The Tradouw Pass

The Scenic and winding 17 Km Tradouw Pass runs Between Barrydale and the R62 to Suurbraak on the other side of the Langeberg Mountain Range towards the N2. Magnificent scenery awaits those who drive the Tradouw Pass from the foot of the Langeberg up to the sunny skies of the Klein Karoo. The Tradouw River has cut its way over many centuries through magnificent protea-covered rocky slopes, in places still graced with indigenous trees, to form the course of the pass. In rainy weather, waterfalls dash to the river below. Wildlife such as baboons, dassies, and small antelope inhabit the slopes. And if you’re lucky, you might even see a leopard! Bird life is varied and a choice sighting is of a pair of Verraux’s Eagles circling above the ravine. Shady picnic spots and view sites provide opportunities to stop and view the rock pools below. There are
wo springs at the side of the road where travellers can collect clear mountain water, and rock pools are ideal for cooling off in summer.
The pass has an interesting history. In the mid-1800s farmers petitioned parliament at the Cape to build a pass so that they could deliver their produce to the Breede River transport system. Finally, in 1867 the famous pass builder Thomas Bain surveyed the course of the future pass, in some parts incorporating existing bridle paths. He and his team of 200 convict labourers began work in 1869, and finally the road was opened in 1873, after arduous labour and the overcoming of many challenges. The Governor, Sir Henry Barkly and his wife were invited to a grand luncheon in the middle of the pass in September 1873. Bain planned a 21-gun salute, using the opportunity to blast rock at the same time. Tragedy struck when a convict rushed forward before the all-clear was sounded. He was struck by a rock and killed.
At the bottom of the pass on the right, near the site of these events, are the ruins of the South Station, where Bain housed the convicts, now almost completely hidden by vegetation. On the next bend above the river, you will see to the right the remains of the White Bridge, a teak construction that is now sadly falling into ruin. The modern Andries Uys Bridge is in fact the third bridge to be built here, the first being Letty’s Bridge, which was washed away in floods. The remains of the old pass walls are visible just south of Stone Haven, where the work force had their northern camp. The little building on the right was the old toll house. Despite a number of washaways during floods, the building of the pass was a magnificent feat of engineering which has served the people of Barrydale and the Klein Karoo for a century and half. The road was upgraded and tarred in the 1970s, during which extraordinary care was taken to preserve the natural vegetation and replace it where necessary. Supporting structures have been built in stone to replicate the beautiful stone walls that Bain built.
Originally the pass was known as Southey’s, after Robert Southey the Civil Commissioner, but the name ‘Tradouw’ (Khoi for path of the women) stuck and to this day it remains the official name.
The pass is a favourite destination for locals and tourist alike to go swimming in summer and some that belong to the Barrydale Art Hotel’s Birrydale club in winter to, There are stunning views for the mountains around the pass and no official climbing of hicking routs yet but for the adventure there are old Bushman caves with Bushman Paintings , The pass is a Adventures playground with kloofing adventures down the pass or challenging and unexplored climbs to be had, Its still a very uncharted aria with a large past of it that falls under the Private Ownership of the Stone Haven Estate and permission should be requested to navigate certain parts of the Pass,