Swartberg Circle Route
SWARTBERG CIRCLE ROUTE®
About the Swartberg Circle Route®
The Swartberg Circle Route is a scenic and interesting drive. Travel from Oudtshoorn or Calitzdorp to De Rust, Klaarstroom and Prince Albert, over Swartberg Pass and through Meiringspoort. The trip may be started at any of the four towns and traveled in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The picturesque back routes include Oudemuragie, Vergelegen, Lategansvlei, Groenfontein, Kruisrivier and Langverwaght.
The Route offers you a taste of adventure, a wide range of culinary delights, a touch of culture and an overall feeling of well-being.
Up to where the Swartberg Pass starts the road is tarred. The pass itself is not tarred.
The road is accessible by any vehicle (just keep in mind – there are anti-erosion humps on the road, making it difficult for low vehicles to go over). Before driving over the pass – make sure that the road is accessible; normally they close the road when there is snow on the pass or when heavy rain has fallen.
You can phone the Provincial Traffic Department to find out whether or not you can access the pass: Number: 044 8019111
Towns of Swartberg Circle Route®
Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert is situated at the foot of the Swartberg Mountain Range and is blessed with a perennial water supply which belies the reputation of this arid region. The town is renowned for its sun-ripened fresh and died fruit, particularly apricots and figs. Karoo lamb, olives, olive oil and home-made cheeses are other delicious local delicacies to entice visitors.
Prince Albert has one of the oldest and last remaining working watermills in South Africa.
“The nothingness, the wide open spaces and the deafening stillness… balm to the soul at sunset – this is the magic of Prince Albert at the gateway to the Great Karoo.”
Calitzdorp
In the very heart of the Klein Karoos unique attractions, including the majestic Swartberg Mountains, the renowned Cango Caves, the stunning mountain passes and indigenous African flora and fauna, lies the little town of Calitzdorp – ideally situated on Route 62 within a couple of hours driving time of all that is special in the region.
Long known as the Port Wine Capital of South Africa, Calitzdorp is also the fruit bowl of the Klein Karoo: indeed, the ideal stopover for travellers wishing to enjoy all that the region has to offer. Naturally, this enjoyment starts with the eight wine cellars, famous for their Port wines that regularly win top local and international accolades
De Rust
45km from Oudtshoorn, at the foot of the Swartberg lies the natural beauty of De Rust, a little farm village with a peaceful environment. Like Oudtshoorn, De Rust is known for its Ostrich farming and historical buildings. Its drinking water from a mountain spring puts expensive bottled water to shame, and it lies snuggled in the mouth of Meiringspoort. Everything about De Rust is true; true hospitality, true Karoo environment and true peace and quiet.
The main attraction of De Rust is Meiringspoort with its incredible passageway of various towering sandstone cliffs that pierce the heart of the Swartberg Mountain Range.
Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations line the 25km tarred road which leads along the floorof the gorge, crossing the “Groot River” 25 times. This is a gateway between the Klein & Great Karoo. A beautiful waterfall is nestled in the poort, easy walking distance from the road.
We are proud to say that the picnic spots as well as the ablution facilities are well maintained.
The centuries old sedimentary layers in the picturesque Red Hills at Le Roux Station: In 1989, the Red Hills were declared as a national natural heritage site.
Oudtshoorn
Primarily known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn has quickly gained the reputation of being a cultural, heritage and adventure hotspot. Encompassed by unique landscapes, the town is centred between the awe-inspiring Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountain ranges.
When visiting Oudtshoorn you will have varies activities and attractions to visit. You can go from diving with crocodiles, walking with elephants, educational ostrich tours, view our beautiful and scenic waterfall and learn more about the largest show cave in South Africa.
Content from Cape Nature
Swartberg Nature Reserve lies in the Oudtshoorn district between the Great and Klein Karoo, forming a narrow but long stretch of 121 000ha. It is bordered by the Gamkapoort Nature Reserve immediately to the north (8000ha) and Towerkop Nature Reserve immediately to the west (51 000ha). These two reserves are not open to the public but are managed in conjunction with Swartberg Nature Reserve.
The entire conservation area – a massive 180 000ha – is critical to the management of mountain catchments and water yields in the region.
The nearest towns are:
- Oudtshoorn (± 40 km)
- De Rust (± 5 km)
- Prince Albert (± 5 km)
The Swartberg Nature Reserve is also a proclaimed World Heritage Site.
Besides conservation, the reserve is concerned with the conservation of mountain catchments and the water yield thereof, and educational and recreational opportunities.
This area was clearly used by the San for many centuries, as evidenced by the numerous rock paintings and artefacts found in caves all over the reserve. During the 1700s European farmers arrived in the area, establishing small settlements and making roads.
Three historic routes connecting the Great and Klein Karoo lead through the reserve:
- Toorwaterpoort is a train route;
- Meiringspoort is used by motorists;
- Seweweekspoort is a gravel road,
- and the un-tarred Swartberg Pass,
*(poort means gorge)
Built by Thomas Baines, takes one over the Swartberg and reaches a height of 1585m above sea-level. Gamkaskloof (Die Hel), which was first inhabited by farmers in 1830, was only accessible by foot until 1963 when a road was finally built into the valley.
This is an area of climatic extremes, with very cold winters, often with snow on the mountains and temperatures well below zero, while summers can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 40ºC and more! Rain occurs throughout the year, peaking in early winter and spring, and with thundershowers in the summer months.
The Swartberg mountains are part of the Cape fold mountain range, and the geological formations are chiefly of the Table Mountain group and to a lesser extent of the Bokkeveld and Cango groups. Impressive rock formations may be seen in the Swartberg and Meiringspoort passes.
The reserve’s vegetation is remarkably diverse, featuring renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld, and numerous geophyte species. Some species will be in bloom virtually throughout the year. Most plants flower in spring, but early autumn is the time that many protea species flower, attracting large numbers of sugarbirds and sunbirds. During mid-summer (December – February) many of the interesting plants on the higher Swartberg peaks are in flower, including the rare Protea venusta.
Mammals likely to be seen include klipspringer, grey rhebuck, kudu, baboon and dassie, and on the flatter areas at Gamkapoort, springbok. Leopard and caracal also occur in the area, but are seldom seen. More than 130 bird species have been recorded here, notably black, fish and martial eagle, Cape sugarbird and pied kingfisher.
Gamkaskloof (Die Hell)
The remote and isolated Gamkaskloof valley is about 90km from Oudtshoorn and 60km from Prince Albert and is only accessible via the Otto du Plessis Road, which turns off from the Swartberg Pass.
The Otto du Plessis Road is only 52km long but the drive along this gravel road will take 2.5 to 3hrs.
The valley is of ecological, archaelogical and cultural-historical importance and is now managed as part of the Swartberg Nature Reserve.
Visitors to the Kloof have accommodation options of 10 restored cottages, a bushcamp and 10 campsites. Attractions and activities include picnicking, a Norwegian mill, angling in the Gamka River, and sightseeing and relaxing in this natural paradise as well as a 6 km interpretation hiking trail (3 hours). (Cape Nature)
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