18 December 2020 (cont.)
On a clear day, when you turn onto the N12-highway just west of the gates to the Karoo National Park, you will see straight ahead of you the outlines of a large mountain range some 100km to the south. That’s the Swartberg (“Black Mountain“) – the highest mountains in the Western Cape, separating the Great Karoo from the Little Karoo.
We had two choices to get to the other side of the Swartberg, driving as we were from the Karoo National Park to the Bontebok National Park. The first is to stay on the N12 and go “through” the mountain along Meiringspoort – a beautiful stretch of tarred road but the less adventurous of the two options. The other option is to turn off the N12 onto the R407 just before Meiringspoort, following the road that leads to the small town of Prince Albert, and then taking a left turn into the Swartberg Pass (road R328). For us, the choice is an easy one.
Unquestionably one of the most exhilarating drives in South Africa and a personal favourite of ours, the Swartberg Pass is an engineering masterpiece designed and built (with convict labourers, many of whom died during construction) by the renowned Thomas C.J. Bain between 1881 and 1888. Recognised as a national monument, with a gravel surface and supported by impressive dry-stone retaining walls, the pass connects the Western Cape towns of Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert. Crossing over the beautifully unspoilt Swartberg, itself a declared nature reserve and World Heritage Site, while reaching a maximum altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level, the scenery along the Swartberg Pass is as awe-inspiring as the numerous tight switch-back bends, blind rises and steep gradients are hair-raising!
DeWetsWild 
It is a great ride! The rock formations are fantastic and the human-built drystone walls are pretty impressive too!
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Another fan of the Swartberg Pass – wonderful!
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” I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
I thought of these words from Robert Frost’s poem. You made the right choice to my way of thinking.
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That’s a very apt quote – thank you so much, John!
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Wow! Looks like this stretch of road would certainly keep you on your toes!
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It’s a do-it-yourself rollercoaster, Lori!
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Wow, what scenery!
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Dis so lekker om die foto’s te sien Dries, laat my verlang na my kinderjare toe my pa ons altyd die wonderlike paaie van Suid Afika geneem het! Baie dankie!!
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I love the Swartberg Pass – and enjoyed all the scenery again thanks to your many photographs.
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Wonderful to hear that we’re not alone in our appreciation for this special stretch of road, thanks Anne!
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Love the scenery.
janet
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As do we, Janet. Swartberg Pass is as beautiful as it is thrilling.
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Wonderful vistas! 🙂
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Indeed, H.J. Thanks!
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‘hair-raising’–yes, that is exactly what I thought of when I saw that curve in the road!!
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Thrilling stuff, Lois!
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Inspiring vistas, Dries. I hope you all breathed in when passing oncoming traffic.
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Driving Swartberg Pass really puts your breathing to the test, Tracy! 😀
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Heehee. 🙂
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