Seweweekspoort and Zoar

Stunning Mountain Pass

©Jacques Marais
Seweweekspoort mountain pass winds through the Swartberg Mountain Range.
Seweweekspoort as seen from Zoar.

The quaint village of Zoar is accompanied by Amalienstein and forms the entrance to Seweweekspoort, one of the most stunning mountain passes in South Africa. At 2 325 metres, Seweweekspoort is the highest mountain peak in the Western Cape Province. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as a natural gateway through the Swartberg mountain range. 

In the 18th Century, the pass was used by brandy smugglers heading for the hinterland and keen to avoid the revenue officers out for their slice. Today, it’s a quieter place where eagles hunt dassies, tourists admire the folded mountains and locals go to gather firewood for the long Karoo nights.

Seweweekspoort is by far the anchor attraction for most visitors on Route 62 as the road winds through the mountains and the cliffs on either side of the road rise to 1 500 to 2 000 metres above sea level. It is one of the best examples of the Cape Fold mountains as the folded layers of rock are clearly seen from the road.

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