[Image: Hexpass Ecotrek / Facebook]
Tired of the city? There is a perfect weekend getaway for adventurous souls just a short drive from Cape Town.
The Hex River Tunnel is believed to be South Africa’s oldest railway tunnel ever built and the oldest tunnel on the African continent, but today, this 149-year-old relic of the past is completely abandoned – waiting to be rediscovered by anyone with a 4×4.
The Hex River Tunnel was built in 1876 to connect South Africa’s capital city, Cape Town, and Kimberley following the discovery of diamonds in the Northern part of the country.
Located 35 kilometres between De Doorns and the Tunnel Station, the tunnel was constructed by Brounger and Pauling.
It was a remarkable engineering achievement of its time, designed to navigate the challenging terrain of the Hex River Mountains.
The tunnel was built by hand using shovels and pickaxes to navigate a buttress that was too narrow and steep for the railway line to bypass.
In 1929, the track was briefly diverted, and a second concrete-lined tunnel was constructed to accommodate larger locomotives. The tunnel system became operational in April 1989, more than forty years after the first portals were sunk, and was officially opened on 27 November 1989.
A large part of the track between Matroosberg and Osplaas stations was left in place and was later used as a popular tourist destination known as the Hexpas Ecotrek.
These days it is only accessible with 4×4 vehicles, and the journey involves navigating rugged dirt roads, narrow paths, and defunct railway tracks.
Sounds perfect for a winter weekend adventure. Why not go check it out IRL?
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[Source:express]