka Plattekloof Pass) AND
ERTJIESVLEI SE BERG (NHR)
Background: This good gravel road
continues to showcase the serene
views of the Langeberg’s stark Klein
Karoo face and leads you on a mind-
expanding journey through the
wide-open plains towards the small
settlement of Brandrivier and over
the mountains on a dramatic passage
between the Katberg and Perdeberg
mountains. Known as Gysemanshoek
Pass today and Plattekloof Pass in
the old days, it was in use by farmers
from the early 1700s and it became the
main road into the Klein Karoo before
Tradouw’s Pass opened in 1873. After
the Boers attacked the British West
Yorkshire regiment at the Masonic
Hotel in Heidelberg, they apparently
made their escape through this
beautiful fynbos-covered pass. Once
at its southern end, the route turns
west towards Heidelberg and leads
the traveller through one of the most
fertile valleys in the Cape, known to the
early farmers as “die land van Egypten”
(the land from Egypt). After the steep
descent down Ertjiesvlei se Berg, the
prosperous dairy farms and sections of
indigenous forests at Grootvadersbos
will delight you all the way to Suurbrak.
Difficulty: Besides the Gysemanshoek
Pass (it can be testing in patches,
particularly after heavy rains) and a
few tricky descents and ascents, the
majority of the gravel roads are in fairly
good shape.
Vehicle requirements: Because of the
Gysemanshoek Pass which joins the
two halves of this route, you will need
a high clearance vehicle, preferably
with diff-lock.
Route length and directions: Vrederus
Farm to the T-junction with the R323:
52km (dirt track); then north on theNHR
Nico’s Historical
Ox Wagon RouteLeft: Descending the
Duiwelskop 4×4 trail.54 SEPTEMBER 2019