“I’m on the road to nowhere”…. or am I???
I’ve driven many km’s on gravel roads. mostly by choice, in my attempt to escape the rat race of our national highways. In my defence, I do not need much in the way of a reason to visit the small towns dotted off the main routes. Driving these back roads, you allow yourself the time to explore at a more leisurely pace, to see things you would miss at 120km/h on the main routes.
Gannaga Pass is one of these slow drive roads, the road to drive to get away from it all and just enjoy the drive. The only difference between Gannaga Pass and other scenic drives in the Karoo is the location. It is in the middle of nowhere, but still close to everywhere. You will have to include it in your planning as it’s not on a main route to any town.
Gannaga Pass connects the town of Middelpos the capital town of the Tankwa with the R355 and the rest of the Tankwa below the escarpment. The pass is the scenic way to reach the Tankwa National Park, the best reason to drive up the pass is to reward yourself with lunch at the fabulous Gannaga Lodge.
The roads leading to the pass can be driven by a normal sedan as the inhabitants of Middelpos prove to all 4×4 owners on a regular basis. A 2×4 vehicle with high ground clearance or better still a 4×4 would make the drive much easier. In winter the roads in this area can become extremely slippery and rutted, so extra care needs to be taken.
Gannaga Pass in winter will provide photographers with an infinite array of scenic vistas and moody cloudscapes, making it worth a trip in the cold.
