Garden Route Unearthed

The scenic Seven Passes Road between George and Knysna.

It was a stunning winter’s morning in the Garden Route, but the forecast was for rain and strong winds to blow in mid-afternoon, so Bryan and I decided to take a trip out and drive the Seven Passes Road from Knysna to George before the adverse weather arrived. We have driven part of this route before, but not the entire length, so we packed a picnic and headed towards Knysna.

There are many interesting and adventurous places to stop off along the Seven Passes Road, so if you have the time, I highly recommend you make a full day of this trip and enjoy some of these stops along the way.

Before we start our journey, let me share a little of the history of Seven Passes Road.

Seven Passes Road is the oldest direct road link between Knysna and George and is about 75kms in distance. It takes about 2 hours to drive, if you don’t make many stops.

It was constructed by the legendary engineer, Thomas Bain, (who was the project engineer) and his brother-in-law, Adam de Smit (the supervising engineer). Construction began in 1867 and was completed in 1883.

There were a significant number of technical difficulties involved with building this road and extensive negotiations were required with the many land owners, so the road ended up having to be built in detached sections, with the passes being completed at different times.

All these difficulties, plus a difference of opinion on the exact location of the road, led to such bitter arguments between Thomas and his brother-in-law, that a huge rift formed between them and after the project was completed, they never spoke to each other again.

Since the N2 national road was opened in 1952, Seven Passes Road has become a route enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, who wish to simply take their time, relax and enjoy the scenery.

There are numerous detours to take if you wish to visit some beautiful and interesting places along the route too.

The road traverses through seven passes and meanders through indigenous forests, plantations and farmlands, whilst also providing wonderful views of the Outeniqua Mountains.

If you drive Seven Passes Road in the direction of Kynsna to George, as we did, the first pass on the route is Phantom Pass.

This name comes from the brown and grey ghost moths that are seen in abundance in this area during Spring.

Baboons are also a common sight on Seven Passes Road, so keep an eye out for them. We came across a huge male crossing the road as we drove the pass.

As you emerge from Phantom Pass, right on to the Rheenendal Road. This is a tar road and heads towards the Outeniqua Mountains.

After about 7.5kms you will pass Totties Country Market on the left-hand side, and just past this you will see Bibby’s Hoek Road to the right. Take this road if you would like to explore one of the multiple hiking trails of the Knysna Forest section of the Garden Route National Park.

To reach the entrance gate of the Garden Route National Park, take Bibby’s Hoek Road (it becomes a gravel road shortly after you turn on to it) and continue to a 4-way stop and a boom gate. Sign-in at the office here (free with a Wild Card) and then continue along the dirt road to which ever trail you wish to hike. The trails are of differing lengths and there are some gorgeous picnic spots to enjoy too.

Jubilee Creek and Circles in the Forest are two of the trails that Bryan and I love and which I would highly recommend.

The second pass on Seven Passes Road, is Homtini Pass. This is the steepest gorge on the route and is quite possible the most spectacular of all the passes. You pass through areas of indigenous forest and as you cross the bridge at the pass, the Goukamma River rushes on beneath you.

At most of the bridges where the road crosses the rivers, you can stop and take a short stroll. At some you can even follow a pathway down to the river. Just be careful of your footing when taking these paths, especially if there has been recent rain.

The road climbs out of Homtini Pass and you are treated to a stunning panorama of the Outeniqua Mountains ahead of you.

As you continue along the Seven Passes Road to Karatara, which is the third pass, all around you are quaint farm houses surrounded by lush grasslands with cattle happily grazing.

It is a big contrast to the plantations and indigenous forests that you have already driven past.

Near to Karatara there is a quaint and quirky Farm Stall, which is very popular amongst the locals, called Nostalgia. So if you fancy a stretch of the legs and a bite to eat or a coffee break, then head to Nostalgia. They have an impressive variety of antiques on show and a menu of hearty homestyle cooking.

Hoogekraal is the forth pass on Seven Passes Road and still the farmlands dominate the landscape, with the Outeniqua Mountains rising high and majestic in the background.

After Hoogekraal and before Touw River Pass (the fifth pass on the route), why not visit the spectacular Woodville Big Tree.

In Hoekwil and part of the Garden Route National Park, there is a short walking trail to the Woodville Big Tree, which is a huge Quteniqua Yellowwood Tree that is estimated to be 800+ years old and stands over 30 metres tall.

There is a small entrance fee to walk the trail to the Big Tree, (or with a Wild Card, entrance is free), It is a short walk from the car park and is easily managed by all age groups and is a great excuse to get out of the car and stretch your legs. There is also a lovely picnic spot, so if you have brought some lunch with you, this would be a perfect place to stop.

For those wishing for a slightly longer stroll, there is a 2km circular trail that passes by the Big Tree and leads you through the forest and past a few streams. It only takes about 20-30 minutes to walk and is suitable for families as it is an easy trail which the kids will love as well.

Returning to the Seven Passes Road and continuing on towards the sixth pass at Silver River Pass, there is another detour option to Wilderness and the breathtaking view at Map of Africa.

This is a well known view point and is definitely worth a visit during your stay in the Garden Route.

We have also discovered a fantastic coffee spot near Map of Africa, that you have to visit. It is called Hello Coffee and we absolutely love it! I’ll tell you more about this awesome spot in another post though.

Kaaimans River Pass is the seventh and final pass on the Seven Passes Road and the concrete bridge crossing the Kaaimans River is worth stopping at and viewing. It was built in 1904 and bears the initials and coat of arms of King Edward, ER. The concrete bridge was built to replace the previous decaying timber bridge.

From the Kaaimans River Pass the road continues on past the Garden Route Dam and eventually into George Central. Then, with a bang, you are all of a sudden transported back from this peaceful and scenic journey, into the the hustle and bustle of city life.

We had really enjoyed our excursion along Seven Passes Road, and although throughout the entire time we were not far from the rush and noise of the N2, we had felt transported back to a simple and picturesque time.

We could enjoy stunning views and the calmness of nature, listening to the bird song and the rushing of the rivers flowing under the bridges to their entrance into the ocean. A great day trip to enjoy a different part of the Garden Route.

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