Touws River

• Province: Western Cape
• District: Cape Winelands
• Coordinates: 33°20′16″S 20°02′01″E
• Area: 21.62 km2
• Municipality: Breede Valley

This Touws River refers to the town, not the Touws River near Wilderness on the Garden Route

Touws River is situated in the western Karoo region of the Western Cape, approximately 180 kilometres north-east of Cape Town. The town lies east of Worcester and west of Matjiesfontein, along the N1 national road. It sits near the Touws River watercourse and at the transition between the Breede River Valley and the arid Karoo interior. Touws River is surrounded by semi-arid landscapes and low mountain ranges, with rail and road routes forming a key east–west transport corridor.

History of Touws River

Route through the mountains

Touws River owes its existence to the railway route chosen across the Hex River Mountains. In the late 1800s, the Cape government needed a railway linking Cape Town with the diamond fields of Kimberley. Prime Minister John Molteno is said to have insisted that the line should cross the mountains on a direct route towards Beaufort West. When he was asked which route he wanted the engineers to follow, he reportedly took a ruler and drew a straight line across the mountains. The engineers were doubtful, but Molteno insisted that this was where the railway should go.

The Cape Government Railways surveyed the mountains and found a workable route from Worcester through the Hex River Pass. The line from Worcester to Matjiesfontein opened on 7 November 1877, with a station called Montague Road where the railway crossed the Touws River. The station was renamed Touws River in 1883. Because locomotives needed assistance to climb the steep mountain route, the settlement developed into an important railway depot, where powerful banking engines were stationed. These engines were coupled to the rear of trains to push them up and over the pass before returning to the depot for the next train. Touws River later became a railway junction as well as a depot, but its importance declined when the Hex River railway tunnel was opened in 1989, bypassing the difficult mountain route.

Touws is Khoi for ash

“Touws” is derived from a Khoi word for Ash. It is not known for sure if this refers to the Ash bushes or the colour of the soil. The Touws River was sometimes known as the Ash River.
This is a quiet town surrounded by farms and nature reserves. There are also old steam engines on display, harking back to the glory days of steam locomotive transport.

Makadas

For decades, Touws River was the launching pad for a branch-line steam train that ran through the Klein Karoo to Ladismith. Locals called this train the “Makadas”. According to local legend, the name came from a fast-talking train conductor who would hurry passengers along by yelling out in a local blend of English and Afrikaans: “Make a dash, kêrelss, make a dash!” (Hurry up, guys!). The name stuck even though the line closed down in 1981 after severe flooding. However, the legend of  Makadas remains part  of local folklore

The license plate prefix for Touws River is CW, and the  postal code is 6880

Things to see and do in Touws River

• Burgers Pass (Koo Pass)
• Aquila Private Game Reserve is the home of the Big 5 as well as a significant amount of other wild game, which roam freely on the reserve. Join a sunset tour for an unforgettable wildlife experience.+27 (0) 21 430 7260

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

local WEATHER TODAY

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