Bloumans Pass is a rough 4x4 track located in the southern quartile of Lesotho that connects the Ha Blouman village with the border town of Qachas Nek. You will need a high clearance 4WD vehicle with low range to traverse the pass. The route is rated as Grade 2 to 3 which can worsen if there is heavy rain or snow.
The pass is only 6.4 km long and gains 389 vertical metres to summit at 2363m ASL, producing an average gradient of 1:16 with the steepest parts being at 1:4.
There are 32 bends, corners and curves to help you stay wide awake. Two of those are hairpin bends. Allow an hour to complete the traverse. There are several places where the track is invisible, so make sure you have the route properly plotted, otherwise you're going to get lost.
Although it's a fairly short pass, you will be rewarded with gorgeous scenery, friendly locals and some challenging driving, but it's not a vehicle breaker.
The official name is Lekhalo La Blouman, but most references refer to it simply as Bloumans Pass.
Dawid se Kop Mountain Road is a very steep track with a mix of gravel and concrete, which provides access to the Telkom microwave tower at the summit of the 2520m high peak of the same name. This is on private property and not accessible by the general public. We have added this road to our database so everyone can experience what its like to drive, by watching the double video set.
The road only has a few bends and has to be driven in low range due to the very steep gradients which generally prevail at between 1:3 and 1:4. The views from the summit are simply fantastic, offering 360 degree panoramas over the region, with visibility exceeding 50 km on a clear day.
The peak is clearly visible from the R58 and from the Mountain Shadows Hotel, easily identifiable by the tall tower perched on top of it. It's an out and back drive with a lengthy two spoor gravel access road peppered with many farm gates. This is one of points of interest we offer on our Ben 10 Tours by special arrangement with the farm owner.
Riemhoogte is a minor pass on the tarred N1 national route between Three Sisters and Beaufort West. It's nothing more than a minor change in altitude of 66m via a gentle curve and barely fits the definition of a mountain pass, yet it is an official pass. This stretch on the N1 is often the location of horrific accidents. The long and straight sections lead to problems of fatigue and to a lesser extent speeding, as average speed monitoring has neutralised that temptation. Overloading and alcohol are other contributing factors to the high accident rate.
So this official little pass, in its own way helps somewhat to provide a slight change of pitch and angle, albeit for only 1.5 km.
The Sekokong Pass is an interesting and long pass at 13.3 km that crosses the Senqu River and bisects the village of Sekokong after which it is named. The road is currently in a poor state as heavy construction vehicles involved with the new Polihali Dam are rumbling up and down this pass 24 hours a day. The pass connects Mokhotlong in the south with Mapolaneng in the north.
Once the new high bridge has been completed and the dam starts filling, we will return to film all the new infrastructure. There are 41 bends, corners and curves which includes one hairpin and one horseshoe bend. Be very careful of construction vehicles and deep potholes.
The scenery is magnificent as the road traverses, then follows the deep valley of the Senqu River. The pass is located along the A1 route in Lesotho's northern quartile and forms part of a string of big passes which include the Kotisephola, Mapholaneng, Tlaeeng, Pass of Guns, Mahlasela and Moteng passes.
Like most of the passes in Lesotho, this pass also carries an ice and snow warning.
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