Cape Fold Mountains, 50 Passes in 8 Days
Overview
We are blessed with a spectacular country. One aspect is our mountains. On this tour we follow the Cape Fold mountains from the Cederberg area, around Wellington, over the Swartberge and through to the Baviaanskloof.
The tour is designed in such a way that we arrive early in camp after a day of passes, for you to have time to visit a local attraction like a wine farm or olive farm or famous place or restaurant. Or even go for a game drive.
We start our tour near Citrusdal at the foot of the Cederberg, and you will notice the same rock formations for the whole trip as we follow the ancient Cape Fold Mountains: Citrusdal, Wellington, Swellendam, Barrydale, Prince Albert, the Garden Route and the Baviaanskloof.
We explore dozens of the Cape Fold’s mountain passes along the way, including the oldest unmodified pass and the first pass ever built in South Africa.
I will tell you about the Bain father and son’s influence on road construction in SA. If your surname was Bain, and you saw a mountain, you built a pass. Thomas Bain alone was responsible for more than 40 passes in SA in the mid 1800’s.
The route is a comfortable drive for the first few days – a 4×2 with reasonable ground clearance is welcome for this section. Once we turn into the Baviaanskloof, a proper 4×4 with low range is needed for the final stretch to the end of the tour.
Tour dates fall in October, past the Cederberg’s peak wildflower season – but the veld will be lush and green after the winter rains, and the passes are quieter than in spring.
This is a great route, and I have spent more time on research than even my Serengeti tour. Join me on this incredible experience.
Tour at a Glance
- Departs 15 October 2027
- 7 nights
- 1,501km total — Citrusdal to the Baviaanskloof
- R9,870 per person
- Max 12 guests
- You can tow a small off-road trailer — no caravans
- 4x2 with ground clearance for the first half — 4x4 with low range for the Baviaanskloof
- Tar, gravel, mountain passes and small water crossings
Estimated Customer Budget
| Bluerhino Tour Price – per Person | R9,870 |
| Bluerhino Tour Price – Total (2 Guests) | R19,740 |
| Fuel (Meeting point to farewell)* | R4,013 |
| Border Fees (Own Vehicle) | N/A |
| Total Customer Budget (2 Guests, 1 Vehicle) | R23,753 |
Estimate only — Tour price includes all camping fees, park entry fees (Bontebok and Garden Route National Parks) and guide fees. Not included: activities, food, flights and personal miscellaneous costs. Assumes 2 guests sharing one self-drive vehicle. Border fees are N/A as this tour stays entirely within South Africa. *Fuel estimate based on the guide’s vehicle (Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD6) fuel consumption over the 1,501km meeting-to-farewell distance at current diesel pricing.
A Typical Day on Tour
Mornings start early — a cup of coffee and a rusk while the sun comes over the mountains is the best part of the day. I’m usually up around 6am, and we aim to be on the road about an hour and a half after sunrise. I’m firm on timekeeping — it’s only fair to the people who got up early to be ready.
Once we’re moving we drive for around two hours before the first coffee stop — kettle’s on, with about 30 minutes to stretch your legs, usually at the top of a pass. Bring your cup and your magic powders, I will supply the hot water.
A second stop follows about two hours later and is normally a 45 minute lunch stop. On some days we stop in town instead — Barrydale for breakfast, Prince Albert for lunch.
This tour is deliberately built to get us into camp early. After a day of passes there is still time to go and see something — a wine farm, an olive farm, a museum, a good restaurant, or even a game drive.
Once we’re in camp I get a fire going and supply the wood and charcoal — just bring your own braai grid. Evenings are for swapping stories around the fire, or a quiet dinner of your own by candlelight. I am easy with your choice.
The Itinerary
Day 1.
We all make our way to the starting point of our journey, Citrusdal at the foot of the Cederberg. Join me here for our first night.
Day 2.
After breakfast we start our journey and head south towards the Wellington area, via Prince Alfred Hamlet, Ceres and Tulbagh, with a full day of passes and a fuel stop along the way. We arrive and camp near Wellington, surrounded by olive farms and wine farms.
Day 3.
After breakfast we turn east, crossing Bain’s Kloof Pass and the old Du Toitskloof Pass towards Franschhoek, then via Villiersdorp, Robertson and Ashton. We finish the day at Bontebok National Park, Swellendam, for the night.
Day 4.
After breakfast we start our day with one of Thomas Bain’s top passes – he built some of the best passes in SA. We stop in Barrydale for a bit of a feel for the town, then on to the Swartberge. We camp in the Calitzdorp area at the foot of the Swartberge, after a day that includes the Seweweekspoort.
Day 5.
We drive the Swartberg Pass, lunch in Prince Albert, then through Meiringspoort on our way to the coast, where we camp at Garden Route National Park, near Wilderness.
Day 6.
From here, several passes for the day through the Knysna area with loads of history, finally up with Prince Alfred Pass heading for the entry into the Baviaanskloof. This is where the 4×4 section of the tour starts. We camp for the night at the start of the Baviaanskloof.
Day 7.
We take the day to drive through the Baviaanskloof itself – several passes, gravel road, small water crossings. It’s a casual day and we stop for coffee and lunch in the kloof. Once we are through, we head to our campsite for the night in the Patensie/Cambria area, at the eastern end of the Baviaanskloof.
Day 8.
The trip is finished on the morning of Day 8, as guests depart.
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