Swartberg Pass — Local services in George

We actually loved and hated this pass. Apparently there's a sticker one can get that reads "I survived the Swartberg Pass!". We came into the pass from the Oudtshoorn side which leads one directly up the treacherous narrow single lane dirt (graded) road "Die Top" at over 1500m. Relief! It makes one reflect and wonder about ones life and eternity! We didn't know about this part as we'd only seen photos and videos of the other side... The really picturesque jaw-dropping side. Nobody mentioned anything about "the other side" !! Well I think it's cured us of the novelty of needing to explore passes. We will do our homework better in future for 2 wheel drives. After finally reaching Die Top, the steep decent was welcome although somewhat nerve wrecking still, until we got nearer the bottom of the pass on the Prince Albert side. It is phenomenally beautiful with majestic mountains and ragged gnarled and layered rock outcrops in many different hues of reds, oranges and browns, all around one, as one slowly winds through. One cannot hurry this wonder... Take it slow and enjoy every awesome view, at every turn...

An absolutely stunning part of South Africa with the most mind blowing scenery you have ever seen. It is located in the Western Cape.

The pass is a gravel road built between 1883 and 1888 by Thomas Bain, son of the famous Andrew Geddes Bain who built Bain's Kloof Pass.

The closest town is Prince Albert, which is located 25km North of the peak of the pass.

Prince Albert is about an 11 hour drive from Johannesburg and about 4,5 hours from George.

I would advise driving up the pass in an offroad vehicle - 4x4 or dirt bike. If you decide to cycle up and down, I recommend a mountain bike, the route is manageable on a gravel bike but the descent to Prince Albert is rough and technical.

The pass has 2 sides. The first is the route from Prince Albert side. This side is rough and very rutted. Going up or down this side of the pass is tricky and technical. There are many switchbacks on this side of the route. The second side is from the Cango Caves. This side of the pass is breathtaking. The gravel road is great and pretty much smooth. There aren't too many...

We did it! We were blessed with a clear blue sky on a 10-Sep-25 morning, driving Northbound from Oudtshoorn. The ride was a Toyota Starlet Cross Manual with three people and all our luggage onboard. It didn't even struggle. Traffic was light, only met with four passing vehicles. The gravel road was wide enough for two cars to pass at ease. We made five stops which provided some parking spaces. I have marked the GPS below: -1st Viewpoint: -33.362456, 22.077104 -2nd Viewpoint: Skelmdraai -33.363694, 22.065356 -3rd Viewpoint: -33.358598, 22.054221 -4th Viewpoint: Die Top -33.35215, 22.04618 -5th Viewpoint: Teeberg -33.328908, 22.043043 Just be on the lookout at every turn. You will enjoy it. Stay...