"South Africa’s 10 highest passes are all in one province. A recently launched challenge rewards road trippers who can conquer them all in seven days. Here’s why you need to be one of them."
- January 2018 edition of Getaway magazine
Read the full article: Drive SA’s 10 highest passes
Situated between KZN and Lesotho, Sani Pass was built in 1950 and remains a challenging drive in 4×4 vehicles with all the drama, scenery, bad weather and treacherous conditions expected of a pass with a summit altitude of 2 876m.
Read the full article: Exploring SA's Big Mamma
- July 2020 edition of Leisure Wheels
If you've ever done a cross-country road trip and decided to veer off the relatively straight and tedious national roads, in search of something a little more exciting, chances are good you've stumbled upon a mountain pass or two.
While researching the most extreme roads in the country, we stumbled upon an incredibly well-curated website called Mountain Passes of South Africa (MPSA).
This is no doubt our most successful tour ever. This morning we bade farewell to 22 new converts into the MPSA family with friendships bonded in dust and tears of elation and happiness.
There were a number of firsts on this tour:
The first Renault Duster
The first GWM bakkie
The first Subaru Forester
The first M/Benz ML
The first broken arm
The first pulled leg muscle
Day 0 - Meet & Greet - Sunday 10th October at the Rotterdam Boutique Hotel
Our rendezvous point was at the unique Rotterdam Boutique Hotel, just outside the village of Buffejagsrivier, itself about 8 km east of Swellendam. There is plenty of fascinating history in this area, which we will examine shortly.
The Rotterdam farm is a working dairy farm set in verdant fields, with the Langeberg Mountains standing sentinel to the north. The property is immaculate.
Entrance gate of the Rotterdam farm / Photo: MPSA
From the moment you turn in at the elegant gate, one gets the impression of laid back order. Four energetic Border Collies and two friendly Rotweillers greet one at reception, demanding some affection before the formalities of checking in are dealt with.
The homestead consists of the original and very old farm building (De Oudehuis) where the reception, kitchen, dining room and bar is located. The height of the doors is lower than normal as was typical of buildings from the 1700 and 1800's when the population was shorter.
The Fraser-Jones Suites / Photo: MPSA
A little to the east is the elegant Fraser-Jones Suites. It's a double storey building with olde-worlde charm oozing out of every nook and cranny. The rooms are enormous; bigger than the average small house in South Africa and appointed to 4 star quality.
Our visit coincided with load shedding. This caused some issues with flushing toilets and water pressure, but at least we were forewarned by Andy to be showered, abluted and in bed by 10 pm before the power went off.
The Doornkloof mini pass contains the deepest and longest water crossing, which has been the undoing of many non-4WD vehicles attempting this pass over the years. This section of the road traverses the farms Doornkloof and Waterkloof, and includes Botesnek, another small pass.
Read the full article: The Gamkaskloof journey continues...
- Adventure Afrika July/August 2021 edition
As the Langkloof opens up into the Keurbooms River valley, you will pass several points of interest before crossing the Keurbooms River over a low level concrete causeway.
Read the full article: The Prince Alfred journey continues
- Adventure Afrika Apr/May 2021 edition
Following the gorgeous rock pool shortly after the Paarde Vley section, the road rises from the 11th km mark over a small neck and then begins descending once again down a narrower section of the kloof (just over 1 km wide). Immediately to your left (south), you will get a good view of the towering Kariegasberg with a summit of 2 053 m.
Read the full article: The road to Die Hel continues...
- Adventure Afrika Issue 8 2021 edition
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