Lootsberg Pass is the highest road in the Karoo
South Africa, africa
106 km
1,781 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, road trip enthusiasts, buckle up for the Lootsberg Pass in South Africa's Eastern Cape! This beauty clocks in at a lofty 1,781 meters (that's 5,843 feet!), making it the highest pass in the Great Karoo.
Legend has it that the pass is named after Hendrik Loots, whose carriage met an unfortunate end back in the day. But don't let that scare you! Andrew Geddes Bain carved the first road through here back in 1858, and now it's fully paved as the N9.
This epic drive stretches for 106 kilometers (65.86 miles) between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet, taking you on a north-south adventure. Word to the wise: winters here can be brutal, and heavy snowfall sometimes leads to accidents. So, keep an eye on the forecast and drive safe!
Where is it?
Lootsberg Pass is the highest road in the Karoo is located in South Africa (africa). Coordinates: -32.3512, 21.3495
Road Details
- Country
- South Africa
- Continent
- africa
- Length
- 106 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,781 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -32.3512, 21.3495
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