The air cools as soon as the road turns into the gorge. Michell's Pass is the short link from the valley around Wolseley and Tulbagh up to Ceres: about 10 kilometres of pass on the R46, with the summit at 490 metres. From the western entrance the road climbs 190 metres.
- built by Andrew Geddes Bain
- 1848
- summit altitude
- 490 m
- pass section to Ceres
- about 10 km
- Wolseley to Ceres
- R46
Andrew Geddes Bain built the road in 1848, to a plan by Surveyor-General Charles Collier Michell, who gave it his name. The 1848 toll house is still standing. In 1938 the pass was widened and tarred. The railway came later: the 16.7-kilometre line from Wolseley to Ceres opened on 20 May 1912 and is now disused.
From Cape Town you usually reach the pass via Bain's Kloof and Wolseley, 126 kilometres to Ceres according to OSRM. Bain's Kloof is only partly open. The alternative is the N1 via Worcester, 163 kilometres (as of September 2026). Tulbagh is just 15 kilometres north of Wolseley, so the pass and Church Street fit into one day.
- Time needed
- Cape Town to Ceres via Bain's Kloof a little over 1 hour 45 minutes without traffic
- When
- all year; in winter the mountains around Ceres often carry snow, the valley floor rarely
Our tipLook out for the old 1848 toll house on the pass. If you are heading on to Tulbagh, drive back over the pass towards Wolseley and then turn north.
Michell's Pass: frequently asked questions
Who built Michell's Pass?
Michell's Pass near Ceres was built in 1848 by Andrew Geddes Bain and named after Surveyor-General Charles Collier Michell, who planned it. The road was widened and tarred in 1938.
How high is Michell's Pass?
Michell's Pass on the R46 reaches 490 metres, a climb of 190 metres from the western entrance. The pass section to Ceres is about 10 kilometres long.
Can I combine Michell's Pass and Tulbagh in one day?
Yes. Tulbagh is 15 kilometres north of Wolseley, and Michell's Pass leads from the Wolseley area up to Ceres. That puts Church Street in Tulbagh and the fruit valley of Ceres within one day.