Passes & poorts

From the Cederberg in the northwest to the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the east, the rugged mountains of the Western Cape from a formidable barrier between the coastal plateau and the hinterland. Many of the modern passes through them still follow ancient animal migration routes; others are engineering masterpieces that challenge gravity. Passes & Poorts provides a detailed guide to the most scenic and is packed with information to enrich readers' driving experience, from fauna and flora to the personalities behind the passes. Activities highlighted in each area include favourite hiking trails, mountain biking tracks and 4x4 routes. Each chapter ends with tips to make driving the passes more pleasurable: the best picnic spots, view points, farm stalls, roadside restaurants, guesthouses and self-catering cottages, and quirky country attractions. Many can be done as day drives or weekend trips from Cape Town or Garden Route towns such as George and Knysna, or combined for longer holidays. Full-colour maps assist in travel planning and the routes are illustrated with photographs from the author and the Getaway library.