Old Cape Highways by Dr E. E. Mossop is a captivating nonfiction work that traces the early roadways and transport routes of South Africa’s Cape region. First published in the mid-20th century, this book offers a detailed and richly illustrated history of the country roads that connected settlements and trading posts long before the advent of modern infrastructure. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Mossop brings to life the forgotten tracks and passes that shaped the development of the Cape Colony.
The book journeys through some of the most historically significant routes, including Table Valley, Hottentots Holland Pass, Tulbagh Kloof, Bain’s Kloof, and the highways eastward to Swellendam and beyond. Readers are taken along the Oliphants River and into the rugged Karoo, following in the footsteps of early travellers, farmers, and traders. Mossop also recounts the once vital but now little-known routes like the “Forgotten Highway” over the Bokkeveld Karoo, offering glimpses into the lives of those who traversed these early paths.
A fascinating read for lovers of South African history, heritage enthusiasts, and armchair travellers alike, Old Cape Highways is a valuable chronicle of the Cape’s transport past and the communities it connected.
