Swartberg Pass.....WOW

DavidS · Post by **DavidS** » Fri Mar 06, 2020 1:58 pm

Sadly on in a Suzuki Vitara today but I guess some on here have ridden this fantastic dirt road near Oudsthoorn in South Africa.
Add in some of the ordinary roads and you can imagine my frustration at holidaying in a car, only tempered by the fact it hit 40c today!

redbikejohn · Post by **redbikejohn** » Fri Mar 06, 2020 4:40 pm

Pictures or it didn't happen

DavidS · Post by **DavidS** » Fri Mar 06, 2020 5:17 pm

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DavidS · Post by **DavidS** » Fri Mar 06, 2020 5:18 pm

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The most water we could find.

Saw two separate guys, one on a Tenere and the other a Triumph 800 as they teetered down a shaley bit.
The tarmac road loops back clockwise round to the spectacular Meiringspoort gorge near De Rust but no chance to take photos annoyingly. Street View is your friend for that one.

Red Maverick · Post by **Red Maverick** » Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:16 pm

Enjoy it, hire car so no worries. Done a few of those passes. Certainly keeps you on your toes

tempesc · Post by **tempesc** » Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:12 pm

I’ve done it a few times on my XT660z. Pass itself is great, Die Hel (accessed from north side even better).

Are you taking in Baviaanskloof as well (@ 1:40 in the video)? And Prince Albert’s Pass?

DavidS · Post by **DavidS** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 5:57 am

We just did the loop described. Heading down to the coast and Plettenberg area today.
We’ve being staying on an ostrich farm.....god, the peck hard if you feed them but they taste great.

Looking at bike tours now......

PHILinFRANCE · Post by **PHILinFRANCE** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 6:29 am

I'm back out there in November , daughter lives in Wellington , any chance of your route Tempesc as i intend to take a week out on a bike
Phil

zimtim · Post by **zimtim** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:26 am

Looks good
Definitely need to look into that route when I eventually nhead back to Africa

PHILinFRANCE wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2020 6:29 am I'm back out there in November , daughter lives in Wellington , any chance of your route Tempesc as i intend to take a week out on a bike
Phil

Who did you hire your bike or looking to hire from.
The one I had looked very expensive and for big beemers
Any other companies around.

Also have a look at maps4africa

tempesc · Post by **tempesc** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 12:53 pm

I’ll share the route when I am home later.

I keep a bike out there but just sold it to another chap on the forum here. I rented the Xt660r my pal was riding in the video from Craig Marshall in Somerset West. He was a good guy so worth looking up.