The pass is a hidden place, from whichever side you approach it. It is, however, the chain that links the two worlds of the Garden Route and the Langkloof.
Dalene Matthee, author of ‘ Fiela’s Child’ and a number of other books, made the connection.
It is a long dusty pass, joining two places, distinctly different from each other.
The Garden Route is the blue and green Garden world, of sea and dense forest. The Langkloof is exactly what it says it is, a long, long valley between two mountain ranges, the Tsitsikamma and the Kouga, backed by the Baviaanskloof. It is a valley of farms, orchards and little towns, dry in the summer, and hot.
The great Thomas Bains was the builder of the pass, as he was of most of the awe inspiring passes along our coastline. He packed up his wife and many children and settled down at De Vlugt, while the building was done.
De Vlugt is now a welcome oasis mid pass, where dusty travellers can find refreshment under a cool tree, with tea and cake from a small friendly store. The pause is welcome, because the sun beats down in the summer, and from the Kloof side where the road starts at Avontuur, it is dusty, and in many parts not for the faint hearted. It clings to cliff sides and claws its way up and down, giving way to breath taking views.
Toward the sea side the road begins its descent and burrows its way through forest giants and ferns. The cool breeze is felt and the pass resorts to a sedate meander through greenness, to spit you out eventually, with the smell of sea, close by.