Swartberg Mountains

The Swartberg mountains are a magnificent backdrop to the vi

The Swartberg mountains are a magnificent backdrop to the village of Prince Albert. Once considered almost impenetrable, there are now three major gateways – the Swartberg Pass, Meiringspoort and the Seweweekspoort – linking the Central Karoo with the Little Karoo and the coast.

Meiringspoort and the Swartberg Pass are on Prince Alberts doorstep. Both fall within the Swartberg Nature Reserve (whose aims are to conserve fynbos and provide water). Both offer geological and natural splendours and the construction of both were spectacular engineering feats.

• You can wonder at the folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata which constantly changing colour as you move through sunlight and shade.
• Look out for the bright green lychen - an indicator of the sparkling clear, pollution-free air which we enjoy.
• We can boast 130 species of bird-life. Watch out for black eagles.
• Baboons, klipspringers and dassies are often seen along both routes. You might also see kudu and grey rhebuck. Leopard, karakal and jackals also roam the mountains, but are rarely seen.
• Vegetation includes renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld and numerous geophyte species. Tenacious succulents, pelagoniums and other hardy plants cling to rock faces. On the plateau at the top of the Swartberg Pass and down towards the Oudsthoorn side you will drive through mountain fynbos, in autumn this stretch is bright with ericas and proteas - lookout for sugar birds and sunbirds.
• In winter you can see snow on the Swartberg - where temperatures drop well below freezing. (in summer we experience temperatures of 40oC and more.)

Accommodation in and around Swartberg