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Mountain passes in South Africa: the Seven Passes road on the Garden Route

1/10/2018

12 Comments

 
Bridge on the Seven Passes road, Garden Route
By Roxanne Reid
I love mountain passes and the back roads between George and Knysna on the Garden Route are a fabulous indulgence thanks to a single must-do drive that will knock your flip-flops off. This is among the loveliest mountain passes in South Africa: the Seven Passes road on the Garden Route.


​The truth is that in the Wilderness–Knysna area, you can pretty much pick a road at random and once you’ve driven it you’ll agree that it was a dazzler. You just can’t go wrong. But the one I’ve chosen to focus on here is my all-time best – a ‘fix’ I just have to have in order to feel I’ve really experienced the area. In fact, if you venture to this part of the Garden Route without driving it, you probably don’t deserve to be here at all.
Seven Passes road, Garden Route
The Seven Passes road between George and Knysna
I’m talking, of course, about that king of mountain passes in South Africa, the Seven Passes Road along the back roads between George and Knysna. Obviously, the name is a hint: there are seven passes along this road, from the Kaaimansgat Pass to the Touw River Pass, Hoogekraal to Homtini, via Karatara and Rheenendal, ending at Phantom Pass, which runs along a river and spits you back out onto the N2 on the western outskirts of Knysna. (By the way, you don’t need to worry about being stalked by ghosts on Phantom Pass, it’s actually named after something far more earthly – the white phantom moth.)​
Mountain passes South Africa: the Seven Passes road, Garden Route
Thanks to the 19th-century ingenuity of Thomas Bain, without whom the Western Cape would look very different today, your route twists and turns through indigenous forests and gorges. It’s so special that it’s been declared a national monument, and that’s not something you can say about many roads in South Africa.

Yeah, yeah, it will probably take you at least twice as long to drive this back road as it would to cover the same distance on the N2, but who’s in a hurry?
The Silver River on the Seven Passes road between George and Knysna on the Garden Route
​On the eastern boundary of George, turn left onto the road that goes to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (which used to be the Saasveld forestry station). Although the Seven Passes road starts and ends in tar, there’s lots of gravel in between so if there have been heavy rains, check locally whether parts of the road have been closed due to wash-aways.

​Then prepare to immerse yourself in a shady green world of indigenous forests and vistas peppered with romantic old bridges that beg to be photographed; a world you’ve read about in Dalene Matthee’s novels; a world of behind-the-times rural settlements and fat, happy cows.
Indigenous forest along the Seven Passes route
Take your time
Whatever you do, don’t rush. Take the time to explore. Take the detour to the Map Of Africa viewpoint at Wilderness Heights for a spectacular view over river and forest in one direction and sea in the other. Stop at the Woodville Big Tree (800-year-old Outeniqua yellowwood, 33m high and 12m in circumference) for a short forest walk or picnic, or at one of the small country shops along the way to buy a cold drink and talk to the locals.
Bridge on the Seven Passes Road
Use your drive to cherry-pick places you might want to return to on another day, such as the picnic sites and forest walks at Millwood and Jubilee Creek, or the Homtini mountain bike route at Krisjan se Nek in the Goudveld forest. Another deviation for another day might be to take the Rondevlei turnoff after the Woodville Big Tree, which carries you into the totally different world of Wilderness-Sedgefield’s very own Lake District. Designated a Ramsar Wetland of international importance, it's rich with views and birding opportunities.
Woodville Big Tree, Seven Passes road, Garden Route
The Woodville Big Tree
If you don’t come away from this remarkable route with a fistful of things you didn’t know about before but now desperately want to experience, I'll bet you were asleep at the wheel.

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The Seven Passes road between George and Knysna on the Garden Route is a must-do drive, among the most beautiful mountain passes in South Africa. #mountainpasses #SevenPasses #GardenRoute #WoodvilleBigTree #SouthAfrica #Africatravel
The Seven Passes road between George and Knysna on the Garden Route is a must-do drive, among the most beautiful mountain passes in South Africa. #mountainpasses #SouthAfrica #Africatravel #SevenPasses #GardenRoute #WoodvilleBigTree
Fancourt: things to do that are not golf
Self-catering Wilderness accommodation: Boardwalk Lodge
​More about the Garden Route


Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
12 Comments
Roger
1/10/2018 10:04:07 pm

I totally agree. It’s slow, it winds and the forest vegetation makes it a must. We love it. It’s soulful.

Reply
Roxanne
2/10/2018 09:05:19 am

Soulful is a good word to describe it, Roger. Any chance we get, we take the long way round just to experience at least part of that lovely route.

Reply
Rose Bilbrough link
2/10/2018 01:31:41 pm

Thank you Roxanne, it's beautiful!! So glad you had fun

Reply
Roxanne Reid link
2/10/2018 01:33:34 pm

Been driving this road for donkey's years, Rose, every single time I visit the area. Love, love, love it.

Reply
Felicity link
2/10/2018 02:37:09 pm

Soulful is a beautiful word to describe the forest. We are almost always rewarded with a Knysna loerie in flight when traversing it!

Reply
Roxanne
2/10/2018 03:35:30 pm

Yes, the forest are certainly soulful, Felicity. For me they're are all about the sound of tinkling streams, Knysna loeries/turacos and sombre bulbuls calling out in the thicket. And that flash of red wings.

Reply
Fred McKenzie
13/9/2019 05:49:01 pm

Would love to explore this road. Is it suitable in a normal sedan?

Reply
Roxanne
13/9/2019 07:32:30 pm


Yes, I'm sure your sedan would be fine on this gravel road. Just check locally beforehand in case there have been heavy rains, when it would be quite squishy.

Reply
Parlan
16/12/2019 06:07:46 pm

I love scenic drives. I discovered this road while traveling from George to Wilderness. The "Seven Passes road" sign caught my eye and I immediately took the detour. This road is spectacular. The tranquility and serenity of the forrest is majestic. My wife's little Honda Jazz managed perfectly. We also did the Montague pass which is just something else.

Reply
Roxanne
23/12/2019 03:57:50 pm

So glad to hear you loved it, Parkan. One of my favourite drives. I also love the Montagu Pass; such a shame about the huge fire in the area about a year ago that destroyed the old toll house.

Reply
Stuart Rosen
10/4/2021 10:29:56 am

Wow

Never knew this existed must go

Reply
Roxanne
10/4/2021 10:35:49 am

You absolutely must, Stuart. It's beautiful ad one of my favourite drives in the Garden Route.

Reply

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    I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.
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