Hottentots Holland Mountains

The Gantouw (Eland Pass) ceased to be used by wagons on 6 July 1830, when the new Sir Lowry's Pass road was opened. When previous migrants decided to leave the Cape Town area, or Cape Colony as it was then known, this was the first mountain range they crossed. Cuts and wheel markings from their ox wagons can still be seen in rock formations of the old Gantouw pass which lies slightly north of the new Sir Lowry's Pass, and are a national monument. This route still serves as the primary route out of the Cape Town area for travellers heading east along the coast of South Africa. ==Climate==

The climate is typically Mediterranean; however, it is generally much cooler and more verdant than other areas in the Western Cape, with annual precipitation exceeding 1500 m. Summer temperature maxima rarely exceeding 25 °C. Snow is not unusual on the higher peaks during winter, like Verkykerkop, Somerset Sneeukop () at 1590 m high and The Triplets in the northern section of the range. This area and the other ranges to the south are considered the hub of the Cape floristic region with the most biodiversity in the entire fynbos biome. The surrounding lowlands have rich alluvial soils supporting viticulture and other deciduous fruit farms. ==Peaks==

• Haelkop: 1,384m • Somerset-Sneeukop: 1,590m • Landrosnaald: 1,346m • Pisgah: 1,349m • Sneeukopnaald: 1,285m • Landroskop: 1,435m • Hans se Kop: 1,200m • Moordenarrskop: 1,343m • Pic-Sans-Nom: 1,184m • West Peak: 1,003m • Helderberg Dome: 1,137m • Driekop: 971m • Suurberg: 1,090m • Valleiberg: 1,370m • Langklippiek:1,359m • Triplet 1: 1,516m • Triplet 2: 1,512m • Triplet 3: 1,479m ==Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve==

The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve is a World Heritage Site with an area of 70,000 hectares from Elgin to north of Villiersdorp, between the Stellenbosch Mountains and the Groenland mountains. The reserve functions as a conservation area for mountain fynbos, with about 1300 plant species, of which some are rare and endemic. About 110 species of bird have been recorded, and a variety of indigenous animals, some of which have been reintroduced. Altitude in the reserve varies from 500m to 1590m. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, and bad weather can make conditions unpleasant and dangerous. The entrance to the reserve is at Nuweberg, in Viljoen's Pass (R321) between Villiersdorp and Grabouw. An additional 7000 hectares of state and privale land adjacent to the reserve is co-managed by the Theewaterskloof Conservancy, which includes CapeNature and private landowners. ==References==