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Did You Know?

Meiringspoort Pass, officially opened on 3 March 1858, is a historic mountain pass in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It connects the towns of De Rust and Beaufort West, traversing the Swartberg Mountains through a gorge carved by the Groot River. The pass was constructed by the father-and-son team of Andrew Geddes Bain and Thomas Bain, both renowned road engineers in 19th-century South Africa. Andrew Bain designed and began the project, while Thomas Bain completed the construction, which involved blasting through solid rock and building retaining walls along the river. The pass was named after Petrus Johannes Meiring, a local farmer and member of the Cape Parliament who advocated for its construction. It served as a vital transport link between the interior Karoo and the southern coast, facilitating trade and travel. The original road was narrow and unpaved, but it was later tarred and upgraded, and today it is a scenic route known for its dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and geological features, including the famous 'Meiringspoort Waterfall' that cascades over the road during heavy rains.

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