Jimny 20 Passes Challenge: Road Trip 3
- Road Twist SA
- Sep 12, 2024
- 5 min read
The Jimny 20 Passes Challenge started on the 22nd of March 2024. For Road Trip number 3 we decided to stay in the Klein Karoo area but to do a shorter loop! A shorter loop also means more time.. which also means CAMPING!
Road Trip 3 - Day 1
DEPARTURE
On the 19th of May 2024, we left around 8:00 in the morning from Cape Town But… because we are like always: distracted.. we had to go back home because we locked our friend inside the house.. anyhow, we ended up leaving at 10 from Cape Town! Classic! Soon on our blog: Road Trip Pre-Departure Check list.. we promise.
Road Trip 3 - Day 1
SEWEWEEKSPOORT
After doing some extra driving on the N1, we took a turn in Laingsburg towards Seweweekspoort. Soon enough, we found ourselves on the Gravel Road and thought it would be cool to check out a little side road leading to a padstal. Bummer that it was closed, but the detour treated us to some stunning views, enjoyable roads, and charming old buildings - totally worth it!
We then arrived at the sign where we found a Geocache and like always, we left our little surprise in there and took our Jimny Pass Challenge picture.
The scenery on the pass was so breathtaking, we couldn't help but stop to admire some gorgeous proteas. And then, just when we thought we were being all nature-savvy identifying a mysterious tree, guess who we ran into? Yep, the one and only other human in sight, snapping a pic like a true paparazzi! Talk about timing!
Road Trip 3 - Day 1
GARCIA'S PASS
So, we headed to Garcia's Pass, which is a smooth tar road, making the drive super easy. But, man, the views are stunning! It's wild how you can spot such a clear contrast in landscapes on either side of the Swartberg mountains. The Garcia's pass is all lush and green, with bright soil and tons of forests. Cool, right? Since we left pretty late, we didn't have a lot of time to stop that day, so we just headed straight to our camp: The Hooikraal Tented Camp.
Road Trip 3 - Day 1
END OF THE DAY
So, we rocked up at the Hooikraal Tented Camp and Jaco was there to greet us. He sorted us out with some wood, gave us the grand tour of the camp, and pointed out all the cool spots. The camp is tucked away amidst thorn trees, spekboom, and aloe plants. Surprisingly, even though it's just a stone's throw from the N2, it really feels like you're deep in the bush. We didn't waste any time and got the camp set up while there was still daylight. One of us tackled putting up the tent while the other got cracking on assembling the gazebo. After that, we got a fire going, hung up the hammock, and kicked back with a glass of wine. Once we were nice and relaxed, we got started on dinner. We whipped up a tasty small potjie, some smoky/melty aubergines, and homemade pot brod. While the food was cooking, we came up with a fun campfire game, sipped on an interesting no-sulphur Cabernet Sauvignon from Audacia, and then dug into our delicious meal. Feeling all cozy and chilled out, we decided to extend our stay another night, explore the area the next day, and head back early Tuesday morning to make it to work on time.
Road Trip 3 - Day 2
TRADOUW'S PASS
The next morning, after enjoying a nice cup of coffee by the fire and taking a leisurely stroll around the property, we decided to head over to Jaco's place to ask if we could stay an extra night. After that, we hit the road towards Tradouw's Pass. We passed through Heidelberg and took the R322, where we even met some lovely cows along the way before reaching the Pass. Tradouw's Pass is a smooth road with some gorgeous bends that offer breathtaking views. We made a quick stop at the sign and ventured into the cave called "Drupkelder." Inside, we stumbled upon a delightful lemon pelargonium bush that smelled amazing! We picked a couple of leaves to use as a natural car air freshener for the rest of our journey and then headed back to the car. Our next destinations were Barrydale, Montagu and then going south again for a stop at being Sijnn Wines in Malgas.
Road Trip 3 - Day 2
We both come from the Hospitality industry and wine is a huge part of our lives. We've tried Sijnn wines before at tastings, but never got the chance to visit their farm until now, which turned out to be the perfect opportunity.
The roads to get there were pretty rough and full of potholes. We joked that maybe those potholes were actually part of the secret recipe for those amazing wines.
Before reaching Sijnn, we made a quick stop at the Breede River trading post to have a look around and check out the little shop. Then we headed to the wine tasting.
When we got there, it seemed like the place was closed because the parking was on the side of the cellar. After calling them, we found out we had to go around the building. The place had a really authentic vibe, nothing too fancy but it had a special charm. We sat at a single table on the lush green grass with a view of the Breede River, met the house cat that stuck by our side, and enjoyed a fantastic tasting with a cheese and charcuterie platter.
Road Trip 3 - Day 2
After our awesome tasting at Sijnn, we thought we'd cruise back to our camp on the Malgas ferry. Back in the day, this ferry was all about muscle power, but now it runs on a motor. When we got there, they told us to drive onto the pontoon. Once we were in, they shut the doors and said we could hop out of the car. It was Jimny's first boat ride, and man, it was a blast! The trip across was stunning, the lighting was just right, making all the colors around us really stand out!
After that, we got off the boat and headed back to the camp. We heated up some leftovers from the day before, popped open a good bottle of Sijnn wine, and then began loading most of our gear into the car, getting ready for an early start the next day.
Road Trip 3 - Day 3
THE WAY BACK HOME
The next morning at 4:30, we were up and all set to head back home on the N2. We quickly packed up the tent and the last few bits and were in the car by 5:00, good to go. It was super dark and misty, couldn't even see the car ahead, and then it started raining. So, obviously, we had to take it easy on the road. As we got closer to Robertson, the weather got better, we made a pit stop for a coffee, and then headed home to make it to work not long after that.
Road Trip 3
CONCLUSION
It was awesome not having to drive too far and actually getting the chance to set up camp and cook something slowly over the fire while just chilling at the campsite. The Hooikraal Tented Camp was a real highlight and an amazing find.
We really enjoyed the cool contrast of landscapes traveling from Laingsburg through the Seweekspoort, and then checking out the totally different vegetation on Garcia's Pass. And let's not forget how epic Tradouw's Pass was, with its endless views of the valley and rivers!
Want to read about all of our Jimny 20 Passes Challenge road trips?
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