MP0003

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Pakhuis Pass is a mountain pass located in the Cederberg mountains near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The pass was constructed in 1877, primarily to provide a wagon route over the rugged terrain, connecting the interior farming regions with the coastal areas. It was built using manual labour and stone pitching, a common engineering method for mountain passes in the Cape Colony during that era. The pass is historically significant as part of the network of routes that facilitated trade and transport of agricultural produce, particularly wool and wheat, from the Clanwilliam district to Cape Town. The name 'Pakhuis' is Afrikaans for 'packhouse' or 'storehouse', reflecting the area's historical use as a staging point where goods were packed and stored before being transported over the mountains. The pass itself winds through dramatic sandstone rock formations and fynbos vegetation, a landscape characteristic of the Cederberg. In its early years, the pass was notoriously difficult to traverse, with steep gradients and sharp turns, and it required regular maintenance by the colonial authorities. Today, Pakhuis Pass is a gravel road that remains in use, though it has been upgraded over time. It is part of the scenic route leading to the Biedouw Valley and the remote northern Cederberg, and it passes near the site of the historic Pakhuis rock shelters, which contain San rock art dating back thousands of years. The pass is thus a link between colonial-era transport history and the much older heritage of the region's indigenous inhabitants. The surrounding area is now within the Cederberg Wilderness Area, a protected region known for its biodiversity and geological features.

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