LuckyStriker
Bachelor Dog
Information on this pass is very hard to find.
Between the R303 (Ceres-Citrusdal road) and the R355 (Ceres-Calvinia) lies the Swartruggens mountains. This mountain range is one of the many barriers that kept Central and Northern South Africa inaccessible to the average colonist.
All information that I could find thus far is that the route was originally used by the Khoi-San and later by Trek Boers.
The road is pretty much deserted with only the occasional farmer or tourist kicking up dust.
The surface is a mix of dirt and tar. The tarred sections are covered not by 'National Road' quality tar but rather a loose grey gravel stuck together with Pritt and wishful thinking. It's a good surface but it won't last if the road ever becomes a major thoroughfare...fortunately the chances of that happening is quite slim
Google Earth
Wild Dogs gathering at the turnoff
First incline (tar)
Ascent (dirt)
Beautiful rock formations
Many derelict houses (dirt)
Signboard (dirt/tar)
Summit (tar)
Descent (tar)
Between the R303 (Ceres-Citrusdal road) and the R355 (Ceres-Calvinia) lies the Swartruggens mountains. This mountain range is one of the many barriers that kept Central and Northern South Africa inaccessible to the average colonist.
All information that I could find thus far is that the route was originally used by the Khoi-San and later by Trek Boers.
The road is pretty much deserted with only the occasional farmer or tourist kicking up dust.
The surface is a mix of dirt and tar. The tarred sections are covered not by 'National Road' quality tar but rather a loose grey gravel stuck together with Pritt and wishful thinking. It's a good surface but it won't last if the road ever becomes a major thoroughfare...fortunately the chances of that happening is quite slim
Google Earth
Wild Dogs gathering at the turnoff
First incline (tar)
Ascent (dirt)
Beautiful rock formations
Many derelict houses (dirt)
Signboard (dirt/tar)
Summit (tar)
Descent (tar)
