The Tutor Ndamase Pass is a new pass located on the R61 roughly midway between Port St. Johns and Mthatha. The pass offers exceptional scenery, modern engineering and is a joy to drive, but do watch out for speedbumps, livestock, taxis and pedestrians.
At 7.6 km it's well above the national average and displays an altitude variance of 344m, producing an average gradient of 1:22 with the steepest parts being 1:9.
This is one of the newest passes in the region which has greatly improved the time it takes to travel between the two towns. Current news (March, 2021) is that Port St. Johns is scheduled for a major infrastructure revamp with the Eastern Cape government billing it as South Africa's newest coastal city. We welcome this news as the town is currently in a sorry state.
The rest of this article is for members.
Join for R575 per year and unlock 936+ pass pages, including:
- Full mountain pass history and photos
- Drive-through video filmed by Trygve Roberts (so you can virtually drive the route and know what to expect)
- Fact file (GPS start/summit/end, gradients, elevation, surface, distance, time, date filmed, nearest town)
- Google Maps directions link + downloadable KMZ route file (Google Earth and most GPS software)
You will also receive our bi-weekly newsletter, packed with the latest interesting passes and tour news.
Note: Conditions can change over time. These guides are designed for planning and familiarisation, so there are fewer surprises on the day.
Subscribe Now (1 year) Subscribe Now (Lifetime)
Already a member? Log in to view the full article.
See 5 open pass pages as examples:
