Mossel Bay Oudtshoorn De Rust George ADVENTURE
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 28-08-2025
Route Summary Because this route covers several unpaved or gravel roads (approximately 80 kilometers), a suitable motorcycle, quad bike, or 4x4 is recommended. Some experience driving on these types of roads is essential.
For those who prefer not to drive on unpaved roads, there's another route that only uses paved roads. This is also included in the MRA Library, but you'll miss the beautiful but unpaved Swartberg Pass.
Along the route, there are opportunities to stop and enjoy the beautiful views. A visit to an ostrich farm is planned, and you can explore caves.
Enjoy this beautiful ride which I rate with 5 stars.
Share this route 
Animation
Verdict
Duration
9h 11m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
315.69 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review We drive along the R102 towards Klein Brakrivier, where we take a gravel road north towards Ruiterbos, with the mighty mountain ridges in the distance. From Ruiterbos, it's just over 10 kilometers to the start of the Robinson Pass, a scenic mountain pass on Route R328 in South Africa, which connects the coastal town of Mossel Bay with Oudtshoorn, the capital of the Klein Karoo region. Once a bridle path, it was adapted by Thomas Bain, constructed by the colonial government, and later paved. The pass offers beautiful, rolling bends, breathtaking views, and a variety of vegetation, from the arid landscape of the Klein Karoo to the coastal fynbos, making it definitely one of the highlights of this route.
Our first stop is planned in the town of Oudtshoorn, also known as the Ostrich Capital. There are several ostrich farms in the area, but we'll visit the most famous: Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, the world's first, most beautiful, and most original ostrich show farm, established in 1938. Guided tours are offered to get up close and personal with the ostriches. There's a restaurant where you can enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, and you can buy authentic South African products made by Highgate Ostrich Show Farm's highly qualified staff in the shop. They also offer guided tours, which, combined with a meal, last approximately 2-3 hours. The cost of a tour is R235 (€11.50).
Lunch is also planned in the center of Oudtshoorn (in case you haven't eaten at the Ostrich Farm). Oudtshoorn was put on the map by the ostrich industry, and the houses are built in various styles, with the Art Nouveau and Victorian architecture being particularly striking. Oudtshoorn has the most sunny days in South Africa, and the temperatures are pleasant year-round, usually between 26 and 36 degrees Celsius. Little wind and the dry winters are also very pleasant, but at night it can cool down to 0 to 5 degrees Celsius. In Oudtshoorn, we fill up the tank with petrol, as there are no petrol stations along the route for the next 140 kilometers.
After lunch, we drive north towards the Swartberg Mountains, a magnificent mountain range with several high, rugged peaks. After about 30 kilometers, you have the opportunity to visit the Cango Caves. These caves offer 60- and 90-minute guided tours through a series of narrow passageways, large chambers, and magnificent stalagmite and stalactite formations stretching for over 4 kilometers. The Cango Caves are estimated to be around 20 million years old. It is one of the oldest cave systems accessible to humans.
Then comes the next highlight of this route, the Swartberg Pass. This 27-kilometer gravel road takes you via steep hairpin bends to "Die Top" at 1,583 meters. You'll pass breathtaking views, diverse landscapes, streams, and seas of flowers. The Swartberg Pass is a favorite among South Africans and shouldn't be missed on your trip to South Africa! Stop along the way to enjoy the beautiful views, especially at the "Die Top" lookout point at the highest point of the pass.
After the Swartberg Pass, we drive along the R407, a beautiful road with stunning views, eastward to Klaarstroom, where the next highlight awaits us: the Meiringspoort, a spectacular mountain pass and natural gorge in the Swartberg Mountains in South Africa's Western Cape province. It runs along the Groot River and connects the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo.
This 25-kilometer-long pass, which crosses the Groot River 25 times, is known for its breathtaking geological formations and a waterfall that can be reached after a short hike, where we also stop for photos.
Where the road crosses the river are drifts where cattle used to be led across the river. These drifts have since been replaced by bridges, but the drifts remain landmarks of this historic route and are therefore included with a waypoint and a point of interest. Stop regularly and enjoy one of South Africa's most beautiful passes, steeped in history. More information about the drifts can be found using the links in this review.
Meiringspoort is a top 10 destination. The pass has a difficult history of flooding and landslides, as well as incredible hardships. Yet, engineers and road builders mastered the art of creating a magnificent road through this awe-inspiring pass.
Halfway up the pass, we stop at the Herrie se Klip monument, a memorial in Meiringspoort commemorating the famous writer C.J. Langenhoven. On July 1, 1929, Langenhoven carved the name "Herrie" into the rock, a reference to his fictional elephant from the book "Herrie op die Tremspoor" (Herrie on the Tremspoor). The site, located along the road through the gorge, was declared a national monument in 1973.
The pass is in excellent condition and runs on gentle slopes, but its 63 bends and twists require a high degree of concentration. It's easy to become captivated by the breathtaking scenery, so drivers must stay focused and understand that the lack of emergency lanes and the large number of heavy trucks always pose a certain degree of danger. It's best to drive this pass on weekends or public holidays, when there are fewer trucks. The road ends at the charming village of De Rust, where you can take a short break for a drink and fuel.
From De Rust, we drive west on the N12 towards Oudtshoorn, and from Dysseldorp, we take the unpaved road to Camfer, where we take the N9 (R62) until it joins the N12. We then head south towards our final destination, George.
Along the way, we're treated to the beautiful Outeniqua Pass (Outeniekwa Pass). This modern mountain pass connects the coastal town of George with Oudtshoorn. Built between 1942 and 1951 as a modern alternative to the older, narrow, and steep Montagu Pass (described in another route), it offers much greater traffic capacity. With 40 bends, corners, and twists, particularly for southbound traffic, it's possible to see the four different passes in the area from the "The 4 Passes" viewpoint. We'll also stop here to take photos.
Enjoy your stay in George, named after the British monarch King George III. It's a beautiful city with a rich historical heritage, reflected in many of its attractions. Its prime location between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, surrounded by forests and lakes, also offers an attractive mix of outdoor activities, not to mention numerous world-class golf courses.
George is a popular destination in the Southern Cape. The town traces its origins to the late 18th century as a timber outpost for the Cape Colony of the Dutch East India Company. This history is easily explored in the town through daily tours of the historic buildings and the museums that document the region's past – the George Museum and the Outeniqua Transport Museum.
George offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including nature walks, birdwatching, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. George is also known as the golf capital of the Western Cape, boasting numerous world-class courses.
Links 
Usage Want to download this route?
You can download the route for free without MyRoute-app account. To do so, open the route and click 'save as'. Want to edit this route?
No problem, start by opening the route. Follow the tutorial and create your personal MyRoute-app account. After registration, your trial starts automatically. 
Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
South Africa
About this region
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. Its nine provinces are bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 miles) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini; and it encloses Lesotho. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres (471,445 square miles), the country has over 62 million people. Pretoria is the administrative capital, while Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital. Bloemfontein has traditionally been regarded as the judicial capital. The largest and most populous city is Johannesburg, followed by Cape Town and the busiest port city in sub-Saharan Africa, Durban.
Archaeological findings suggest that various hominid species existed in South Africa about 2.5 million years ago, and modern humans inhabited the region over 100,000 years ago. The first known people were the indigenous Khoisan, and Bantu-speaking peoples who expanded from West and Central Africa later settled in the region 2,000 to 1,000 years ago. In the north, the Kingdom of Mapungubwe formed in the 13th century. In 1652, the Dutch established the first European settlement at Table Bay, and in 1795 and 1806, the British occupied it. The Mfecane, a period of significant upheaval, led to the formation of various African kingdoms, including the Zulu Kingdom. The region was further colonised, and diamonds and gold were discovered, bringing a shift towards industrialisation and urbanisation. The Union of South Africa was created in 1910 out of the former Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River colonies, becoming a republic in 1961. Though a system of non-racial franchise had existed in the Cape, it was gradually eroded, and the vast majority of Black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994.
The National Party imposed apartheid in 1948, institutionalising previous racial segregation. After a largely non-violent struggle by the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid activists both inside and outside the country, the repeal of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s. Universal elections took place in 1994, following which all racial groups have held political representation in the country's liberal democracy, which comprises a parliamentary republic and nine provinces.
South Africa is a multi-ethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions; it is often referred to as the "rainbow nation" to describe the country's multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid. As a middle power in international affairs, South Africa maintains a significant regional influence. In addition to that, the country is a member of BRICS+, the African Union, SADC, SACU, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the G20. A developing, newly industrialised country, South Africa has the largest economy in Africa by nominal GDP. It is tied with Ethiopia for the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa, and is a biodiversity hotspot with unique biomes, plant, and animal life. Since the end of apartheid, government accountability and quality of life have substantially improved. However, crime, poverty, and inequality remain widespread. Having the highest Gini coefficient of 0.63, South Africa is considered one of the most unequal countries in the world, if not the most unequal.
Read more on Wikipedia
Archaeological findings suggest that various hominid species existed in South Africa about 2.5 million years ago, and modern humans inhabited the region over 100,000 years ago. The first known people were the indigenous Khoisan, and Bantu-speaking peoples who expanded from West and Central Africa later settled in the region 2,000 to 1,000 years ago. In the north, the Kingdom of Mapungubwe formed in the 13th century. In 1652, the Dutch established the first European settlement at Table Bay, and in 1795 and 1806, the British occupied it. The Mfecane, a period of significant upheaval, led to the formation of various African kingdoms, including the Zulu Kingdom. The region was further colonised, and diamonds and gold were discovered, bringing a shift towards industrialisation and urbanisation. The Union of South Africa was created in 1910 out of the former Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River colonies, becoming a republic in 1961. Though a system of non-racial franchise had existed in the Cape, it was gradually eroded, and the vast majority of Black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994.
The National Party imposed apartheid in 1948, institutionalising previous racial segregation. After a largely non-violent struggle by the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid activists both inside and outside the country, the repeal of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s. Universal elections took place in 1994, following which all racial groups have held political representation in the country's liberal democracy, which comprises a parliamentary republic and nine provinces.
South Africa is a multi-ethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions; it is often referred to as the "rainbow nation" to describe the country's multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid. As a middle power in international affairs, South Africa maintains a significant regional influence. In addition to that, the country is a member of BRICS+, the African Union, SADC, SACU, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the G20. A developing, newly industrialised country, South Africa has the largest economy in Africa by nominal GDP. It is tied with Ethiopia for the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa, and is a biodiversity hotspot with unique biomes, plant, and animal life. Since the end of apartheid, government accountability and quality of life have substantially improved. However, crime, poverty, and inequality remain widespread. Having the highest Gini coefficient of 0.63, South Africa is considered one of the most unequal countries in the world, if not the most unequal.
View region
Statistics 
16Amount of RX reviews (South Africa)
731Amount of visitors (South Africa)
11Amount of downloads (South Africa)