Nuwekloof Pass in Western Cape

About Nuwekloof Pass

The Nuwekloof Pass connects the town of Tulbagh with Riebeek-Kasteel and Wellington in the beautiful Cape Winelands region in the Western Cape.

Did you know? Tulbagh is some 7 km out of the pass.

Historically it has been called the Oudekloof, Tulbaghkloof and Nieuwekloof Pass (a version it should possibly re-adopt to prevent confusion with the other Nuwekloof, a poort that links the western Baviaanskloof with the Eastern Cape Karoo, along the R332).

One can still see the Tulbagh Kloof Pass from the Nuwekloof (called this because it was the 'newer' road) built to replace the former after supporting 100 years' of traffic from 1860. The Nuwekloof opened in 1968.

Nuwekloof, in similar vein to its counterpart in the Baviaanskloof, is also very much a poort, a natural course between the mountains. It gains very little in altitude, only 51 metres.

It begins opposite Gouda, a little farming village with the name of the cheese despite having served as a raihead for Porterville for years (actually the name 'Gouda', in this case, is believed to originate from the Khoi for 'antelope' or 'honey kloof').

It then follows the course of the Klein Berg River, visible from the road, and passes across a rail-bridge, before descending to the Voelvlei Dam, one of Cape Town's water sources.

From the dam the pass crosses a bridge across the river and continues through the natural poort that divides the Obiekwa Mountains from the Voelvlei Mountains. You should also see the Worcester railway line that cuts through the kloof created by the Klein Berg.

Once at the summit, the pass begins to gradually descend towards the old toll house opposite the farm Champagne.

Need to Know

WhereNuwekloof Pass, Connects Tulbagh and Wellington, Cape Winelands, Western Cape, South Africa

WhenBest during daylight hours.

OvernightStay in Cape Winelands Accommodation, Western Cape

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