Karoo
Swartberg Pass runs Prince Albert to Oudtshoorn in Karoo, South Africa. The road is at its best before the first coaches arrive, so staying within a few minutes of the start is worth more than a smarter hotel an hour away. Check the season before you book. Gravel, closed after snow or heavy rain.
Base town
Prince Albert
Road length
14.9 mi
Driving time
45 min
Rating
9.7 / 10
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Hotel results are live and filtered for parking, late arrival and an early start. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 7 May 2026
Hotels
Tracing the road between your start and finish
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The road
A hand built dry stone gravel pass twisting through folded red rock strata.
Gravel, closed after snow or heavy rain
Nearby
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An old mountain shelf road along a boulder river, narrow and beautifully engineered.
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Wine valley hairpins climb to a viewpoint over the whole Franschhoek bowl.
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A toll corniche blasted into a sea cliff with 114 curves above the Atlantic.
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The switchback climb into Lesotho, finishing at the highest pub in Africa.
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Tarmac hairpins to 3222 metres through the roof of southern Africa.