About the Route
This route takes you from L'Agulhas to Montagu via the little old town of Elim and Napier. It is a mixture of gravel and tar roads and the gravel surface varies. As you leave L'Agulhas you turn on a gravel road that leads through Cape Agulhas National Park. Keep you eyes open and your speed low if you want to spot some animal (we saw loads of Ostriches). Just before you reach the historical town of Elim, you will get back on the tar again. Elim is well known for its picturesque old houses on the Main Street, all whitewashed with tatched roofs. There is also the biggest wooded mill at a watermill in South Africa. From Elim, we take a short gravel road towards Napier, which leads you through beautiful scenery. In Napier there is plenty of restaurants and accommodation available in case you got carried away in the old towns for too long. We had a quick lunch at Napier Farm Stall and their food and atmosphere was great. Once leaving Napier, you get back on the gravel roads and wind your way through the small back roads of the Western Cape's farmlands. The roads are generally easy and mainly used by the local farmers. You will get back on the tar at Swellendam and from here the route stays on tar. From Swellendam to Montagu, the scenery is just breathtaking and just before Montagu you will go through the Kogmanskloof Mountain pass, with the famous rock arch. You will also pass the Old English Fort on the top of the arch, worth to have a look. Montagu itself might be one of our favourite places, we actually spend several days camping at the Bos Backpackers and Camping. The sites are clean, cheap and easy with a beautiful few in the mornings of the mountains. There are nice hiking routes and things to do, you can ask at the reception for things that might interest you.