Camping in "Hel" (Gamkaskloof) - The most dangerous road in South Africa?
While visiting George for some work, I decided to make a trip to the infamous pass called "Die Hel". It has been a good few years since I've last been down there, so it was time for a re-visit.
My solo trip started in George where I drove through Montagu Pass towards Oudtshoorn. It was not long until I reached Swartberg Pass. After a long climb, I made it to the top where it felt like I was going to turn into an icicle!
Onwards I pushed and soon reached the start of the road to Hel. You read a sign warning you of the dangerous 48km's of road ahead, estimated to take 2 hours to complete. weaving through the Swartberg mountain range, the road seems never-ending. Finally, you reach the pinnacle of this road, the steep descent into the valley below. I slowly crawled my way down the narrow and rocky pass to the safety of the campsite below. I forgot how long and treacherous the road is, needing your full attention all the way down.
Two years ago a fire swept through the valley, destroying everything in its path. The lack of vegetation along with heavy rains, causes the soil to wash away, forming wash-outs and leaving exposed rocks along the path. It is not too severe, however, it does reduce your travel speed.
I enjoyed my solo camp in the Gamkaskloof Valley for the night, before heading off to the next location. After ascending 'Die Hel" and finishing Swartberg Pass, I headed to a private campsite near Leeu-Gamka. This campsite location will stay disclosed. I arrived at the rustic campsite, set up camp and headed off into the bushveld for a quick sunset cruise.
As the sun set over the Karoo landscape, lighting up the Karoo grass, I found a family of Giraffes grazing. I grabbed my camera and started photographing them as the curious Giraffes closed in to see what I was doing. The sun set behind the horizon and I enjoyed the last minutes of sunlight, taking in the breathtaking moments of the orange sky as the gentle giants were grazing around me. A Karoo sunset which I will not easily forget.
I headed back to camp, cooked myself a meal and called it a night. My last stop on the trip was in Touwsrivier at Kroonstad Padstal. They serve the best roosterkoek and I can simply not pass there without grabbing one. There is no better way to end a trip!
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Пікірлер: 61
I visited "Die Hel" once when I was a child, while camping with family. Thanks for the POV, really enjoyed it.
Very nicely done! Keep the adventures coming. Cheers
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! 😁
Looks like fun.. & yes, we do call it a 'windmill' in English, lol
Lekker video maat. Die Hel is beslis een van my favourite plekke wat ek nog ooit besoek het.
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Dit was lekker om daarso te revisit, het vergeet hoe beeldskoon dit is!
Great video!! 👏🏻👏🏻
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Thanks!
Lekker man! Dig the vlogs, keep them coming!
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Thanks and you must enjoy UK!
Awesome scenery man!
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
It's beautiful there!
Dankie vir die deel hiervan ek wardeer dit werklik baie veilig ry 🎉
@DieterPey
6 ай бұрын
Groot plesier!
Wow, 🙈 wat 'n smal pad maar die omgewing is baie mooi. Hoe lank is die grondpad?
Nice video. Although a handful going down into (and back out) Die Hel on a motorbike, you only have to pick one line compared to two lines with a car. Regardless whether bike or car, you have more peace of mind with good tires for the whole section from the Swartberg Pass turnoff. A worthwhile destination to experience at least once.
@DieterPey
4 ай бұрын
100% Agree with you
@user-qe1tv1bu2f
3 ай бұрын
Did u find it tougher on bike than sani pass rd, coz I thought sani a breeze
@seanfrench1029
3 ай бұрын
@@user-qe1tv1bu2f Depends. I did Sani & Die Hel two up on bike. Rainy conditions or washouts after rain can badly affect both routes. Currently, Die Hel is only accessible by dirt bike.
@user-qe1tv1bu2f
3 ай бұрын
@@seanfrench1029 Thanks mate. Got a xr650 Honda shud be okay. However, I did criss cross south American Andes goat paths on a rd bike for 7 months. I'm probably stupid enough to attempt a footpath out if there is one 💥🤣🤣😂
According to Google, a Windpomp is a Windmill...🤨 But if you google Windpump, you get a Windpomp.🤔 In high school, I had an Afrikaans teacher who would have loved to answer that question. I enjoyed the video.
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Afrikaans windpomp directly translates to windpump, which sounds weird, but is technically right as it is pumping water from underground. A windmill was/is used to crush wheat into a powder. We're probably just over thinking it! 😂
@madcat4563
Жыл бұрын
@Dieter Pey Yes, it does sound like a direct translation. And yes, a Windmill is something different.
Is the campsite SANparks? It must be rare for it to get used surely?? Is there a warden there? Amazing scenery.
@DieterPey
5 ай бұрын
Nope, Cape Nature was partly involved, but as far I know, their part of the valley is abandoned. There are 3 private farms in the valley which offer accommodation and campsites.
👌👌
Cool video bud, just curious about the ablutions down in the bottom at the hel as you did not show any, are there any? 😚
@DieterPey
5 ай бұрын
Ablutions are basic but good. Flush toilet and gas heater for the shower. 😁
@user-qe1tv1bu2f
3 ай бұрын
@@DieterPeyhow much per night
Howzit, it would be good to know what the campsites cost these days for u as I also travel solo
If a boere seun says it's cold, then you know, it's cold.
Dankie vir die lekker trip. Watse settings het jy gebruik op die bakkie - L4 met diff, of hoe? En jou tyre pressure?
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Ek het L4 gery vir die gemak en meer beheer oor die bumpy ground. By die Hel pas het ek oorgeskop 4H toe sodat ek n beter turning circle het om daardie skerp draaie. Tire pressure was so 1bar rond. Ek het Yokohama Geolander G003's wat n harde sidewall het, so ek kan hulle baie papper gebruik as road tires.
@salomekruger4176
Жыл бұрын
@@DieterPey Dankie!
@hvr1874
11 ай бұрын
Het dieselfde roete verlede jaar gedoen 1.4bar ook op Geolanders maar het in AWD gebly aangesien so baie dele geconcrete is en om binding issues te vermy. Behalwe as dit reen het jy 4WD nodig nie. In fact moes hele stuk terug reverse om pad te maak vir 2 Citi golfs wat uit die hel opgekom het. In die vallei self is die pad egter slegter gewees en sou ek 4WD aanbeveel.
Nice one dude. Sal def weer moet terug keer. It's been too long
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Highly recommended, jy sal dit baie geniet daarso en die 80 sal lekker gemaklik by daardie pass afloop!
@HendriMouton
Жыл бұрын
@@DieterPey Yeah hy vat maar net twee bane op met Bainskloof pass😂
I've been to 'die hel' 5 times in a platkar before i went in a 4x4
@user-qe1tv1bu2f
3 ай бұрын
Flat car 😂😂
Awesome video! Just curious, were you in two wheel drive or did you set the Hilux on 4H?
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! I was in 4H and sometimes when it was very rocky and steep I went to 4L to make the ride more comfortable for myself.
@siyabongashezi4104
Жыл бұрын
@@DieterPey makes sense. Thanks, Dieter. Looking forward to your next content, always a learning curve for me!
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! I have some lekker content coming very soon! 😁
Drve ot today. Road much much worse after the floods.
Wind driven borehole
No 4x4 needed Tarzan 323 30min
That i not a dangerous road but rather a scenic road
@paulholtslag1564
4 ай бұрын
The road has degraded, and most people now need 3 to 4 hours quiet driving, but if you take it easy, it is not dangerous at any point. Just take it easy and enjoy the spectacular scenery. The locals do it in 2 hours, but why would you want to miss the views? Then, relax at the bottom, have a braai in this spectacular environment, walk the trails and sleep in an authentic boer house. Time to relax.
Beslis nie die moeilik ste pad in sa nie
Jy moet Baboons Pass ry!
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Ah dit is hoog op my lys!
@user-qe1tv1bu2f
3 ай бұрын
@@DieterPeywhere is it
Not a true heading... Not the most dangerous road in South Africa...come on now....
@DieterPey
Жыл бұрын
Perhaps not THE MOST dangerous, but definitely up there.
@nawiribrahim
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing.
@hvr1874
11 ай бұрын
That will be the N2 between Somerset West and Cape Town
@DieterPey
11 ай бұрын
@@hvr1874 True! 🤣
@DanielComin
8 ай бұрын
I hope is a one direction only!! The game over IS real!
"The most dangerous road in South Africa"? It's a simple gravel road doable with any car.