Gamkaskloof aka: "Die Hel" or "The Hell" - Road Trip to Hell and Back
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 พ.ย. 2021
- Gamkaskloof, also known as Die Hel, or The Hell is located in a remote valley in the Swartberg mountains in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It was entirely cut off from the outside world until 1962, when the road; actually a steep, windy and sometimes dangerous gravel track, was built. Most of the original 160 residents of the valley left soon after the road was completed, the last one departing in 1991.
These days, Piet and Marinette Joubert, descendants of Annetjie Joubert, the last remaining resident, have created a Shangri-la, a small piece of paradise buried deep in the mountains. There is no cell phone reception, no internet and although it's not a requirement, a 4x4 vehicle is definitely recommended to negotiate the sometimes treacherous gravel road.
The old cottages have been lovingly and authentically restored and can be rented for the night, or for longer. Ouma Sannie se Winkel and restaurant is a must. You can get a delicious home cooked meal, farm fresh produce, or just a cold beer to enjoy in the shade of the indigenous old trees in the garden. There's plenty to do in the area which is popular with mountain bikers and hikers. It's a place I can totally recommend visiting at least once in your life if at all possible. Marinette handles the bookings, email is best because farm work means that the phone isn't always attended, you can book through the website below. I do recommend having a look at the Mountain Passes website if you are planning to go, they have a km by km description of the route, which I found very useful.
Here's the blog post: kangela.com/gamkaskloof/
Gamkaskloof website: gamkaskloof.co.za/
Mountain Passes: tinyurl.com/e5ejhw6t
Cape Nature Website: tinyurl.com/bu6svzy9
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Subscribe: / @kangela
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I’m Chris, an overlanding, adventure & road trip fanatic and video creator with a passion for nature & an outdoor life. My motto is "live your adventure". After many years in the digital marketing space, I opted out of corporate life and embraced an overland road tripping and adventure lifestyle instead.
I'm currently embarked on a 2 year long mission, Project #60460, to visit 60 of the most unique places in southern and east Africa to mark my 60th year on this, the only planet that we have. I'll be sharing the adventure with videos, community updates and stories. And along the way I will be highlighting the plight of 3 of Africa's big cats: the Lion, Leopard & Cheetah.
Join me on this epic overland road trip and help save these incredible predators by supporting me on Patreon: / kangela
Kangela: "to look with curious eyes"
Available for collaborations: hello@kangela.com
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Connect With Me:
On Instagram: / kangela_chris
On Facebook: / kangela
On Twitter: / kangelachris
On Patreon: / kangela
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I WENT TO DE HEL IN MY 1600 BEETLE all the way from cape town TODAY I CANT BELIEVE I DID THAT!!!
Chris you certainly create an appetite for unusual experiences in our beautiful South Africa. Your videos help me love this country soo much more. Interesting history
Thanks for that Iris. I always appreciate your comments.
Courtesy of the SADF had a 10 day exercise in 1970 in that valley. Fully on foot and fully kitted, started at Zoar, up Seweweekspoort into the valley down a cliff and then quite an arduous trek through heat in the valley with snow on the peaks. The Gamka river was freezing and quite a few insufficently fit types who succumbed to the heat were dumped in the river. Then up and over the peaks, down the other side, steep as all getgo. Camped one man shelters in snow sleet and rain. 10 days. Tough going but what a course! And what an environment!
They built them tough back then that's for sure.
Magic video. The music was brilliant too. Very refreshing. I’m gonna do this drive in about a week 🤙🏻
Hope you enjoy it!
Went there many times stayed in Oudtshoorn loved the small karoo
Great Video - Always heard about it but now I got to see on my screen - Next stop is driving there!
It's well worth it.
.....been on my bucket list for quite a few years now.....cool video....
Well worth it if the opportunity arises.
Just add it to my bucket list
Well worth it 👌
Nice video thank you chris
Thanks Efraim, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Great video. Thanks!
Thanks Bernd.
Fantastic Video!! The soundtrack also great!!
Thanks Meds. Soundtrack is by Katherine Appleton. I like the way she thinks 😉😅
Great video! Brought back wonderful memories of our trip done in April this year. We've stayed at Boplaas Guest Farm inside Cape Nature at the "Stalletjie". What an amazing place (and my nerves are still not the same after this trip down Elands Pass ... we've done it in our Jimny ... I'm with you on "it's probably better with a 4x4" 😉).
Awesome, thanks for sharing your memories Corna, sounds like a wonderful experience.
Lekker Video! Thanks!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, it’s very much appreciated.
Baie mooi videos, dude! I enjoy them all and will definately travel in your tracks! Keep the videos coming!
Thank you Leon, I’m so glad that you enjoy the videos. We have plenty of adventures planned for 2022.
I only saw this in 2023, the scenery is spectacular and I can't imagine how you felt trying to navigate the steep up the mountain. Thanks for the video and your editing is also so good as usual. I must tell you I have visited Hluhluwe Bush Camp after seeing your video in 2022 and stayed at tent no 1, it was fabulous. I am following your steps. Thank you so much and God bless you.
Thanks so much for your words Justice, and I'm very happy that you have enjoyed my videos.
Very good vid which I just stumbled on. No I have suscribed. Ek was in Kaapstad gebore maar is nou woonagtig in Red Bluff, Kalifornia. Baie dankie.
Thanks George, that is sure a long way from Gamkaskloof 😀
Yoooo would love a trip over there.
It’s well worth it if you ever get the opportunity.
Very intereseting. Cool video.
Thank you Henk, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Very interesting
Thanks Naledi.
Keep them come my man
Thanks Sizwe, I will for sure do so 👍
I stumbled upon your channel about an hour ago. I've been hooked since. I truely appreciate your content. And it's further stoking my already blazing fire to travel and explore our beautiful country beyond the typical touristy spots.
Also, what happens if you so happen to meet another car going in the opposite direction on that narrow stretch of road? What's the maneuvering etiquette in such a situation?
Hi Neo, thanks so much for the kind words, I'm glad you have enjoyed my content. Where there is only room for one car to pass, the etiquette is for the car going up to have right of way, so the vehicle going down would need to pull over, or reverse to a place where they can pass.
@@Kangela ohh ok that makes sense. Thank you! 😁 keep making more amazing content.
Oh that I were younger & still had a 4X4!
This however seems nerve wracking! What happens when another vehicle comes from the opposite direction!
It's certainly an exhilarating drive, you don't HAVE to have a 4x4, a high ground clearance, all wheel drive vehicle will manage, most of the time. After heavy rains then a 4x4 would definitely be recommended though. The general "rule of the road" is that ascending vehicles have right of way. Where the road is too narrow for 2 vehicles to pass, the one going down has to reverse to one of the overtaking spots.
It's called "Die Hel" because it gets 40ºC+ during summer.
I can believe that, I also read one version that when some or other official went down the original path, "the ladder", he said something along the lines of "this is hell". I like the temperature version though 👍
You are correct years ago Gov. sent somebody(probably a tax collecter) there. He said getting there was Hell.
Late 60s 70s if you called it Hell instead of Gamkaskloof you were looking for trouble with the people there.
They grew the sweetest fruit there
🇿🇦 👍🏻
🙏
Nice info Chris. Do you need low range?
Thanks, you don't need low range, but high ground clearance is a must.
@@Kangela thanks, enjoying your videos. Great content!
Thanks, I’m glad you are enjoying the content.
What video equipment do you use?
Hi Marschliono, I've been using a Canon R5 with various lenses, mainly a 15-35 and 150-500 (for wildlife shots). My main workhorse is my Gopro 9 and an Gopro 8. Recently I've purchased a Canon XA45 video camera for video, so we'll see how that works. Hope this helps.
@@Kangela Thanks, and what drone gear are you using?
@@marschlionoalexander8498 That's a DJI Mavic Air2.
@@Kangela Thanks.
@@Kangela just a quick question, did you need a visa to visit Namibia?
Good video. Pity about music
Thanks Rory, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the soundtrack. You aren't the only one, somebody else also didn't like it that much, but I do appreciate the feedback, it all helps me to make better videos.
When you say Road Trip to "Hell" and "Back"? So, where is the Hell Part? Maybe when you make it to "A" big city. I would say the road to trip to Paradise and back to "Hell".
I agree with you 100%, that's in the video.
totally inappropriate noisy music!impossible to view as a result
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the soundtrack, I will say though that there is a slightly deeper reasoning behind my choice of music😉 Nevertheless I appreciate the feedback 👍