hartbeespoort

This is a modest pass that clears an old military outpost known as Kommando Nek. It connects Hekpoort to the west with the village of Hartbeespoort to the east via the R560 / R512. It only rises 56m over 2,4 km producing an easy average gradient of 1:43, with the steeper sections before and after the summit presenting at 1:14. The pass offers lovely views over the Hartbeespoort Dam as well as access to some of the ruins of the old blockhouses dating back to the Anglo-Boer war.

This is a short, easy tarred pass on the R563/R400 road between Krugersdorp and Hartbeespoort with an easy average gradient of 1:40, but the southern side has a short sharp section with gradients of 1:14. The pass is close to the Hartebeeshoek Radio Observatory and the John Nash Nature Reserve. The road is often referred to as 'The Satellite Road' by locals due to the large number of radio satellite dishes along the road.

Located in a cleft in the Wiwatersberg - the mountain range that paralells the Magaliesberg to the south, this 4,7 km pass climbs 147 vertical metres offering some fairly steep gradients, gentle curves and sweeping views over the Hartbeespoort Dam and valley. It is however, a very busy road and will continue to carry heavy traffic for the duration of time it takes for the westbound extension of the N4 to be completed.

This relatively unknown poort is one of several which follow the north/south course of  rivers through the Witwatersberge. It is located 12 km to the south-west of the Hartbeespoort Dam. The drive is generally over easy gradients, but there are several fairly sharp corners and one short, steep climb of 200m in length. The road offers lovely views over the small valley with the river below the road and to the east. This is a gravel road and is generally maintained to a reasonable standard.

Zilkaats Nek is sometimes also spelled as Silkaatsnek. It runs on the NW-SE axis through a low point in the Magaliesberg range and connects Pretoria and its outlying suburbs with Brits. The pass is straightforward with two gentle curves but it is fairly steep near the summit as well as on the south-eastern descent. Although the average gradient presents at a mild 1:36. the steepest gradient is 1:6 which will definitely tax some of the smaller engined cars in the rarified Highveld air.