Tradouw Pass
The name comes from the Khoi words for 'women' and 'the way through' — the Langeberg's original travellers were women who first found this corridor in the mountains. That detail sits with you as you drive the R324 between Barrydale and Suurbraak, 17 kilometres of tight curves following the Tradouw River through a gorge that Thomas Bain's road never fights, only traces.
Halfway along, Bain made the road sweep wide to spare a stand of trees and preserve the mountain springs that run year-round. You'll notice it — a deliberate, generous curve where a more impatient engineer would have cut straight.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who return tend to pull over past the second waterfall, where the gorge opens enough to reach the river. Some swim in the wide pools there. Others just sit. The drive itself rewards a slow pace — the designated parking bays at the lookouts are worth using, not rushing past.
The story behind Tradouw Pass
In 1868 the Cape administration appointed engineer Thomas Bain to cut a road through the Langeberg range here. He began work in 1869 using convict labour, and the route opened on 27 October 1873 when Cape Governor Sir Henry Barkly rode through and named it Southey Pass after the magistrate Robert Southey. The name never caught on locally, and the older Khoi name held.
Bain's engineering choice to follow the river rather than override it is what gives the pass its character — the road undulates with the gorge rather than against it, a decision that still reads as considered restraint. The road was reconstructed in 1979.
Good to know
Drive it in daylight; the curves demand attention and the views earn it. No fee to drive through. River access on The Great Escape farm requires a day permit (R40). Approach from Suurbraak in the south or from Route 62 east of Barrydale in the north.
Winter brings clear, cold days with occasional frost and snow on the higher peaks above the pass; summer is warm and the mountain springs run full. Weather can shift quickly within the gorge itself, so carry a layer whatever season you arrive.
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What travellers say about Tradouw Pass
A very nice pass to drive through. Nice views and nice stop to breathe and memorise those beautiful scenic views.
Tradouw Pass is a beautiful, scenic drive with stunning viewpoints and plenty of spots to stop and take it all in.
Beautiful scenary in this pass with multiple spots for a picnic. Picnic spot with waterfall in one of the slips tucked away from the road.
This is one of the most beautiful passes I have ever driven. Take it slow and stop and enjoy the views they are magnificent.
Driving through on a rainy day heightens the beauty of our South African landscapes! There is a stop area and view point as well as a hiking trail. Cell reception is poor. As with any place you’re traveling to, be cautious, be mindful of others and respect nature.
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