The main mountain pass connecting George to the interior Klein Karoo, rising steeply through indigenous Afromontane forest. The drive is a highlight in itself — the road climbs through a series of tight curves before emerging onto the plateau above. The pass continues to Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves, making it the most practical route for a day trip into the Karoo.
Outeniqua Pass
A story
The Outeniqua Pass rises 1,000 metres through indigenous forest in 15 kilometres of switchbacks, one of the more dramatic road climbs in the Western Cape. At the top, the vegetation changes abruptly from coastal fynbos to the drier scrub of the Klein Karoo. The old toll road — the route the oxwagons used before the modern pass was built in 1951 — can be walked in sections; parts of the original paving are still visible in the forest. The views back toward George and the sea from the upper bends are excellent on a clear day.