Seweweekspoort

Seweweekspoort cuts about seventeen kilometres through the Swartberg between Ladismith and the Great Karoo, following a stream bed rather than climbing over a pass - which is why the road crosses the water repeatedly and why the walls stay close on both sides the whole way. The geology is the reason to drive it slowly: the Cape Fold Mountains were crumpled so hard here that the sandstone strata stand on end, and you pass through bands of red, grey, purple and cream rock tilted vertically like a shelf of books. Seweweekspoort Peak, at 2,325 metres the highest in the Western Cape, stands above the eastern side. The name is argued over - seven weeks, a missionary called Zeven Weeken, or smugglers' seven-week hideouts - and none of the explanations is settled. The road is unsurfaced but gentle, and it floods after heavy rain.

History

Building of the road through the poort began in the 1850s with prison labour, and it was completed in November 1862 and is still in use (Wikipedia, Seweweekspoort).

Highlights

• The vertical strata - sandstone bands tilted on end in red, grey and cream.
• The stream crossings - a road that follows the water rather than climbing a pass.
• Seweweekspoort Peak - the highest point in the Western Cape, above the eastern wall.
• The disputed name - several explanations, none of them settled.

When to go

March to May and September to November. Two hours to drive slowly with stops.

Good to know

Gravel with river crossings that flood after rain and close the road. There are no facilities, fuel or phone signal in the poort. Summer heat in the gorge is heavy. Corrugations shake low cars badly at speed - drive slowly.

Nearby

Ladismith is at the southern end; the Swartberg Pass and Prince Albert are east.

Key facts