- Province: Western Cape
- Coordinates: 33.817°S 23.182°E
- District: Garden Route
- Municipality: George
De Vlugt is a small, remote hamlet set roughly halfway along the Prince Alfred Pass (R339), between Knysna and Uniondale. It lies within a narrow poort along the banks of the Keurbooms River, surrounded by steep mountains and fynbos-covered slopes. The settlement is unusual in South Africa, with homes, small-scale accommodation, and tea gardens operating directly within the pass itself. Facilities are limited, with no fuel, banks, or mobile reception, but visitors will find basic services, an information point, and access to hiking, 4×4 routes, and nature-based activities in this isolated stretch of the Garden Route interior.
History of De Vlugt
De Vlugt is one of the few places in South Africa where people still live and trade within a mountain pass, giving it a unique, isolated character.
The settlement dates back to the 1860s, when Andrew Geddes Bain and his son Thomas Bain. began constructing the pass from the Knysna side. They followed existing elephant paths through dense forest before establishing a midway camp in the poort at De Vlugt. Around 270 convicts lived and worked here, carving the road by hand. Bain occupied the homestead while the convicts were housed nearby, and the remains of these early structures shaped the settlement that still exists today.
Construction of the pass was slow and difficult, and it was only completed in 1867. Much of De Vlugt remains unchanged, with Bain’s original cottage still standing, complete with yellowwood floors and a traditional stove. The hamlet retains its character as a former construction camp, with very little modern development.
The area also links to earlier exploration routes. In 1998, after a fire cleared large sections of fynbos, the tracks of William John Burchell’s ox-wagon route were rediscovered. This historic route, now known as Burchell’s Track, passes through the surrounding landscape and reflects early travel through the region.
Today, De Vlugt is known for its quiet setting and slow pace of life. The Keurbooms River provides clear water that supports a local trout farm, and visitors will find simple accommodation, tea gardens and small eateries along the pass. There is limited infrastructure, with no mobile reception, fuel or banking facilities, adding to the area’s remote appeal.
Things to see and do in De Vlugt
- You can see some hand-painted maps of the Wagon Route Trail in the old Cottage,
- The old water mill still functions
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Resources
Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide
Useful numbers
Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities
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Emergency Services
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Medical
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Municipal & Utilities
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Transport & Roads
- Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204
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Community & Safety
- Childline-116
- 24 hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape: 0861 555 777.
- NSRI 087 094 9774
