Scenic passes
Read about Scenic passes
South Africa's scenic passes
There’s a legend about every South African mountain pass. Who designed it, who built it, what happened to others who have driven on it...
The Prince Alfred Pass
The Garden Route settlements of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay needed to be connected to the interior - the Prince Alfred Pass was the answer.
The Bain's Kloof Pass
Wellington was connected with the rest of South Africa once Andrew Geddes Bain built a road over the mountains, linking it to the Tulbagh valley.
The Seven Passes Route
The Seven Passes route is a 75-kilometre trip that takes you past 7 eye-catching gorges, cut deep by the rivers flowing into the sea.
More about Scenic passes
The Long Tom Pass
The Long Tom Pass was built between Lydenburg and Sabie as an alternative route for the waggoners of the 1800s to get through to Mozambique.
The Swartberg pass
The Swartberg pass, linking Oudtshoorn with Prince Albert, was believed a near-impossible job and it bankrupted the first road-builder who tried. Then came Thomas Bain.
The Sani Pass
A basic hostelry set up at the top of the Sani Pass boasts one of the finest mountain views in Africa – and a great fireside atmosphere.
South Africa isn't just about the animals, it's about the people. Staying overnight in a family-run B&B in a township in Grahamstown was something I'll never forget."





