Swartberg Pass
Swartbergpas
A gravel mountain road built by convicts in the 19th century, crossing the Swartberg Range at 1,583 m, with spectacular folded rock layers. It is a South African national heritage site.
Swartbergpas was built between 1881 and 1888 by convicts under the direction of road engineer Thomas Bain. It runs about 24 km, linking Oudtshoorn with the town of Prince Albert to the north. It remains an unpaved gravel road, famed for its dry-stone walls and sharp bends, and was declared a national monument in 1988. Along the way, red sandstone layers squeezed into wave-like shapes form the so-called 'Fire Walls', and the summit offers wide views. Ordinary cars can pass slowly in dry weather, but the pass closes in rain or snow. The classic loop runs: Oudtshoorn, Cango Caves, the pass, lunch in Prince Albert, then back via Meiringspoort Gorge. The full loop takes about 6 hours.
Opening hours
All day (subject to weather and road conditions)
Nearby sights
- Cango Caves
- Cango Wildlife Ranch
- CP Nel Museum
- Meerkat Adventures
- Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms
- Calitzdorp
- Meiringspoort
- Outeniqua Pass