The Longest Dirt Road in South Africa and the Forgotten Highway - 3 Days

Although now almost overlooked, the first main route to the north and the diamond fields of South Africa was via Ceres, Sutherland, Faserberg and onto Loxton and Victoria West. This is now being called the Forgotten Highway.

• Leaving Ceres, you take the R46, but instead of following the tar to Touwsriver and the N1, you keep left onto the dirt and head onto the R356. Between the Swartruggens on the left and the last of the Hexrivierberge on the right, you enter via a picturesque poort into the Springbokvlakte. Keeping left the R355 would take you up to Calvinia via the longest stretch of road in SA with no town in between: 215 km of lovely dirt.
• The start of the Forgotten Highway, however, is the first road right after the poort and you head off across the vlakte towards the Komsberge, which form the escarpment to the Great Karoo. It is well worth stopping to take in the vastness of the vlakte and, as you near the Komsberge, their beauty. After approx 40 km you leave the vlakte and start to climb the mountains themselves.
• From the poort to the tarred R354 is 109 km. Just before this, though; you can take the Bo-Wadrift turn-off for an alternative route up the Ouberg Pass to the Vis River Valley, which is quite spectacular. On reaching the R354 you turn left and take the tar to Sutherland through two great passes, the Verlatekloof and Rooikloof passes. Both great.
• We will stay overnight in Sutherland.
• Heading out of Sutherland you have the choice to either take the R356 or 26 km out of town take a right along a road marked "Posroete". This takes you along the escarpment of the Nuweveldberge and besides being a wonderful road, it has spectacular views out towards the Swartberge out over Merweville. The Towerkop above Ladysmith in the little Karoo on the R62 can easily be seen on a clear day
• By this stage from Cape Town you would have done 500 km and from Ceres 346 km. Accommodation in Fraserberg is limited as the hotel burnt down. We will stay overnight in Fraserberg. Leaving early from Fraserberg is worthwhile as you are now in the heart of the Karoo and in true Big Sky Country. Taking the R353 out of the town, 1 km from the town you turn left and take the Oukloofpoort road.
• The decline through the Oukloofpoort is stunning and the poort itself reminds one of what, say, Meiringspoort must have looked like years ago, except not quite on such a spectacular scale. After heavy rains the poort would be impassable but in the dry it is wonderful.
• About 5 km out of the poort you turn right at a sign which says Leeu-Gamka. The road now becomes more adventurous, but not bad except again, after rain the river crossings would be interesting to say the least. After approx 40 km you come to a four-way intersection: left to Beaufort West, straight to Leeu-Gamka and then right to Merweville.
• The Merweville road is like a highway. You just cannot believe how good dirt can be and this goes right through to the N1 at Prince Albert Road.
• We will stay overnight at Prince Albert.
• After breakfast, we will take a leisurely drive back to Cape Town.

Price

R3493 per person per day (for a minimum of two persons).

The rates include for vehicle, luxury Land Rover or bigger vehicle, driver-guide, fuel, accommodation, breakfast and dinner (but excluding alcoholic beverages or any entrance fees) and are based on a minimum of two passengers.