The Matroosberg 4x4 is arguably one of the most popular off-road routes in the Western Cape and is without question the most popular route to access snow in winter. Matroosberg originally received its name due to a rock formation visible from the Hex River Valley and N1 highway. This rock formation, about three quarter of the way up the mountain, shows a very distinct pinnacle, which is the “Matroos” (the Afrikaans for ‘sailor’) alongside his ship. “Berg” is the Afrikaans for ‘mountain’. Therefore “Matroosberg” roughly translated means ‘sailor mountain’. The road climbs 993m over 8,8 km to summit at 2230m ASL. For those wanting to reach the true summit, it involves a short walk to the beacon (2250m). The average gradient is a very stiff 1:9 with some sections being at 1:3. This route is currently rated as a Grade 4 in terms of difficulty, with the final few kilometres above the Groothoekkloof Canyon viewsite being a Grade 5. This route is not recommended for novice off-road drivers.
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:
