Explore/South Africa/ZA WC/Prince Alfred's Pass — Knysna to Uniondale
ZAKnysna, South AfricaChallengingMixedMotoVault Pick

Prince Alfred's Pass — Knysna toUniondale.

Distance
85 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
1,300 m
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Curated by Rider · Updated Aug 2026
Overview

Prince Alfred's Pass — Knysna to Uniondale.

Thomas Bain's 1860s masterpiece — roughly 68km of mostly gravel mountain road climbing north from the Knysna forests over the Outeniqua range to the Langkloof. One of South Africa's longest and most scenic passes, threading ancient yellowwood forest, the Keurbooms River gorge and the tiny hamlet of De Vlugt. Remote, unpaved in sections, and unforgettable.

Quick facts

SurfaceMixed
Distance85 km
Days1
Total climb1,300 m
DifficultyChallenging
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Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE
5 stops
Start
KnysnaStart · Start in the lagoon town of Knysna. Fuel up here — there is no fuel on the pass. Head north on the R339 into the forest.
Scenic
Diepwalle Forest StationScenic Point · Gateway to the Knysna indigenous forest reserve and the start of the climb. Cool, fern-lined gravel beneath giant yellowwoods.
Photo
Diepwalle Big TreePhoto Spot · An 800-year-old Outeniqua yellowwood. The last wild forest elephants of the Cape once roamed this valley.
Food
De VlugtRestaurant · Tiny hamlet deep in the Keurbooms River gorge at the heart of the pass. Angie's roadside pub is the only refreshment stop for miles.
End
UniondaleEnd · Climb out of the gorge to the Langkloof watershed and finish in the Karoo town of Uniondale.

More routes in ZA WC

Gamkaskloof "Die Hel" — Swartberg to the Hidden ValleyZA WC · 74 kmOuteniqua & Robinson Passes — Garden Route to Klein Karoo LoopZA WC · 200 kmTankwa Karoo — Ceres to Calvinia via the R355ZA WC · 257 kmTradouw Pass — Swellendam to BarrydaleZA WC · 60 kmSeweweekspoort — Ladismith Karoo Gravel GorgeZA WC · 90 kmPakhuis Pass & Cederberg — Clanwilliam to WupperthalZA WC · 75 km

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