Gravel Passes to Oceans - Part 3 (Sugar Bridge & Malgas Ferry)

Описание: Day three of a four day trip around the Western Cape, a circular route from Melkbosstrand to Mossel Bay area and back.

Riding some of the best and most scenic tar and gravel roads South Africa has to offer.

While not as scenic as the mountain passes, and nature reserve of days one and two, the long winding gravel roads make for excellent riding, with the occasional drop down to a low water bridge with great scenery.
Places just begging one to stop, or return to for a picnic.

Buffeljags Sugar Bridge

The sugar bridge at Buffeljagsrivier. Built in 1852 out of huge sandstone blocks, cemented together with gypsum mixed with sugar, and teak from the Robert which was shipwrecked at the mouth of the Lourens River (Strand) in 1847.
This bridge carried traffic for 101 years and the main structure has stood the test of time.

Malgas Pont – Old and New

The Malgas Pont is a vehicle ferry that crosses the Breede River in the Western Cape, South Africa, near the town of Malgas. The old ferry was the last man-powered ferry in South Africa, though a new motorized pont was commissioned in 2020 to replace the older system. The pont is a vital link for a gravel road connecting the N2 and Cape Infanta and operates daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with no charge for the crossing.

About the Malgas Pont
• Location: It crosses the Breede River at Malgas, in the Western Cape.
• Function: It provides a way for vehicles and passengers to cross the river, as there is no bridge in the area.
• History: The pont has been in operation for over 100 years and was reportedly the last manually operated cross-river ferry in South Africa.
• Operation: A motorized pont was commissioned in 2020 to replace the older, cable-pulled system.
• Hours: The pont operates daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

"Das Rollende Hotel" (also known as Rotel Tours) is a German tour company that operates custom-built buses that function as both transport and accommodation, and it has toured the Western Cape. While specific tour dates vary, these buses have been seen in the Western Cape and other parts of South Africa, with guests riding and sleeping in the same vehicle during their overlanding journeys.

About Das Rollende Hotel (Rotel Tours)
• What it is: A tour company that uses custom-built buses that are a combination of a vehicle and a hotel.
• How it works: Guests ride in the front of the bus during the day and sleep in a multi-tiered sleeping area in the rear at night. The buses also have a built-in kitchen.
• Routes: Rotel Tours operates overlanding trips around the world, including South Africa, which may include parts of the Western Cape.
• Availability: Tour routes and specific stops can change, but the company has a history of touring in South Africa.

00:00 – Intro
00:11 – Route
05:08 – Sugar Bridge
06:37 – Malgas Pont
08:24 – Das Rollende Hotel