Spreetshoogte Pass

Spreetshoogte drops around a thousand metres from the central highland onto the Namib gravel plains in about four kilometres, with gradients reaching one in four, which makes it the steepest pass in the country. A farmer, Nicolaas Spreeth, built it by hand during the Second World War so he could fetch the goods left for him at a bus stop at the top, and it is now a district road. The viewpoint at the top looks west across the plains to the dunes, and the descent itself is the attraction as much as the view.

History

The pass is named after Nicolaas Spreeth, who farmed Ubib at the foot of the escarpment and built it with his own hands during the Second World War. Goods for his farm were dropped at a bus stop on top of the mountain, and rather than go round by the Remhoogte Pass, about 30 kilometres to the south, he climbed the old zebra paths, reinforcing them with quartzite rocks each time until a line of white stones showed from afar; he added flat stretches before each steep climb for the weak motor cars of the day and used dynamite on the obstacles. Today it is district road D1275, closed to trucks and caravans; even road-maintenance vehicles drive it only uphill and come back down by Remhoogte to avoid brake failure (Wikipedia, Spreetshoogte Pass).

Background

The pass is named after Nicolaas Spreeth, who owned the farm Ubib at the foot of the escarpment. Deliveries for him were left at a bus stop on the farm Namibgrens at the top, and rather than drive round by the Remhoogte Pass about 30 kilometres to the south, he improved the zebra paths uphill, edging them with white quartzite and clearing obstacles with dynamite. The road begins at 1,822 metres at the top, and its steepest gradients reach 1:4.5. Today it carries district road D1275 between Rehoboth and Solitaire. Trucks and caravans may not use it, and even the roads authority's own graders only drive it uphill.

Source: Wikipedia, "Spreetshoogte Pass"

What's there

• The descent - a thousand metres of drop in about four kilometres.
• The viewpoint - the escarpment edge looking west over the Namib plains.
• The gradients - sections at one in four, the steepest road in Namibia.
• The escarpment - the transition from highland to desert in a single drop.

When to go

March to October is the cooler and clearer window. Late afternoon light over the plains is the best. Rain in summer can make the gravel treacherous.

Before you go

The pass is not suitable for caravans or heavy trailers and vehicles have come off it. Brakes overheat on the descent and low gear is essential. The gravel is loose in places.

Nearby

Solitaire is west, and Rehoboth is northeast.

Key facts