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Did You Know?

Naude's Neck is a mountain pass in the Eastern Cape, situated on the southern slopes of the Drakensberg, near the village of Rhodes. The pass was constructed in the 1890s, with the year 1895 often cited as a key period of its building, to provide a wagon route connecting the interior of the Eastern Cape with the then-independent Boer republic of the Orange Free State. It was named after a local farmer or pioneer, though specific details of his identity are not widely documented. The pass reaches an elevation of approximately 2,590 meters (8,500 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest mountain passes in South Africa. The route was historically significant for trade and transport, particularly for wool and livestock, linking the high-lying farming districts around Rhodes and Barkly East with the northern Free State. In its early years, the pass was a rough, steep track suitable for ox-wagons, and it remained a challenging route for motor vehicles well into the 20th century. The pass is now part of the R396 road, and while it is still used, it is often closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. The surrounding area is known for its dramatic basalt cliffs, alpine flora, and the nearby Tiffindell Ski Resort, the only commercial ski resort in South Africa, which lies close to the pass summit. Rhodes, the village at the foot of the pass, was established in the late 19th century, named after Cecil John Rhodes. The village grew as a service centre for the surrounding sheep farms and as a staging post for travellers using Naude's Neck. The pass itself is a notable example of late-19th-century engineering in a remote and rugged landscape, and it remains a popular route for scenic drives and adventure tourism, though its historical infrastructure has been largely modernised with a tarred surface in recent decades.

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