| Bainskloof Pass | |
|---|---|
| Bainskloofpas | |
Part of the scenery
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| Elevation | 594 metres (1,949 ft) |
| Location | Wellington and Ceres, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 33°37′00″S 19°06′00″E / 33.6166666667°S 19.1°E / -33.6166666667; 19.1 |
 
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Bainskloof Pass (Afrikaans: Bainskloofpas) is a mountain pass on the R301 regional road between Wellington and Ceres in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The 18-kilometer (11-mile)[1] pass, opened in 1854,[2] was constructed by road engineer Andrew Geddes Bain with the use of convict labour.[1] Originally built for horse-drawn traffic, the pass was later tarred.
The pass reaches 594 metres (1,949 ft)[3] at its highest point. 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. Bainskloof Pass is now a national monument.[3]
After roadworks starting in 2018, it finally reopened to the public in June 2022.[4]
