
Can you drive to Baboons Pass?
Lesotho, africa
26 km
2,689 m
extreme
Year-round
Alright, thrill-seekers, listen up! Baboons Pass in Lesotho's Maseru District is calling your name – if you're brave enough. This isn't your Sunday drive; we're talking about one of the most remote, roughest, and downright impassable passes in the country. Forget sedans – this is 4x4 territory, and even then, only for the seriously experienced.
Clocking in at 26km (16.15 miles) from Ramabantha Trading Post to near Semonkong, this road is a wild ride up to a staggering 2,689m (8,822ft) above sea level. Picture this: massive boulders the size of beach balls, super narrow spots, washouts from floods, seriously steep climbs, hairpin turns, and sheer drop-offs that'll make your palms sweat. One wrong move and you're taking a tumble!
Built way back in the '60s, Baboons Pass, affectionately nicknamed "the car breaker," is legendary. Don't expect to cruise – you might cover only 500m before needing to fix something or clear the path. Landslides and monster-sized rocks are common roadblocks. Oh, and the weather? Totally unpredictable, so be prepared for anything, especially rain. You'll likely be crawling in first gear, low range, for the entire distance. This baby can take up to 10 hours on a good day, or even two days when conditions get dicey! Bring a convoy of 4–6 vehicles, because teamwork is key on this epic adventure.
Road Details
- Country
- Lesotho
- Continent
- africa
- Length
- 26 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,689 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in africa
hardWho built Bainskloof Pass?
🇿🇦 South Africa
Okay, picture this: Bainskloof Pass, nestled in South Africa's Western Cape province. This isn't just any road; it's a seriously scenic mountain pass, clocking in at about 31 kilometers. You'll climb to almost 600 meters, so be prepared for some views! The pass winds its way through the Limiet Mountains, connecting Wellington (right in the heart of wine country!) to the Ceres area, near the Breede River. It's a total masterpiece of engineering, originally built way back in the 1850s by a guy named Andrew Geddes Bain. Apparently, he didn't even have formal training! Now, about the drive itself: it's paved, but don't expect a Sunday cruise. There are tons of twists and turns, and some sections get pretty steep – we're talking gradients up to 9%! Parts of the road can be narrow, with a sheer drop-off on one side and the mountains on the other. Oh, and some say it's haunted due to the number of accidents, with a local legend that cars just inexplicably go over the edge. Spooky! Despite the challenges, the views are insane, and there's even a picnic spot up top. Just take it slow and keep your eyes on the road... and maybe an eye out for ghosts?
moderateWhere is Molteno Pass?
🇿🇦 South Africa
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! I just conquered Molteno Pass, and let me tell you, it's a wild ride! Perched way up high at an elevation of , this beauty straddles the in the southern part of the country. For most of the way, you're hugging the eastern edge of the Nuweveld Mountain Range, which is seriously stunning. Fun fact: it's named after . The pass was finished way back in , earning its place as one of South Africa's first mountain passes. Now, heads up: the road to the top is a mix of gravel and asphalt, so be prepared for a bit of bumpiness! How long is this adventure? Well, you'll be cruising from to . Trust me; the views are worth every single kilometer!
hardWhere is Skeleton Coast?
🇳🇦 Namibia
Located along Namibia’s hauntingly barren Skeleton Coast, in the country’s northwest, the Skeleton Coast Road is one of the most stunning drives in the world. Where is Skeleton Coast? The road is tucked away in the Skeleton Coast National Park, in the northern part of the Atlantic coast of Namibia, between the coast and the central plains, near the Angola border, in southwest Africa. Why is the Skeleton Coast famous? The coast is famous all over the world for the many shipwrecks which litter its shoreline. Nicknamed the world’s largest ship cemetery, the reason for the wrecks is the thick fog that occurs there when the warm air from the desert meets the cold moist air coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. Further north is the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Can you drive to Skeleton Coast? The road, officially known as C34-D2302, is 437 km (271 miles) long. The surface of this road is sand and salt and runs south-north from the old German colonial town of Swakopmund to the tiny settlement of Terrace Bay. The road takes you through a desert area almost completely empty but for the occasional shipwreck embedded in the sand. The sense of being very close to the end of the world is overpowering. How remote is the road to Skeleton Coast? Along the drive, you’ll feel like you're on the edge of the world and surrounded by sand and very little else for miles and miles in all directions. Petrol stations are rare sightings along the road, so it is best to fill up with fuel whenever possible. The road, also known as the Skeleton Coast Freeway, is extremely lonely in a remote and little-visited place. Is the Skeleton Coast Road paved? The road along the coast is a "salt" road, which is smoother than an asphalt road and very nice to drive on. But when there is mist from the ocean, the road gets very slippery, a bit like black ice. The road comprises tarmac, gravel, sand, and even salt-paved. 4x4 vehicles only with sufficient spares and water. Is the Skeleton Coast Road dangerous? You are requested to drive, even in daylight, using your headlights to alert oncoming vehicles of your presence. The mirage effect along this coast is common. Following heavy mist, the salt road becomes very slippery. Please drive accordingly. In the unlikely event of it raining, you are advised not to make use of the road. There is little traction on the surface even for 4x4s. Salt and mud accumulate on the vehicle and are costly to remove. Driving on the road when it has been softened by rains will damage the surface even further, making it longer and more costly for the Roads Authority to repair the road to a serviceable condition. Do not attempt to drive across the salt pans, even in a 4X4. Although Namibia has used the metric system for over forty years, you will notice that all of the distance signs along the Skeleton Coast Road are marked in miles and not kilometers. Pic: Florian Habenicht Spreetshoogte Pass is one of the steepest (14%) roads in Namibia Van Zyl's Pass is the wildest 4x4 trip in Namibia Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
extremeTizi n'Amarskine
🇲🇦 Morocco
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Tizi-n-Amarskine Pass in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains is calling your name! Get ready to climb to 1,985 meters (that's 6,512 feet!) above sea level for views that will blow your mind. Word of warning: this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road is gravel, super narrow, and seriously steep. Think hairpin turns for days as you slowly ascend. And did I mention the HUGE drops beside the road? Yeah, no guardrails here, folks. This baby is strictly 4x4 territory. Seriously, though, check the weather before you go. This area can get hit with avalanches, heavy snow, landslides, and crazy high winds. But if you're prepared, the views are absolutely worth it. Picture this: endless vistas of the High Atlas, rugged terrain, and a feeling like you're on top of the world. Just be careful out there!