As South Africans we definitely don’t have a shortage of bragging rights, especially when it comes to scenic routes and epic views. One of our country’s most awe-inspiring features is our vast amount and variety of mountain passes. To pick a few favourites is next to impossible, but we gave it a try and decided to share a taste of each of them with you!

Sani Pass

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Location: On the road between Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal and Mokhotlong, Lesotho
Range: Drakensberg Mountains
Length: 9 km
Elevation: 2,876 m
Terrain: Gravel (only 4×4’s allowed)
Fun fact: Highest pass in South Africa
Sights: The Highest Pub in Africa, Local Basotho’s carting food and goods up the pass by horse and mule, various waterfalls

Long Tom Pass

Location: Between Lydenburg in the west (25 km) and Sabie in the east (20 km) on the Panorama Route, Mpumalanga
Range: Drakensberg Mountains
Length: 22,2 km
Elevation: 2150 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun Fact: Most famous pass in Mpumalanga and alternative route for the waggoners of the 1800s
Sights: The Long Tom Cannon, Visierkerf (Gunsight Notch), Whisky Creek Waterfall, Die Duiwel se Preekstoel (The Devil’s Pulpit)

Matroosberg Pass

Location: Matroos­berg Nature Reserve, Ceres, Western Cape
Range: Hexrivier Mountains
Length: 8,7 km
Elevation: 2,249 m
Terrain: Gravel, rock, stone and sand (only 4×4’s allowed)
Fun Fact: One of the highest peaks in the Western Cape and South Africa.
Sights: 4×4 trails, snow, camping, extreme sports

Naude’s Neck Pass

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Location: Between Maclear and Rhodes where the Maloti, Drakensberg and Witteberg Mountains meet, Eastern Cape
Range: Southern Drakensberg Mountains
Length: 32,1 km
Elevation: 2587 m
Terrain: Gravel (more comfortable in a 4×4 vehicle)
Fun Fact: Second highest pass in South Africa
Sights: Tenahead Mountain Lodge, Mooidraai Lookout Point, National Monuments Council plaque

Bain’s Kloof Pass

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Location: Between Wellington and Ceres, Western Cape
Range: Hottentots Holland Mountain Range
Length: approximately 28 km
Elevation: 594 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun fact: First pass ever built by the father of SA passes, Andrew Geddes Bain
Sights: Paradise Valley rock pools, Tweede Tol camping and rock pools, Limietberg Hiking Trail, Pilkington Bridge, Bell Rocks and Dacres Pulpit

Nuwekloof Pass (Baviaanskloof Pass)

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A photo posted by Dale (@dale.gathercole) on

Location: From Patensie in the east to Willowmore in the west, Eastern Cape
Range: Baviaanskloof Mountains
Length: 5,7 km (of 182 km long Baviaanskloof)
Elevation: 1153 m
Terrain: Gravel (with water crossings)
Fun Fact: It is a proclaimed World Heritage Site
Sights: Open caves and tree house accommodation, Vero’s Restaurant, Studtis Olive Estate

Outeniqua Pass

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Location: Connecting George (Garden Route) with Oudtshoorn (Little Karoo), Western Cape
Range: Outeniqua Mountains
Length: 12,5 km
Elevation: 795 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun Fact: Built by Italian prisoners of the Second World War
Sights: Epic views over George and the Indian Ocean in the background, cascading waterfalls, several rest stops, Hops Valley Farm Stall

Swartberg Pass

Location: Between Oudtshoorn in the south and Prince Albert in the north, Western Cape
Range: Swartberg Mountains
Length: 23,8 km
Elevation: 1575 m
Terrain: Gravel
Fun Fact: Status as a national monument and rubicon of gravel road passes
Sights: Eerste en Tweede Water, picnic sites, Malvadraai swimming spot, Die Stalletjie (Small Stall), Witdraai (White Corner), Fonteintjie (Small Fountain), Skelmdraai (Devious Corner) and Die Top

Kaapsehoop Pass

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Location: Between Nelspruit and Hemlock, Mpumalanga
Range: Drakensberg Mountains
Length: 31,9 km
Elevation: 1653 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun fact: Rumoured to be haunted by ghosts of old women and children and phantom gold prospectors
Sights: Kaapsehoop village and wild horses, views of The Valley of Death, Battery Creek

Tradouw Pass

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Location: Between Barrydale and Swellendam, Western Cape
Range: Langeberg Mountains
Length: 16,7 km
Elevation: 351 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun fact: Considered by many road builders as Bain’s best pass in terms of technical ingenuity
Sights: Die Drupkelder (The Dripping Cellar), Suurbraak, views down into the gorge of the Tradouw River with its rock pools and waterfalls, picnic spots

Eland’s Pass (Gamkaskloof Pass)

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Location: Between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
Range: Swartberg Mountains
Length: 3,64 km (of 37 km long Gamkaskloof)
Elevation: 973 m
Terrain: Gravel (4×4 only)
Fun fact: Paradoxically nicknamed Die Hel, UNESCO World Heritage site, and about 100 people lived in Die Hel at its most populous time
Sights: Oom Koos se Klip, Die Leer, Grootkloof waterfalls, Annetjie’s restaurant

Gifberg Pass

Location: Connects the farms on top of the Gifberg with Vanrhynsdorp, Northern Cape
Range: The Gifberg, along with the Cederberg, Bokkeveld and Matsikamma ranges
Length: 6,92 km
Elevation: 600 m
Terrain: Gravel and tar
Fun fact: Name derives from the gifboom (poison tree), endemic to the area and used by San hunters to poison their arrow tips
Sights: Outstanding views, hiking trails, San rock-art, wildflowers, rockpools and waterfalls

Barkly Pass

Location: Between Elliot and Barkly East, Eastern Cape
Range: Drakensberg Mountains
Length: 11 km
Elevation: 2018 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun fact: Only tarred pass of the Big 8 Eastern Cape passes
Sights: Mountain Shadows Hotel, Skilpad Rock, Castle Rock, snow, sandstone rock formations, original rock art

Attakwas Pass 

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A photo posted by Andre MTB LOVER (@mtb_lover) on

Location: Between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
Range: Attakwas and Outeniqua Mountains
Length: 22,3 km
Elevation: 846 m
Terrain: Gravel (4×4’s only)
Fun fact: Over 300 years old and first used by elephants
Sights: River crossing, Bonniedale Farm, magnificent fynbos, Attakwas Hiking Trail with its rock pools

Abel Erasmus Pass

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A photo posted by Dane Erasmus (@daneerasmus) on

Location: Between the towns of Ohrigstad and Tzaneen, Limpopo
Range: Drakensberg Mountains
Length: 9,8 km
Elevation: 1011 m
Terrain: Tar
Fun fact: Known as the gateway to the Panorama Route
Sights: Kadishi Tufa Waterfall (the highest tufa waterfall in Africa), Blyde River Canyon, Olifantsrivier

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No proper South African roadtrip is complete without a drive along one of our scenic passes! And to top it all off, each of these passes offers sights and hidden delights that make them sought-after destinations in their own right. Let us know which one is your favourite and why!

 

Feature image: “zuidafrika-142” by Vaiz Ha (Flickr)