Oliviershoek & Van Reenen's Passes — Drakensberg EscarpmentLoop.
Distance
210 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
1,400 m
Oliviershoek & Van Reenen's Passes — Drakensberg Escarpment Loop.
A Drakensberg escarpment loop over two famous passes — the scenic R74 Oliviershoek Pass and the busy N3 Van Reenen's Pass — linked by the high Free State plateau and Sterkfontein Dam.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance210 km
Days1
Total climb1,400 m
DifficultyModerate
Loading map...
The route.
BergvilleStart · Small Drakensberg foothills town; provision up before climbing the escarpment on the R74 Oliviershoek Pass.
Oliviershoek PassMountain Pass · R74 crests at 1751m on the KZN-Free State border with huge views back over the Tugela basin and the Drakensberg amphitheatre.
Sterkfontein DamScenic Point · High-altitude reservoir in a nature reserve; glassy water ringed by golden hills, a calm contrast to the passes.
HarrismithRestaurant · Free State junction town below Platberg; refuel and eat before the run east toward the N3 escarpment.
Van Reenen's PassMountain Pass · The N3 drops off the Drakensberg escarpment near 1690m through Van Reenen; mist, heavy trucks and a famous roadside chapel.
BergvilleEnd · Close the loop back at Bergville via the R616, completing the Drakensberg escarpment circuit.
More routes in South Africa
Outeniqua & Robinson Passes — Garden Route to Klein Karoo LoopZA WC · 200 kmTankwa Karoo — Ceres to Calvinia via the R355ZA WC · 257 kmWild Coast — Mthatha to Coffee Bay & Hole in the WallZA EC · 95 kmTradouw Pass — Swellendam to BarrydaleZA WC · 60 kmSeweweekspoort — Ladismith Karoo Gravel GorgeZA WC · 90 kmMagoebaskloof Pass — Polokwane to Tzaneen via HaenertsburgZA LP · 100 km
Save this ride. Open the app.
Clone it to your planner, customize dates and stops, then ride. All free.
Open in MotoVault
Navigate this route with GPS