During the 18th century there was no formal system or road building or maintenance in South Africa. Routes into the interior largely followed the tracks initially made by migrating herds of game or the livestock of the Khoekhoen on their seasonal migrations between coastal and inland grazing grounds. These routes were later improved by generations of trek farmers moving between the markets at Cape Town and their loan farms. The Oudekloof Pass through the Obiqua Mountains was discovered by Pieter Potter, who was sent in search of cattle to barter from the Khoisan. At the start of the 18th century, the Tulbagh valley was opened for settlement by free burghers from the Cape who developed this pass. It was very steep and the road narrow. Wagons were usually unloaded at the foot of the mountain, disassembled, cargo and wagon parts carried over the mountain and reassembled on the other side. Farmers tried to improve the pass in 1748, with little success. After the building of the Nieuwekloof Pass, Oudekloof fell into disuse.