Backpacker Accommodation Near Swartberg Pass
*All distances listed are as the crow flies, and not actual travel distances.
Swartberg Pass Reviews
More info about Swartberg Pass
The three ‘f’s’ would be the best way to describe the Swartberg Pass; Fortitude for attempting the crossing of the pass, Fear which drivers experience on some of the hairpin bends and Fascination for the amazing design of the pass that was completed so long ago.
The Swartberg Pass crosses the Swartberg Mountains in the small Karoo and can be accessed from the north at Prince Albert and via Oudtshoorn in the south. In the 1870s, inland farmers had pleaded with authorities to provide a route over the mountains for them to reach Mossel Bay in order to ship their goods to Cape Town. The job was handed to Thomas Bain, South Africa’s best known road builder and this pass was likely his most challenging. Bain was a resourceful man and had an eye for grade lines, as proven in the many other passes he had already completed. For this task he used 200 convicts and... Show more
About Backpacker
For those who are a little adventurous and enjoy the company of other travellers, you can decide to stay at a Backpackers. Often having to share a room with others as well as costs, it is incredibly inexpensive. Often the best choice for those who may be just passing through or will be occupied for the majority of their day. It comes with the most basic amenities and is often formed as part of a bar or similar establishment. Not recommended for those who want privacy, this is best suited for those who wouldn’t mind meeting various other interesting travellers.