This historic pass dates back to 1863 and was built by Thomas Bain's brother in law - Adam de Smidt. The road is named after the many fossilised ticks found in the rocks when the road was built. This used to be the main road between Laingsburg and Prince Albert up till the late 1960's when the Dept. of Water Affairs built the Gamkakloof Dam, which had a number of consequences, including making this road obsolete. Firstly it made the road a dead end as there was no way around the new dam and secondly it spelled the end of the farming community in the Gamkakloof as a new road bulldozed eastwards through the Gamkakloof gave this community access to Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp. They left the kloof in a steady trickle until there was no-one left. That is one of the negative sides of progress. (Source: Mountain Passes South Africa).

“Bosluiskloof Pass lies on the gravel road between Laingsburg and the Gamkapoort Dam in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is one of a number of beautiful passes in the area and forms the border between the Great and Klein Karoo The Pass was built by Adam de Smidt in 1863 and winds between the Swartberg and the Elandberg mountain ranges for about 22 Kms. The stark, rugged beauty of the area, makes a visit worth while. ” - Chris Smit, 2012/10/26

Mountain Passes South Africa

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