Receive a morning pickup from your Oudthoorn accommodations. Your exact schedule is flexible, so please confirm your exact departure time with the operator. Head north out of town into the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, ascending 2,900 feet (880 meters) to Swartberg Pass.
Reach the top of this mountain pass and UNESCO World Heritage site at a height of 5,100 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level. Enjoy the views of the “Klein” and “Great Karoo” down below as you learn about the intensive effort (dating back to the 19th century) involved in the construction of this famous mountain road.
You’ll leave from the pass on foot for a scenic hike into the surrounding countryside. Admire the area’s 300 million-year-old sandstone formations and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife like Verreaux’s eagles, buzzards, jackals, and klipspringer (antelopes) as you walk. Plant lovers should also look out for the area’s protea plants, which provide nectar for local sunbirds, as well as several “fynbos” species like the pincushion plant and cone bush.
Finish your hike and head back to Swartberg Pass, continuing to the mountain offices of the H.O.P.E. Foundation. Spend time learning about the conservation efforts designed by the group’s members, and then proceed on a second leisurely hike to explore the area plant and animal life. You’ll finish the trip with a drop-off back at your Oudthoorn accommodations.
