Du Toitskloof Pass

Du Toitskloof Pass

Du Toitskloof Pass lies on the R101 between Paarl and Worcester, although these days most people are not even aware they're on the pass for they opt to use the Huguenot Tunnel, which means you shave a significant 11 kilometres off the original drive.

You can still scale the heights of this impressive pass that used to be part of the N1. It is a beautiful drive that winds its way up the side of the mountain that gives one a beautiful view over the Paarl valley, including an excellent take of Paarl rock one would not usually see. As you scale the pass, the full significance of its dexterity becomes obvious when above you loom sheer mountain peaks and cliff faces. Hard to believe that this was the work of 500 odd Italian prisoners of war under the direction of the National Roads Council, who had finally taken on the task of building during World War II what had formerly been disregarded, even by Andrew Geddes Bain who surveyed the kloof and thought it too expensive (whereafter he went on to build Bainskloof Pass).

If you can, take the time to stop once you have crested the pass, as, on a clear day the view of Table Mountain in the distance is beautiful, and the views over the valley spectacular.

The Du Toitskloof Pass is 48 kilometres long and scales 820 metres in height. It was named after a Francois Du Toit, a 17th century Huguenot pioneer who settled in the foothills of the mountain, and was originally little more than an animal track, although attempts were made to build a wagon road through the pass, and farmers in the area built service roads in the foothills.