Beyond Wellington the road narrows and presses itself into the slope, rock on one side, the kloof on the other. Bain's Kloof Pass has been partly open again since 10 July 2026, after flood damage in May, with traffic control, delays and restrictions for lorries (as of September 2026). Over 18 kilometres the R301 links Wellington with the valley around Wolseley and Ceres. The highest point is 594 metres.
- opening, depending on the source
- 1852 to 1854
- summit altitude
- 594 m
- length of the pass
- 18 km
- Wellington to Wolseley
- R301
Andrew Geddes Bain built the pass with convict labour, for horse-drawn wagons; the tar came later. Sources disagree on when it was finished. The English Wikipedia article on the pass says 1854, German Wikipedia says 1853, and the English article on Worcester says 1852. The whole pass is protected as a national monument, and after roadworks from 2018 it only reopened in June 2022.
For Ceres, Bain's Kloof is the shorter way. According to OSRM it is 126 kilometres from central Cape Town and an hour and 48 minutes without traffic, compared with 163 kilometres and just over two hours via the Huguenot Tunnel and Worcester. With the 2026 traffic control, that advantage can shrink. And this is nothing new: the pass was closed after storms in June 2023 as well.
- Time needed
- Wellington to Ceres just under an hour without traffic, plus delays at the 2026 traffic control
- When
- in daylight and dry weather; after heavy rain check the provincial road reports first
Our tipCheck the Western Cape road reports on westerncape.gov.za before you go. Lorries face restrictions; if you are towing something large, the N1 through the Huguenot Tunnel is the safer choice.
Bain's Kloof Pass: frequently asked questions
Is Bain's Kloof Pass open?
Bain's Kloof Pass (R301) has been partly open since 10 July 2026, after flood damage in May 2026. Traffic control causes delays and lorries still face restrictions, as of September 2026.
When was Bain's Kloof Pass built?
Andrew Geddes Bain built Bain's Kloof Pass with convict labour in the mid-19th century. Depending on the source, the opening year is given as 1852, 1853 or 1854.
Is Bain's Kloof the quicker way to Ceres?
Via Bain's Kloof Pass, Ceres is about 126 kilometres from Cape Town, compared with 163 kilometres via the Huguenot Tunnel and Worcester. While the 2026 traffic control is in place, expect delays on Bain's Kloof.