Outeniqua Pass offers spectacular views changing at every corner
Outeniqua Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 800m (2,600ft) above the sea level, located in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Nestled in the Outeniqua Mountains, the road to the summit is a two lane tar road in excellent condition. It’s called N9/N12 natonal road and provides an alternative to the narrow and steep Montagu Pass. The road is winding and curvy (around 40 curves) and steep, hitting a maximum gradient of 1:10 through some of the turns.
The pass is 18.2 km (11,30 miles) long, on the way from Oudtshoorn, a town in the Klein Karoo area to George. The road is in good condition but is frequently shrouded in mist or falls above the cloud base. The road to the summit was constructed between 1943 and 1951. Rockfalls cause massive damage to roads and put motorists lives in grave danger. In wet weather always be aware of this possibility. The upper reaches of the pass are frequently wet and sometimes dangerous. Obey the speed limits and there should be no issues. The drive is very scenic. The views from the laybys are worth stopping for. It carries a high volume of commercial traffic.