Aerial view of the pass / Photo: Craig Marshall

This impressive pass packs a huge amount of punch into a relatively short distance. It's located in the southern part of Lesotho on a minor road which itself is accessible from the A4 route, about 12 km north west of Qacha's Nek. The road connects a number of remote mountain villages, as well as providing access to the Matebeng Pass, one of the most difficult gravel passes in Lesotho.

If you enjoy multiple hairpin bends and canyon views, then do yourself a favour and drive this one. It sports 32 bends, corners and curves packed tightly into the overall length of 5.8 km producing an average gradient of 1:20 with the maximum gradient topping out at 1:6 on the northern side. Of those 32 bends, 10 are full hairpins. 

You will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Tsoelike River valley which looks more like a canyon than a valley and the old green pedestrian bridge, which dates back to 1930, was constructed by German missionaries. It is still in a remarkably good condition, with only a few floor boards missing.

There is a beautiful spot next to the river to have a picnic spot which is nicely grassed. 

The Tsoelike River is one of the most convoluted rivers you will find, following a tortuous route through the mountains, sourcing in the Sethlathebe National Park, some 25 km to the east as the crow flies, but if you trace its actual course that length extends to 130 km. The river forms a confluence with the Senqu (Orange) River six kilometres west of the pass.

 

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