Roads to drive
The R381: Beaufort West to Loxton
I discovered this road by accident – we took it as a detour to avoid roadworks on the N1 – and now it’s my favourite Karoo drive. It’s best to head from Loxton down to Beaufort West, which takes you down through the Nuweveld mountains to the plains below with the prospect of lots of bird watching, game viewing (you drive past the Karoo National Park) and stunning vistas on route.
The R355: From Calvinia to Ceres
Here’s another great Karoo road, but be sure to have a car with fat takkies and a friend with you when you tackle it. There’s a particularly flinty stone in this part of the world that makes mince meat of tyres. If you stop to take in the view at the Bloukrans Pass before you drop down to the Tankwa Karoo, you’ll see what they mean when they say this was once a great, big sea.
The R328: The Swartberg Pass
So much has been written about this pass (we had a whole story just the other day) but there are really no words to describe just quite how extraordinary it really is. You just have to drive it, if only once in your life.
The R27: From Nieuwoudtville to Kenhardt
Once upon a time I thought this was a straight stretch of tedium on the long road to Upington, and then something switched in my head one day. Yes, it is far and very straight in parts, but it’s also just so open. My best drive ever was at dawn when there were thunderstorms in the distance. The sky was just warming up to purples and pinks as lightning flickered like a snake’s tongue at the far edges of the horizon.
The R346 Nieuwoudtville to Clanwilliam via the Botterkloof Pass
If you’re lucky enough to get away during the flower season, it’s worthwhile exploring the back roads. I love this Cederberg road for its ruggedness. You’ll be amazed how many beautiful flowers you’ll see on the road out of Nieuwoudtville before you turn right and join the R346. And then the Botterkloof Pass itself is a delight before you go over the Pakhuis Pass and enter Clanwilliam through the back door.
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