Several
passes cut through the Swartberg Range, and these are famous primarily for the spectacular geology they dissect, as well as for the engineering skill required in completing several of the routes across them.
Meiringspoort (1858) pass Until the first pass was cut, these mountains were virtually insurmountable, and cut the Great Karoo off from the Little Karoo and from the coast.
John Molteno,
Beaufort West businessman (and later
Prime Minister) first surveyed the range for a pass with
Andrew Bain,
Thomas Bain. They rode out from Beaufort West on horseback, in 1854, for a week-long ride to traverse the range and plan the routes. The pass was cut and the route completed in only 223 working days, comprising one of the era's most extraordinary feats of engineering. It was also a huge economic step for the interior of the
Cape Colony. For example, by 1870, an eighth of the country's wool exports passed through the Meiringspoort. The Meiringspoort provides paved road transit through the Swartberg range, using the route largely carved by a river. The
poort connects the town of
De Rust in the south, with the town of
Klaarstroom in the north. It also offers a spectacular drive through incredible rock formations, and is the setting for an annual
half marathon that ends in the town of De Rust. Modern additions mean several different passes now cut different routes through the range.
Seweweekspoort (1862) This pass, to the far west in the
Klein Swartberge, connects the modern town of Laingsburg and the "Rooinek pass" in the north, with the
Little Karoo to the south. It was built initially purely by a team of convicts without engineers. It was begun in 1859, and the work was finally taken over by Adam de Schmidt. It was completed and opened in 1862.
Swartberg Pass (1888) Most famous of all is the
Swartberg Pass, which runs between Oudtshoorn in the south and
Prince Albert in the north. The Swartberg pass was built by
Thomas Bain, son of the famous
Andrew Geddes Bain who built
Bain's Kloof Pass and many more. It was built using convict labour, and opened on 10 January 1888. The pass is not paved and can be treacherous after rain, but has views over the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo to the north, as well as unusual geology. The Swartberg is regarded as one of the "finest exposed fold mountain chains in the world", and this is apparent at the northern end of the pass. The plant life along the pass is particularly interesting as many hundreds of species are found on the Swartberg. Also notable is the drystone work supporting some of its
hairpin bends. Paved road transit through the Swartberg is available further east, through the
Meiringspoort. Prince Albert hosts the annual Swartberg Pass Half Marathon. The race route goes out of the town and into the Swartberg Pass, with sheer rock and mountains on both sides. The warped and twisted rock formations are both beautiful and spectacular. This race is held usually on the first Saturday of May, to coincide with the Olive Festival. ==Gallery of the Swartberg Pass==