Barkly Pass is a sensational drive in South Africa

Barkly Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.018m (6,620ft) above the sea level, located in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Barkly Pass

The paved road to the summit is called R58. The pass links Elliot and Barkly East. It was named after Sir Henry Barkly, governor of the Cape Colony from 1870 to 1877. The pass starts a few kilometers outside Elliot at 1,473 m above sea level and ascends moderately steep at a gradient of 1:22 attaining an elevation gain of 626 m in a distance of 12 km. After a few sharp hairpin bends it reaches an elevation of 2.018m at the summit. 

The pass is subject to frequent winter snow closures. Extremely caution should be exercised on this pass, as there have been many fatal accidents, due to the very cold weather that can be experienced on the pass, where snow and ice on the roadway during winter is common. Obey the speed limits and you will be OK. You can expect to close around the beginning of winter when the first snowfalls begin, overnight as they tend to do, making the road that links Barkly East village and Elliot more than a little hazardous.