Most drivers go straight through without knowing what they miss up top. Until 1988 the pass road was the N1. Today you have two ways across the Du Toitskloof mountains: the pass (R101), topping out at 820 metres, or the Huguenot Tunnel on the N1. The tunnel is 3.9 kilometres long and tolled. According to Wikipedia it saves 11 kilometres and 15 to 26 minutes, depending on traffic.
- opening per Wikipedia, also given as 1948
- 1949
- summit of the pass
- 820 m
- Huguenot Tunnel, open since 1988
- 3.9 km
- Paarl to Worcester, formerly the N1
- R101
Work on the pass began in the summer of 1941/42, and it is named after the Huguenot François du Toit. Two English Wikipedia articles disagree on when it was finished: the one on the pass gives March 1949 for the opening, the one on the Huguenot Tunnel says completed in 1948. The tunnel article also mentions Italian prisoners of war on the job, while the pass article does not. On the Paarl side there is a striking viaduct, and higher up a short tunnel of about 200 metres runs through the rock.
The Huguenot Tunnel opened on 18 March 1988. It has a single bore with two-way traffic; a second bore was roughly excavated in the 1980s and is due to be completed, with the contract still under evaluation in March 2026. The toll for cars has been R54.50 since 1 March 2026 (SANRAL, as of September 2026). After the storms of 13 May 2026 both pass and tunnel were closed briefly, and both have since reopened.
- Time needed
- Cape Town to Worcester through the tunnel about 1 hour 20 minutes without traffic, 15 to 26 minutes more over the pass
- When
- in clear weather and daylight; severe storms can close both pass and tunnel
Our tipTake the pass instead of the tunnel at least once, perhaps on the way back from the Breede valley: the toll only applies in the tunnel, and you go over the mountain rather than through it. After dark, stick to the N1.
Du Toitskloof Pass: frequently asked questions
Is there a toll on the Huguenot Tunnel?
Yes, the Huguenot Tunnel on the N1 between Paarl and Worcester is tolled, and SANRAL usually adjusts the tariffs on 1 March. Driving over Du Toitskloof Pass (R101) is the toll-free alternative.
Pass or tunnel: which is quicker to Worcester?
The Huguenot Tunnel is quicker: compared with Du Toitskloof Pass it saves 11 kilometres and 15 to 26 minutes depending on traffic. The pass climbs to 820 metres and follows the old N1.
Are Du Toitskloof Pass and the Huguenot Tunnel open after the 2026 storms?
Yes. Du Toitskloof Pass and the Huguenot Tunnel were only closed briefly after the storms of 13 May 2026 and are open again, as of September 2026. Severe winter storms can close them again.