Travel - Eastern Transvaal

Long Tom Pass

Introduction

The Long Tom Pass was originally built as a shorter route to Lourenco Marques harbour (now Maputo) for the then Transvaal Republic, especially for routes through Lydenburg. It was named after the Long Tom Cannon which was used very successfully against the British in the second Anglo Boer War (1899-1902). A nice write-up on the pass can be found on the Mountain Passes South Africa website.

Hops Hollow Brewery

Very close to the top of Long Tom Pass, 22km from Lydenburg, is the Hops Hollow Brewery, a B&B which centres around the brewery. These pictures were taken in November 2006 when Theo de Beer still owned it. Theo has since sold it and opened up a new brewery in Dullstroom called Anvil Ale House.

The signboard to the Hops Hollow Brewery (note the 22.2km milestone)

The guest house with the pub/dining room in the centre (note Pat in the window on the top right!)

The pub with the brewery through the window

A view of a part of the dining room with Long Tom Pass winding away in the background

A view of the mountain from the garden

Viewsites

There are many viewsites on the way down to Sabie, but unfortunately, these view sites have become overrun by curio sellers (and some of them are rather aggressive with their sales pitch). One is often in two minds as to whether to stop or not. This is rather sad as some of the viewsites trace the last battles in the Anglo-Boer War in which the Long Tom Cannon was used.

A view of the extensive afforestation

Another view of the extensive afforestation

A view of the pass winding down the mountain

Another view of the pass winding down the mountain

Another view of the plantations. Note the waterfalls on the krantz.

Another view of the plantations

Sabie

At the bottom of the pass, just as you enter Sabie, be on the look out for the Sabie Brewing Company on the right. They have a fairly extensive range of beers, some of them pleasant, some not so nice. It is however, worth a stop.

Sabie Brewing Company

Sabie Brewing Company: the bar

Sabie Brewing Company: the veranda

Back to the Eastern Transvaal.