Swartberg Pass
A mountain road on the R328 that crosses the Swartberg range along the northern edge of the Little Karoo. It is a gravel pass with sharp switchbacks and wide views, and it is the only road access to the remote valley of Gamkaskloof.
- Where
- Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- -33.3522, 22.0458
Get the Swartberg Pass stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Swartberg Pass. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Western Cape volume with your photos and a note.
Near Swartberg Pass
Cango Caves 16 km
A show cave system in the Swartberg foothills north of Oudtshoorn, filled with large dripstone chambers. A guided tour runs through the biggest halls, and a longer adventure route squeezes through narrow tunnels to reach deeper sections.
Wilderness National Park 88 km
A protected area around the seaside town of Wilderness, between George and Knysna, and part of the Garden Route National Park. It takes in a chain of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beach, popular for canoeing and birdwatching.
Pinnacle Point 95 km
A headland on the coast near Mossel Bay with a series of caves that show human use of shellfish and ochre about 160,000 years ago. A clifftop golf resort stands above, and guided walks take visitors to the archaeological caves.
Karoo National Park 124 km
A wildlife reserve of 750 square kilometres in the semi desert of the Great Karoo, near Beaufort West. The Nuweveld part of the Great Escarpment runs through it, and it has fossil trails and mountain zebra.
Blombos Cave 140 km
A small sea cave on the southern Cape coast where archaeologists found engraved ochre pieces and shell beads about 75,000 years old. They are counted among the earliest known examples of symbolic art. The site is a research area and is not open to casual visitors.
Southern African Large Telescope 158 km
The largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, with a mirror 11 metres across, on a dry hill near Sutherland in the Karoo. It began work in 2005 and the site has tours by day and stargazing events in the dark night sky.
Bloukrans Bridge 163 km
A concrete arch bridge on the N2 in the Eastern Cape, 216 metres above the Bloukrans River, which opened in 1984. It is the site of the world's highest commercial bridge bungee jump, with a platform that hangs beneath the arch.
Bontebok National Park 168 km
A species specific national park established in 1931 to save the bontebok antelope from extinction. At 27.86 square kilometres it is the smallest of the country's national parks, lying beside the Breede River near Swellendam.
More hidden gems in Western Cape
Questions
Where is Swartberg Pass?
Swartberg Pass is in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Cango Caves (16 km), Wilderness National Park (88 km), Pinnacle Point (95 km).
How do I get the Swartberg Pass stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Swartberg Pass and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Western Cape volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Swartberg Pass before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Western Cape volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.