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March 2003
Also known as Klipbok Adventures.
A fairly difficult route, only for vehicles with low range and a high ground clearance. This is definitely a must for those who want to say that they have done all the Western Cape’s most beautiful 4x4 routes.

Op-de-Tradouw is a lush-green valley, situated next to the R62 route, running between Montagu and Barrydale. The trail itself was once used by cattle to get to the grazing fields up the Langeberg mountain.

Niel Haasbroek cleared it for vehicle access a few years ago. He and his fellow road builders simply removed the bigger rocks out of the way of the normal farm tractor and Land Cruiser they used to drive up the mountain. No bulldozing was done and therefore there are a few steep twists and turns in the track where a 4x4 without a diff-lock really battle to get through.

The route zig-zags up the slopes of the Langeberg Mountain range. The rocky terrain really tortures both vehicle and passengers and you have to secure everything inside the vehicle with tie-straps.

Driving time from the farm to the top of the mountain is about 2 hours, with an average speed as low as 3 km per hour. At the top of the mountain the driving is smooth and once up there you will forget the tough uphill driving. During the rainy season one will need the skills of a Camel Adventure driver to get through the muddy marshland, which act as a water supplying sponge for the dry season.

The reward for all the battling to get to the top is worth the effort. The views from the top are miraculous. To the north are the mountainous landscape of the Montagu and Barrydale districts. To the south you get a bird’s eye view over the wheat fields of the Overberg. To the east and west your eyes can follow the Langeberg Mountain ridge to where the last visible hazy peaks disappear in the distance.

If you are prepared to take a short walk at the end of the trail you will find a series of bubbling pools along a mountain stream on its way to a high waterfall.

Although this is a long day’s drive, everything you will experience along this trail is worth the effort.
ban3_facilities.gif (630 bytes) Farm house: Fully equipped farm house with two double beds and 4 single beds is available on the farm.
Close-by accommodation: Contact the tourism offices at Montagu (023 614 2471) Barrydale (028 572 1572) or Swellendam (028 514 2770) for info about other close-by places of accommodation. Eksplôr SA (082 457 0019) offers an excellent camping site at their Swellendam Kloof Holiday Farm.
The total distance of this off-road trail is about 28 km.
The Op-de-Tradouw Route is about 230 km from Cape Town, 47 km from Montagu, 13 km from Barrydale and 60 km from Swellendam. Fuel is available at Montagu, Barrydale and Swellendam.
From the R62 route, running between Montagu and Barrydale.

For bookings or more information, contact Niel or Manda Haasbroek at 028 572 1626 of 082 339 1089.
Book with Braham van Zyl at 082 457 0019 or email braham@explore-sa.com to book for events on the Eksplôr SA programme.
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Maart 2003
Ook bekend as Klipbok Avonture.
‘n Roete wat net deur ervare 4x4 bestuurders aangepak behoort te word, maar beslis ‘n “moet” roete vir wie wil sê dat hulle reeds by al die Wes-Kaap se mooiste 4x4  roetes was.

Op-de-Tradouw is ‘n groen vallei ten weste van Barrydale, styf ingedruk tussen die pad na Montagu en die Langeberg. Niel Haasbroek het ‘n paar jaar gelede die ou vergete beespad teen die Langeberg op skoongemaak sodat hy makliker by sy weivelde kon kom.

Die pad is met ‘n trekker en Land Cruiser oopgery. Niel en sy helpers het bloot die groter klippe wat in die pad was weggeskuif. Omdat dit met die hand gemaak is, is daar ‘n paar draaie waar dit maar knor om op en af te kom.

Die roete gaan sig-sag teen die noordelike hang van die Langeberg op. Feitlik die hele pad is met groot klippe besaai en beide die voertuig en die insittendes word goed beproef. Jy moet beslis alles in die voertuig goed vasmaak vir die rondskud.

Die rytyd vanaf die plaas tot op die berg is ongeveer 2 uur, met ‘n gemiddelde snelheid van so 3 km per uur. Bo-op die berg is daar ‘n lang plat gedeelte waar jy skoon van al die geskud sal vergeet. In die reëntyd sal dit egter die vaardigheid van ‘n Camel kompetisie deelnemer verg om daar deur die bergspons moeras te kom.

Die beloning vir al die swaarkry is egter oor en oor die moeite werd. Die uitsigte van daar bo af is wonderbaarlik. Noord kyk jy oor die Klein Karoo berglandskap van Barrydale en Montagu se distrikte uit. Suid kyk jy oor die Overberg uit. Wes en oos kyk jy so half-en-half bo-oor die ander bergpieke.

As jy bereid is om aan die einde van die pad ‘n entjie te loop, sal jy lieflike swempoele in een van die klofies kry.

Dit is wel ‘n lang dag se ry, maar dit wat jy daar beleef, is oor en oor die moeite werd.
ban3_fasiliteite.gif (682 bytes) PLAASHUIS: Daar is ‘n ten volle toegeruste gastehuis met 2 dubbelbeddens en 4 enkelbeddens op die plaas beskikbaar. Bel Manda Haasbroek by 028 572 1626 of 082 339 1089 om daar te bespreek.
ANDER NABYGELEË BLYPLEKKE: Daar is verskeie in die omgewing beskikbaar. Bel die toerismekantore op Montagu (023 614 2471) Barrydale (028 572 1572) of Swellendam (028 514 2770) vir meer inligting. Eksplôr SA (082 457 0019) het ook ‘n baie goeie kampplek by hulle Swellendam Kloof Vakansplaas.
Die totale afstand van hierdie heen-en-weer roete is ongeveer 28 km.
Die Op-de-Tradouw Roete is ongeveer 230 km vanaf Kaapstad, 47 km vanaf Montagu, 13 km vanaf Barrydale en 60 km vanaf Swellendam. Brandstof is op Montagu, Barrydale of Swellendam te kry.
Vanaf die R62 roete wat tussen Montagu en Barrydale loop.

Vir bespreking en meer inligting, kontak Niel of Manda Haasbroek by 028 572 1626 of 082 339 1089.
Kontak Braham van Zyl by selfoon 082-457-0019 of e-pos braham@explore-sa.com om vir die uitstappies op die Eksplôr SA program te bespreek.
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