Swartberg Mountains

The spectacular Swartberg mountains, which form a barrier between the Klein and Great Karoo, are characterized by soaring rocky outcrops and deep gorges and were once thought to be impenetrable. Today, three breathtaking passes wind through the mountains linking the interior of the Great Karoo with the towns of the Klein Karoo and the coast beyond. Navigating the passes combines a thrilling experience with unforgettable scenery and views. The steep and winding Seven Weeks Poort pass links Laingsburg and Calitzdorp and closely follows the route of a stream through the mountains. Constructed mostly by convicts, the road was completed in 1862 and the remains of one of the convict's camps can still be seen. Linking Prince Albert with Oudtshoorn, Meiringspoort Pass follows a similar route through the Swartberg to the Seven Weeks Pass but due to its crossing the river some 25 times it has been extremely vulnerable to flooding over the years. Devastating floods in the 1990's led to the road being almost completely rebuilt. Perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring passes in the world, the Swartberg Pass was opened in 1888 and the untarred road twists and turns to some 1577 metres above sea-level with extremely steep gradients and sharp cutbacks revealing spectacular views at every turn. The road was engineered and supervised by the legendary Thomas Bain and similarly to most of his projects was constructed with mostly convict labour. Remains of the old convict camps and an old tollhouse can be seen along the way.