Dangerous Roads

Bainskloof Pass, is a high mountain pass situated in the Western Cape province of South Africa, on the Regional road R303 between Wellington and Ceres. This 30 kilometer pass was completed in 1853 and is one of the most picturesque passes in the Cape. It was built using convict labour, by Andrew Geddes Bain, the most famous of southern African's road engineers.

At the summit 595 metres (1,952 ft) are a plantation and picnic ground. Here the road joins the Witte River, which descends the northern side of the mountains through a precipitous cleft to a stretch of rapids, waterfalls and natural pools.

Bains Kloof was originally built for horse drawn traffic in 1853. Since then the western side has been somewhat altered but the eastern side is pretty much as it was other than it has been tarred.

Half way down the pass is an attractive camping ground, with an especially beautiful river pool set amid smooth boulders. A popular circular walk through what is known as Wolvenkloof begins here, it features many interesting rock formations and wild flowers.