Eastern Cape Mountain Passes

The lovely winding road of the Prince Alfred’s Pass is surrounded by four biomes that are home to an abundance of indigenous fauna and flora, making for some breathtaking and captivating scenery. Trygve Roberts explores.

The Prince Alfred’s Pass on the R339 gravel road between Knysna and Uniondale is probably Thomas Bain’s most remarkable work. It is the second oldest unaltered pass still in use and is the longest (publicly accessible) mountain pass in South Africa at approximately 68.5km. This exceptionally long pass presented almost every possible technical obstacle to the pass-builders.

Read the full article: A unique journey with some history

- Adventure Afrika Mar/Apr 2021 edition 

And into the mountains I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

feature by Hanlie Booyens

I USED TO BE A RACER – I loved it too. However time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters and these days it is not result sheets anymore. For me it is about finding joy in the journey. It is about discovering places that lift my soul. It is about reconnecting with my spirit in spaces where time slows down and I can appreciate life for all it is.

Away from the crowds there are amazing roads to travel, there are climbs to conquer and views to treasure. All you need is a bit of imagination, a good map and my friend Google.

And so we stumbled upon the Ben10. It had the allure of a proper challenge in a beautiful part of our country. It looked perfect offering great climbs, stunning views, remoteness and space. One for the bucket list. The challenge was set by the guys from Mountain Passes South Africa (www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za). Initially aimed at the 4x4 community, they invited cyclists to attempt it as well. The goal is to cover ten specific high-altitude gravel passes within a time frame of seven days, whilst enjoying the beautiful and remote Eastern Cape highlands scenery. As they state on their website: “This is not a race but a journey.”

Read the full article: BEN 10 By Bike

- January/February 2019 edition of Ride Cycling Magazine.

The rugged mountains and deep, green valleys of the Bastervoetpad Pass
are strongly reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, with icy winters and
mild summers. This pass rates high amongst the top 10 high altitude passes of the Eastern Cape..

Officially named the Dr Lapa Munnik Pass, the Bastervoetpad Pass is located between the summit of the Barkly Pass and Ugie and traverses a southern arm of the Drakensberg along the east-west axis.

Read the full article: Challenging, but worth it

- Adventure Afrika November 2020 edition 

Anyone who has Googled a mountain pass in South Africa would most likely have come across the website Mountain Passes of South Africa. In a new series, founder Trygve Roberts will be sharing his well-researched information with Leisure Wheels readers.

There is a certain joy in giving. It comes in many forms. In my case, it started with a God-given talent for being able to put into words my experiences while travelling in such a way that others could share those experiences. This has always been at the core of Mountain Passes South Africa’s (MPSA) philosophy: giving joy to others.

Read the full article: Exploring SA's Mountain Passes

- May 2020 edition of Leisure Wheels

The long, steep and dramatic Franschhoek Pass, renowned for the
picturesque scenery it provides, was South Africa's first properly
engineered pass and is a great weekend destination for those wishing to
escape the hustle and bustle of life in the city. Trygve Roberts explores.

The scenic Franschhoek Pass is also known as Lambrechts Road. More poetically, though, a hundred and fifty years ago it was known as Olifantshoek (Elephants Corner) after the now mythical herds of elephant which once roamed these valleys and mountains it traverses. This long, steep and dramatic pass with its variety of scenery was South Africa's first properly engineered pass. During weekends city folk stream to the pass on foot, bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, cars and SUVs to enjoy it's sheer magnificence.

Read the full article: Fabulous Franschhoek Pass

- Adventure Afrika Jan/Feb 2021 edition 

The famous Gamkaskloof, approximately 100 km from Oudtshoorn, is one of the most iconic gravel roads in South Africa, holding almost pilgrimage status amongst gravel-road devotees. As we advise travellers not to take this impressive pass on in a single drive, Trygve Roberts from Mountain Passes South Africa will talk about Gamkaskloof over the next two editions.

Gamkaskloof is surrounded by the Swartberg Nature Reserve and winds through 37 km of rugged mountain scenery, culminating in the vertigo-rush, single-width Elands Pass. It ends in the Gamkaskloof – reminiscent of a lush oasis and paradoxically nicknamed Die Hel (The Hell).

Read the full article: Gamkaskloof... Heaven or hell?

- Adventure Afrika May/June 2021 edition 

The Swartberg Pass is for many South Africans the rubicon of gravel
road passes. There is an allure and a mystique around this old pass,
coupled with its status as a national monument, which elevates this pass
to the very top of every adventurer’s list.

Thomas Bain’s final piece of road building, the Swartberg Pass, is very long at 23.8 km and it takes about an hour to drive, excluding stops. You will be treated to a wide variety of incredible scenery, but the pass is not suitable for anyone suffering from acrophobia..

Read the full article: Holy grail of gravel

- Adventure Afrika October 2020 edition 

Trygve Roberts interviewed by Ewan Strydom about South Africa’s Most Beautiful Mountain Passes, on the Expresso Show on SABC3.

Undoubtedly Mpumalanga’s most famous pass, Tryvge Roberts from
Mountain Passes South Africa explores the Long Tom Pass in Sabie.

Winding through some of Mpumalanga's breathtaking scenery, the (in)famous Long Tom Pass is one of those "I love to hate you" passes in South Africa. It is 26.2 kilometres long (or even longer depending on where one starts measuring), plus it displays an altitude variance of 671 vertical meters through a complex network of curves as it ascends up the Drakensberg escarpment between Sabie in the east and Lydenburg in the west.

Read the full article: Long, longer... Long Tom

- Adventure Afrika December 2020 edition 

Website that maps the country’s famous mountain passes fills an adventure niche market for the well-heeled, writes Janine Stephen
03 AUGUST 2017 - 06:00 JANINE STEPHEN