This long, altitude gaining pass is located in the mountains to the north of Ngodwana and is a restricted road which falls under the jurisdiction of South African Paper and Pulp Industries (SAPPI). It is a big pass and covers a total of 27,6 km. The pass is tarred with an average gradient of 1:26, but there are some steep sections at 1:8. The public are discouraged from utilising the road, but for those persistent enough, you can get a permit from the SAPPI office at Camelot. [Details lower down on this page]
Caution: This is a dangerous road! Despite it being tarred, it has many corners with negative cross-flow and potholes are an ever present hazard. The road carries heavy logging vehicles which often use the entire width of the road to negotiate corners. Almost every one of its many bends has a name of a driver who has been injured or died there. Thick mountain mists bedevil the pass, sometimes reducing speed to a walking pace. There can be a temperature variance of up to 20 degrees, so take warm kit with.
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