Darters Pass is one of those official Passes that leaves you wondering if you're in the right place. The Pass has only one gentle curve towards it's Northern end and climbs a fairly insignificant 62m over it's 3,6 km length. The Pass however, does have significant Historical value as it is is named after a British sharpshooter Lt. Charles James Darter who was ambushed and killed near the narrow Pass in 1902, right at the end of the second Anglo-Boer war. This Pass is located on the N7 Cape-Namibia route approximately 14 km South of Kamieskroon.
South of Springbok, Kamieskroon is set among the granite rock formations of the Kamiesberg Range. The Town's origins lie in the 1860's, 17km North of its present position. Originaly it was known as Bowesdorp. Which is now a Ghost Town on the National Road, from Cape Town to Springbok, in the magisterial district and division of Namaqualand, aprox 504 kilometres North-West of Cape Town and 591 kilometres South of Springbok. In 1850 the Dutch Reformed parish of Namaqualand was separated from the mother parish of Clanwilliam, a place for a Church was required. A site was chosen on the Farm; 'Wilgenhoutskloof' and the Church the first in Namaqualand, was completed in 1864. The Village did not develop much until 1897, when Moses Schuur opened a shop and built a Hotel next to it. Then came the Post Office, the Police Station and the Prison, and it seemed as if Bowesdorp was on the road to prosperity. However, the growing importance of Springbok, which had been established in 1863, endangered the future of Bowesdorp! The parsons preferred taking up residence at Springbok rather than at Bowesdorp. When Dr. W. P. Steenkamp was called to Namaqualand in 1919, he had a Church built at Springbok. This was a heavy blow to Bowesdorp! In 1922, he recommended that the urgently needed repairs, to the Church at Bowesdorp be discontinued because of the high cost. If the community wanted a new Church, it should build one at a more suitable place where more water and space for future development would be available than in the narrow Kloof between high Mountains. Consequently a new Church was completed in 1924, on the road to Garies. The Post Office, Police Station and Shops, were moved there too. Kamieskroon, the new Village aros!. That was Bowesdorp’s deathblow! Plots which had originally cost R6 140 were sold for £8, and the only buyer of property was Adriaan Visser who came to Bowesdorp as a young constable before World War I. The former Village became his Farm! A signpost standing beside the road still indicates the site of the ghost Town, but all that remain of it are the ruins of: the Church, the Hotel, the Police Station, and the Prison of Bowesdorp. These are all near the present Farmhouse.

'Kamies' might be derived from the Nama word, 'kam', meaning two -referring to the twin peaks of the Mountain. The 'Kroon' or Pass is a 330m peak crowned with a huge, cleft rock, is a kilometre from the Village.
Kamieskroon is one of the most scenic Towns in Namaqualand. There are 3 interesting Mountain Peaks namely: 'Kardou' (south-east of the town), 'Boesmankop' (asleep on his back, on the west side) and 'Sneeukop' (north-east of the town), which at a height of 1591 m is the second highest point in Namaqualand.
As previously mentioned, the grave of Charles James Darter, part of the British Army. His grave is located just North of Kamieskroon on the N7, and is popularly referred to as the smallest piece of Britain in the World. (There actually is a Property-Title Deed) The site is identified by a pepper tree growing just next to the grave, and can be very easy to miss when driving past on the N7. You will also need to climb over a small fence to get up close, but people have made it relatively easy by placing big rocks to step on!

Bloubergstrand is a Suburb of Cape Town, 25Km North of the City! The beach at Bloubergstrand is a popular location for a classic view of Table Mountain across the bay and is one of the World's top kite surfer destinations. Robben Island is located 6.9 kilometres West of the coast of Bloubergstrand. The name Bloubergstrand literally means "blue mountain beach" in Afrikaans, and is derived from 'Blaauwberg', a nearby Hill. Bloubergstrand is mainly a residential area, with an incredible view of Table Mountain! The name is derived from the blue shade over Table Mountain when seen from Blouberg’s popular Beach, and directly translates to “Blue Mountain Beach.”
The first people documented to live in Bloubergstrand were the Goringhaikonas. Their leader was “Harry die Strandloper,” also known as; 'Hadah'. Due to his diligence to the Dutch empire (the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie), working as an interpreter between the indigenous people and the Europeans, he became the first postmaster in South Africa. The Dutch (under control of France) ruled the Cape until the early 1900’s, when the British forces invaded in order to occupy the Cape Colony. This colonial post was important to them as it was directly on their trade route. The Battle of Blaauwberg, which took place on 8 January 1806, is signified as the event that led to the British Empire becoming the new owners of South Africa. The British Empire occupied the Cape until 13 August 1814, when the Netherlands completely surrendered and the colony, which became the property of England.

The battle began early in the morning, with the exchanging of artillery fire from both sides. The Dutch forces battled with 2049 men, under leadership of General Janssens, and lost 353 to casualties, while the English side consisted of 5399 men who fought under leadership of Sir David Baird, of whom 212 lost their lives during the battle. On the 18th of January, the Netherlands agreed to capitulate, and the Dutch officials were all sent back home by March 1806. After the Battle of Blaauwberg, Frederick Louis Stadler became the owner of almost all the Land that forms the Area of, Bloubergstrand. The famous Monument, which operates as a restaurant in the area today, “Ons Huisie,” was the original Farmhouse of said Frederick Louis Stadler. It is said this Frederick’s sons, Frikkie, Rozier, and Johannes are some of the original founders of Bloubergstrand.

The Valley gets its name rather obviously from the Breede River, which courses through it, running in a West to East direction. In the Valley are the Towns of; 'Tulbagh; Wolseley; Worcester; Rawsonville; Robertson and Swellendam'. It is also the largest fruit and wine producing Valley in the Western Cape, which means the communities here are mainly farmers.

'Most of the accommodation of the Region is Farm stays, and the outdoors activities available are, many and variable! The breathtaking views of the Valley alone are worth a stay in a little place like; Breerivier. Mountains are interwoven with grapevines, fruit orchards and indigenous fynbos make this Valley is unique with: "Fifty or so Wine Estates make the Valley their home; the Town lies close enough to the famous Route 62, the longest Wine Route in the World, to make driving portions of this as a day trip entirely possible!"

You might find that you are spoilt for choice when staying in Breerivier, and visits to the Towns of Tulbagh, Ceres, Worcester and a drive along the Historic; 'Bains Kloof Pass', will be enough to keep you more than entertained." The Bain's Kloof Pass (R301) provided a more direct Route from the Town of Wellington to the more Northern Towns of Ceres and Worcester, in the Western Cape. It is 26,8 km in length from the Bridge over the Breede River to the outskirts of Wellington. Built circa 1849 by Andrew Geddes Bain. This Pass was a tough nut to crack, working with convicts and raw, rough materials and methods. As always seemed to be the case with Bain! He oversaw a marvellous job of the Pass which, having stood the test of time, is now a National Monument. The Northern section of the pass roughly follows the course of the Witte River, a raging torrent during the wet Winter season.