Bain's Passes

Voortrekker Pass (Duiwelskop)

ThomasDisputed

Not built by a Bain. Thomas Bain reported on the old route in 1862 and recommended rebuilding it, but this was not approved; the Divisional Council built an 11 km farm track instead.

Please note Bain did not build this pass. It is an old ox-wagon route (thought to date from about 1772) that Thomas Bain inspected in 1862 and recommended rebuilding; the recommendation was refused. Today it runs through state forestry and is a permit-only 4×4 trail, not a public road. Permits and bookings are through Louvain Guest Farm: tel +27 44 518 0015, cell/WhatsApp +27 67 475 8547, email guestfarm@louvain.co.za (louvain.co.za). Its page says trail use is by permit and appointment only. Two older sources say motorcycles and quad bikes are not allowed.
—Route
Approximately 30 km(21 km in the pass guide)Length
—Summit
4×4 trackSurface

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Before you go

Low-range 4×4 with good ground clearance. Tricky on the northern slopes in wet weather.

Road conditions change with weather, floods, fires and roadworks. Check the latest conditions with the road authority or local tourism office before you leave, and carry offline maps.

About this pass

Duiwelskop is described as the first pass opened from north to south across the Outeniquas. It is thought to have been put through about 1772 by the local farmer Jacobus van Beelen, and it let travellers reach the coast east of Kaaimansgat without crossing that drift. It is an easy pass by the standards of its day, but it goes over the very summit of the peak because tall wagons could not cross steep side slopes. Cradock Kloof Pass, opened in 1812, largely replaced it, and it was effectively abandoned in 1815. In 1862 Thomas Bain reported that a new road over it would present very few obstacles and recommended rebuilding it to open the coast east of the Kaaimans River. That was not approved; the Divisional Council built an 11 km farm track instead, finished by 1864 for about R700. The Seven Passes road made it unnecessary. Today it lies in forestry land and can be walked or driven in a 4×4 only by permit.

The Four Passes Viewing Site on the Outeniqua Pass looks across to the Outeniqua, Montagu, Voortrekkers and Treinspoor passes, so you can see this pass's line from the modern road (The South African, 2015). Ross (2001): the Duiwelskop pass is thought to have been put through by local farmer Jacobus van Beelen around 1772, the first pass opened north to south across the Outeniquas, about 15 km east of George. Its route goes over the summit of the peak because tall wagons could not cross steep side slopes without toppling, but gradients are otherwise easy, apart from a few metre-high steps near the top. Cradock Kloof largely superseded it and it was effectively abandoned in 1815. Thomas Bain reported on 9 May 1862 that a new road would be "a matter of very little difficulty", having "seldom inspected a road of such length presenting so few obstacles"; the Divisional Council instead built an 11 km "boer pad" by 1864 at about R700. It now runs through a forestry area, closed to public traffic, but can be hiked or driven in a 4x4 with permission.

History

Built by
Not built by a Bain. Thomas Bain reported on the old route in 1862 and recommended rebuilding it, but this was not approved; the Divisional Council built an 11 km farm track instead.
Built
Route thought to have been opened about 1772 by farmer Jacobus van Beelen; in general use from 1776; effectively abandoned in 1815. Thomas Bain's report of 9 May 1862 recommended reconstruction (not approved). An 11 km council track was finished by 1864 for about R700. A pass-guide site says Bain designed it about 1865.
Location
Over the Outeniqua Mountains from the Upper Langkloof (Louvain Guest Farm, on the N9 between George and Uniondale) to Bergplaas forestry station, near Hoekwil, Western Cape. Ross places the pass about 15 km east of George.
Notes
One pass-guide site says Bain designed it about 1865. Ross (2001) and the Trail Rider page instead describe an 1862 inspection and recommendation that was never carried out, which is the version used here. Length figures differ: the operator's page gives about 30 km and R300 per vehicle, the pass guide 21 km and R200 (probably older). The 11 km 'boer pad' of 1864 is a separate, shorter figure. Ross says closure and permission requirements apply today; confirm with the forestry operator before travelling.

Find it

Pin
-33.90000, 22.67280
Approximate position
Pin is Bergplaas, the southern end of the route, taken from Wikipedia. A route of this length cannot be shown by one point.
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Sources

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