Sir Lowry's Pass, Mountain pass in Western Cape, South Africa
Sir Lowry's Pass is a mountain crossing through the Hottentots Holland Mountains linking Somerset West to the Elgin Valley. The route climbs to 420 meters and was built as a four-lane highway, serving as the primary link on the N2 national road.
The passage was built in 1828 by engineer Charles Michell using convict labor, replacing an older route known as Gantouw. That original path had been used by Khoi people centuries before.
The pass is named after Sir Lowry Cole, who served as Governor during the construction period. Today, travelers can sense how vital this route became for connecting the coastal region with the interior valleys.
The pass sits on the N2 national highway and remains open year-round, though fog or rain can affect conditions. Drive carefully and expect heavier traffic during peak travel times, especially between Cape Town and the Garden Route.
The former Gantouw route still shows visible ruts worn by historical ox-wagons and received national monument status in 1958. These grooves in the earth tell the story of centuries of wagon traffic before the modern road was built.
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