Swartberg Pass
Swartberg Pass
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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- Climber3203977 contributionsThe Swartberg PassThe Swartberg Pass is a must do experience. The views are exceptional and it is an amazing way to get to Oudtshoorn from Prince Albert. It is hard to believe how the pass was engineered so many years ago. Well worth it.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 6 February 2024
- floridaherbieMarco Island, Florida221 contributionsOutworldly experience!Driving from Cango Caves to the Swartberg Pass summit on an unpaved road is nothing for the faint hearted and you should do it at least with some kind of SUV - because of the clearance. The best part is the descending part to Port Albert with unbelievable rock formations, you think you are not on earth. Well worth the demanding drive!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 February 2024
- madraglasHeswall, United Kingdom56 contributionsSwartberg Pass in a Suzuki Hire CarWe travelled from the North through Prince Albert and through the Pass. The views and scenery are incredible all the way up to De Top. We completed the drive in a Suzuki Sedan hire car and it was fine but slow and steady all the way but no real issues. Met about 10 cars on the route, most were SUV types but it was fine by car. It was dry on the day which helped as I can imagine some of the road will get washed away in the rain. There are also 2 rivers to cross which submerge the road. They were only inches deep when we went but these could be problematic if there was much rain fall.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 27 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Alok
Johannesburg, South Africa32 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
One of the most amazing and scenic place in SA, we did our trip in December 2022 started from oudtshoorn and the back to oudtshoorn via de rust.
You can drive the main pass with most of car, we did that with CX3 with 156 mm ground clearence. For dehell 4x4 is mandatory .
The scenes are amazing and weather in december gets hot, lot of places to take pictures, make food and eat snacks enjoying the scenic mountains. Its on of the most loveliest mountain pass in SA. You can complete the pass in 3-4 hours with hault, break , taking photos with ease from one way.
The other way of prince albert is equally nice .
You can drive the main pass with most of car, we did that with CX3 with 156 mm ground clearence. For dehell 4x4 is mandatory .
The scenes are amazing and weather in december gets hot, lot of places to take pictures, make food and eat snacks enjoying the scenic mountains. Its on of the most loveliest mountain pass in SA. You can complete the pass in 3-4 hours with hault, break , taking photos with ease from one way.
The other way of prince albert is equally nice .
Written 9 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
trisandy
Reading45 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Having read others reviews we were a little hesitant about taking our small hire car VW polo across the pass but decided to go for it. It really was the best drive ever. 22km in our car took about 1 hour 45 with numerous stops to simply stare at the amazing views. Yes the road is gravelly and there are a few bigger dips and larger rocks than our car would otherwise like but we navigated them safely by going slowly. No way are there boulders as some people suggest, and it really isn’t tough driving, just slow, steady, sensible! The worse part of the track is the Oudtshoorn side, probably the first 8km and then it gets less demanding. The track from the summit to Prince Albert is fine, simply gravel with hardly any lumps or dips. We did the trip on a dry day but would not recommend on a wet day unless you have 4WD. We started our journey at 8am ( January) to avoid too much oncoming traffic and also to have quieter stops. We summitted in total silence and without anyone around... perfect. We didn’t meet another car until we were 5km from the end of the drive. We had the pass to ourselves! The drive is best from Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert. The way you approach the gorges into PA is breathtaking. There is also a lovely waterfall worth stopping at as you approach PA. Ideal for a sit and stare and be smug that you have just driven something amazing. it really is a stunning drive. We have driven many off the beaten tracks in the world and this sits in the top 10. From the open planes of Oudtshoorn to the red gorges of PA this is truly a picturesque and stunning drive. Go on, dare yourselves to do it, and enjoy!
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francois
Pretoria, South Africa61 contributions
Dec 2020
We drove from Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert via the Swartberg Pass, all in a sedan vehicle. The road condition was mostly good and the scenery continuously beautiful. The road is narrow at places but we managed when we had to pass oncoming vehicles (approach the turns slowly to check for oncoming vehicles). Be sure to take some water with. A nice day trip from Oudtshoorn is to travel via the Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert, have lunch at one of the many lovely eateries, and return via the equally picturesque Meiringspoort (take the short hike to the waterfall) or the other way around. Swartberg Pass is not recommended at night or in rainy conditions, but otherwise it is definitely worth it.
Written 16 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Snowbird52
London, UK212 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
The pass was driveable in early November 2023 in a normal saloon car but is going to need a lot of repair work to put it back to how it was. One or two deeply rutted sections were touch and go. It was first gear for most of the way and the whole thing took about 2 hours.
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia B
Northampton, UK790 contributions
Feb 2020
We were staying outside of Oudtshoorn and in my research I had read how wonderful the views were from the Swartberg Pass so we decided after a visit to the Cango Caves to drive over it to Prince Albert for lunch.
It was a cloudy day but we decided it didn't matter and to carry on. I hadn't read enough and so we were taken by surprise at the unmade, single track road with severe drops without barriers. I have a fear of heights so luckily I wasn't driving! We were in a Nissan X Trail and felt pleased to have a good vehicle to deal with the terrain. My husband is a very experienced driver but even he felt that this was rather a challenging drive.
This is a road for slow, careful driving. The views as we descended were wonderful and afterwards we were pleased that we had done it but it was tough and not a relaxing scenic drive as expected.
Looking back we are pleased that we did the drive but would recommend having a vehicle with good suspension and lots of patience. Not recommended for those with vertigo!
It was a cloudy day but we decided it didn't matter and to carry on. I hadn't read enough and so we were taken by surprise at the unmade, single track road with severe drops without barriers. I have a fear of heights so luckily I wasn't driving! We were in a Nissan X Trail and felt pleased to have a good vehicle to deal with the terrain. My husband is a very experienced driver but even he felt that this was rather a challenging drive.
This is a road for slow, careful driving. The views as we descended were wonderful and afterwards we were pleased that we had done it but it was tough and not a relaxing scenic drive as expected.
Looking back we are pleased that we did the drive but would recommend having a vehicle with good suspension and lots of patience. Not recommended for those with vertigo!
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeneralShamu
New York City, NY1 275 contributions
Nov 2022
Such a beautiful pass to drive through and completely manageable in a 2WD vehicle. Ensure you drive slow around turns because you never know when the approaching vehicle is drifting because they are watching the scenery rather than the road.
Gusty winds at the top but no need for cold weather clothing during summer time. Do not drive this at night nor if it's been raining.
We drove this pass south to north (from Oudtshoorn) and then, rather than come back the same way, took a right onto the main tarred road R407. It is tarred and more distance but requires the same time to get back to Oudtshoorn. This way you see something different (beautiful valley canyons!!!) on the return.
Gusty winds at the top but no need for cold weather clothing during summer time. Do not drive this at night nor if it's been raining.
We drove this pass south to north (from Oudtshoorn) and then, rather than come back the same way, took a right onto the main tarred road R407. It is tarred and more distance but requires the same time to get back to Oudtshoorn. This way you see something different (beautiful valley canyons!!!) on the return.
Written 17 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No T
Karlstein am Main, Germany75 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We came from the north on a rented GS with two people on board. The pass was closed after the many extreme rainfalls of the last few weeks. Despite this, we managed to make about 7 kilometers from the entrance, after two water crossings we started climbing, with several heavily washed out and loose, rocky areas. Finally we gave up because we didn't want to fall, more experienced off-road riders (solo) would certainly enjoy the challenge.
We still had fun, the landscape is worth seeing.
We still had fun, the landscape is worth seeing.

Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarLoes M
Hong Kong, China51 contributions
Feb 2020
Zigzag up this steep passes with incredible views at every turn. It is not for the fainthearted and as it is a gravel road, a 4WD is recommended. It will take you about an hour to drive this at around 50 km / hour. There is great scenery all around you throughout the drive. One of the most gorgeous mountain passes in the world and definitely worth your while.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DRS
Cradock, South Africa169 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We entered the pass from Prins Albert side, which was dramatically beautiful! Going up this side you can appreciate the face of the stone walls that was built in creating this pass. The road was in good condition and the people generous and patient in giving each other turns to pass. A well worth the drive!
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet J
England, UK53 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We did this pass with a few worries I have to admit. We were staying in Oudsthoorn and travelled up to Prince Albert then did the pass back to Oudsthoorn. It is a good 22km all gravelled with some very sharp hair pin bends. The views are amazing. The first half of the pass is in pretty decent repair the second half descending is less so. A few places we had to steer around quite large boulders. Thoroughly enjoyed it We even got to see a tortoise.
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gbforx
Pretoria, South Africa
Not sure how it works. where can I get accommodation when doing the Swartberg Pass. Does one go in and out the same day or is there accommodation at the one end?
Written 27 December 2019
I agree with the answers you've had so far about Prince Albert or Oudtshoorn being good places to stay nearby. I stopped in Prince Albert for lunch (having driven down from Sutherland in the morning) and drove over the Pass to Oudtshoorn where I stayed overnight in Buffelsdrift Game Reserve (highly recommend, but it's pricey). If you like driving, you can incorporate the Swartberg Pass into a much bigger drive, but would recommend a break for (at least) coffee at both sides (in Prince Albert and in Oudtshoorn) as you need to be alert to drive over the Pass! Oudtshoorn seemed a better place to stay as there is more to do (Cango Caves, ostrich farms, Buffelsdrift game drives or meerkat safari!).
Written 7 January 2020
Best camping spot preferably in natural spot?
Written 3 April 2019
Hi. Sorry for only getting back to you now. I an not that familiar with the camping sites. They have nice houses available to stay in.
Written 2 May 2019
Der Pass sieht doch sehr einsam aus. Ist es ungefährlich ihn zu fahren... In Bezug auf Kriminalität ?
Überhaupt man liest immer, dass alles sehr unkompliziert ist , die Garden Route und noch ein bisschen drumrum selber zu fahren. Ist es auch so? Hat jemand schlechte Erfahrungen gemacht?
Klar ist dass man sich an die üblich empfohlenen Richtlinien hält, keine Townships, keine großen Fahrten im dunkeln.. Usw.
Für eine ehrliche. Antwort ein dickes Dankeschön .
Written 22 August 2018
Ich habe mich bei meinen Besuchen in Südafrika nie unsicher gefühlt
Written 23 August 2018
Hi guys - I'm planning to drive from Mossel bay to Swartberg Pass in December. How much time does it take to do the scenic drive? I noticed its a 2 hour drive to Swartberg pass from Mossel bay. Keen to understand how much time i should keep for the scenic drive, as we have got some other activities planned on the same day. Thank you
Written 7 April 2018
I’d plan a 3 to 4 hrs for the drive from Outshorn to Prince Albert over the Swartberg Pass depending on how many stops for photos and to admire the rock formations you make. This is one way! Enjoy!
Written 12 April 2018
Anton L
Johannesburg, South Africa
Is April a good time to drive through this pass? - Weatherwise
Written 22 February 2018
Anytime is a good time but just check that it is not too misty.
Written 22 February 2018
Hi! I´ll be in Oudtshoorn by the end of next March, and planning to do Cango Caves on my way to Swartberg Pass. How much time do I need from the Caves to go up to the Pass, and back to Oudtshoorn? 1 1/2 would be ok?
Written 25 November 2017
Hi,
just to give you a clue: We took the Swartberg Pass from Prince Albert to Outdshoorn. It is so impressive - we had several stopps just for enjoying the nature and take some pictures. We needed 3,5 h. Take more time for this great pass.
Saludos
Written 5 December 2017
I would like to drive down with my short wheel base vehicle with bike trailer 2.5 x 2 m , will that be posible.
Written 11 November 2017
That will not be a problem at all. Just take it easy if you are going down the mountain to The Hell.
Written 13 November 2017
Hello together, can anyone tell me to which point from oudtshoorn it`s possible to drive on the swartberg pass? Worth the ride even if it`s still under construction? Thx in advance. Greetings from Montagu
Written 22 September 2017
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