Fill Your Cup At The Source
go! - South Africa|August/September 2021
The untarred R332 runs through the Baviaans and Kouga mountains. It’s about 200km long, but what no map will tell you is that it will probably take you days to drive. Here’s why.
- Sophia Van Taak
Fill Your Cup At The Source

“Untarred” is a euphemism. The stretch of road from the eastern gate of the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area at Komdomo Campsite, through the Grootrivierpoort, was still relatively tame, with scenic drifts and hardpack dirt. But now I’m bouncing over loose stone and corrugations on Combrink’s Pass, and I’m very grateful I’m behind the wheel of a Mahindra Pik Up.

Visitors usually travel “downhill” through the Baviaanskloof, from Willowmore to Patensie, but I started at the eastern end this morning, hoping that the wildest section of the kloof would clear my city head quicker.

Combrink’s Pass is narrow and full of blind corners, with a chasm on one side. Yes, a chasm. I wish I hadn’t noticed that… If another car were to approach, I don’t even want to think about having to reverse to a place where we’d be able to pass each other.

But the landscape is incredibly scenic. I can’t believe I’ve never been here before. The inspiration for this trip came from a woman called Pikkie Daniel from Paternoster, who couriered me a book called Baviaanskloof – A culture-historical view: Nuwekloof to Kruisrivier by Colijn Scheltema and Naomi Haupt from the University of the Free State. Pikkie had inscribed my copy: “Dis ’n Godsmooie wêreld – geniet hom”. It was all I needed to plan a trip to this “heavenly place”.

Aloes, cycads and spekboom decorate the mountain slopes. The Mahindra is handling the terrain well. I’m using the Slingsby map of the Baviaanskloof and it suggests I should switch to low range, but the bakkie is still climbing with ease. A sedan would never get you this far – Thomas Bain barely tamed the landscape with his road.

この蚘事は go! - South Africa の August/September 2021 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は go! - South Africa の August/September 2021 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

GO! - SOUTH AFRICAのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
Rolling out the big guns
go! - South Africa

Rolling out the big guns

If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.

time-read
2 分  |
June/July 2024
TAKE A HIKE
go! - South Africa

TAKE A HIKE

The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop

time-read
3 分  |
June/July 2024
Time out in Dullies
go! - South Africa

Time out in Dullies

A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.

time-read
4 分  |
June/July 2024
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
go! - South Africa

Gallivanting in the Galápagos!

The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...

time-read
9 分  |
June/July 2024
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
go! - South Africa

BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN

How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.

time-read
10+ 分  |
June/July 2024
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
go! - South Africa

Long live the Hibiscus Coast

The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.

time-read
8 分  |
June/July 2024
The island at the end of the earth
go! - South Africa

The island at the end of the earth

Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.

time-read
10+ 分  |
June/July 2024
A day on the road
go! - South Africa

A day on the road

You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.

time-read
5 分  |
June/July 2024
The wilder shore
go! - South Africa

The wilder shore

The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...

time-read
10+ 分  |
February/March 2024
A river runs through it
go! - South Africa

A river runs through it

Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.

time-read
10 分  |
February/March 2024