Franschhoek Pass

The route over this mountain was originally an elephant path - herds moved between the coastal plain and the interior along it, and early settlers called it Olifantspad. A crude road built by S.J. Cats in 1819 came first, and a proper wagon road followed in 1825, built by Major William Holloway with soldiers of the Royal African Corps; it was among the first properly engineered and hard-surfaced roads in South Africa. It was rebuilt in the 1930s and tarred in 1963, which is the road traffic uses now. The climb out of Franschhoek gives the view people stop for: the whole valley below, vineyards in rows to the mountains on either side, with the town at the head. Beyond the summit the road drops towards Theewaterskloof Dam and the country turns dry. There are picnic pull-offs and a viewpoint near the top, and the pass is a fixture on cycling routes out of the winelands.

History

When the Cape was settled in 1652, elephants used a seasonal track across these mountains called Olifantspad. S.J. Cats built a crude road over the mountain in 1819, and the pass that Lord Charles Somerset ordered in 1823 was built by Major Holloway with troops of the Royal African Corps and completed in 1825 for £8,000; it was rebuilt in 1933 and tarred in 1963 (Wikipedia, Franschhoek Pass).

The main sights

• The elephant origin - a pass following a route herds used before any road.
• The 1825 wagon road - among the first hard-surfaced engineered roads in the country.
• The valley view - Franschhoek and its vineyards laid out from the climb.
• The dry side - Theewaterskloof and open country beyond the summit.

When to go

All year. One hour with stops. Late afternoon light suits the valley view.

Before you go

The viewpoint parking is small and busy at sunset. Cyclists are numerous on weekend mornings. The road is narrow in sections with rockfall after rain. Beyond the summit there is little of interest until the dam.

Nearby

Franschhoek village and its wine farms are at the foot; Theewaterskloof is east.

Key facts