Adventure along Bosluiskloof Pass in SA

Adventure along Bosluiskloof Pass in SA

South Africa, africa

Length

23.9 km

Elevation

1,124 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Bosluiskloof Pass in South Africa's Western Cape is calling your name! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a rugged, unpaved track snaking its way up to 1,124 meters between the Swartberg and Elandberg mountains.

Built way back in 1862 by Adam de Schmidt (who was tight with legendary road builder Thomas Bain), this pass gets its quirky name from fossilized bush ticks found in the area’s rock.

The 23.9 km route from Seven Weeks Poort to Gamkapoort Dam (talk about remote!) will throw over 60 curves at you, plus some serious inclines – we’re talking gradients up to 20%! Add in some unprotected drop-offs, and you’ll understand why a 4x4 is highly recommended.

Forget about rushing; daylight is your friend here. But trust me, the slow pace is worth it. The views are absolutely breathtaking! Just remember to keep your eyes on the road while you soak it all in!

Where is it?

Adventure along Bosluiskloof Pass in SA is located in South Africa (africa). Coordinates: -30.5049, 22.1476

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Road Details

Country
South Africa
Continent
africa
Length
23.9 km
Max Elevation
1,124 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-30.5049, 22.1476

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