The 7 Passes – Knysna to George

Thomas Bain and his brother-in-law Adam de Smit built the 7 passes road. It is 75km’s long and was completed in 1883. Thomas Bain started building from Knysna to George, and Adam de Smit from George to Knysna. Thomas was delayed in Homtini pass by the road’s complexity and Adam moved towards Knysna at a much quicker pace. It is said that frequent disagreements about the route led to irreconcilable differences and the men never spoke again after the spectacular road was completed.

Traveling from Knysna

1. Phantom Pass, built in 1862 and reconstructed in 1889 was the first pass to be completed, it was named after the grey and brown moths that can be found in the area around springtime. Unfortunately, many invasive tree species are now the norm rather than the exception. We were welcomed to the scenic village of Rheenendal (home to the Rheenendal Timber Mill) at the top of the pass by lavender and peacocks.

2. Homtini Pass (the most difficult to construct) was the last to be completed in 1882. It is “5km’s long, and presents an altitude variance of 153m. You will be kept busy as the driver, as there are 45 bends, corners and curves of which 3 corners are greater than 120 degrees and 1 is an extremely sharp hairpin.” https://www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za/find-a-pass/western-cape/item/25-homtini-pass,-garden-route.html . Getting out of the car and walking down to the pump station in the river to taste the clean water is an experience in itself.

3. Karatara Pass was completed in 1882 when gold was found in the nearby Millwood. It was populated by the relocated woodcutter families in 1941 The ‘government style’ housing, laid out in a neat grid pattern, was built in the 1940’s. All of the houses have a similar style although many have been adapted and changed, personalized by the owners over the years. The little town has a surprisingly large community centre and Dutch Reformed church.

4. Hoogekraal Pass, which was also completed in 1882, lies approximately mid-way along the 7 passes route. Misty rain made for a particularly spectral experience.

Between the Hoogekraal and Touw river pass there is an 800 year old “Big Tree” and a 30 minute circular walk through the forests.

5. Touw River Bridge was completed in 1871 and is spectacular in its differences. The original wooden bridge was washed away and replaced by the steel bridge in the 1900’s. The Touw river is the largest river traversed by the 7 passes.

6. Silver River Bridge was completed in 1869. Sadly one butressed corner of this historic bridge has been knocked off and now lies in the river below. It is not clear when the damage was done, but it was first photographed in August 2022.

7. Kaaimans River Bridge was completed in 1869. “The concrete bridge at Kaaimans river was completed in 1904 and bears the initials and coat of arms of King Edward, ER. It replaced the old imported pine timber bridges which never lasted long.” https://showme.co.za/george/tourism/the-seven-passes-route-2 It collapsed again as a result of floods and heavy rains in 2006 and was rebuilt.