Swartberg

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Swartberg Mountains near Oudtshoorn, after a dusting of snow in July

The Swartberg Mountains (Swart = 'black', berg = 'mountain' in Afrikaans ) is a mountain range that runs roughly east-west along the northern edge of the semi-arid area called the Little Karoo (=Klein Karoo in Afrikaans) in the Western Cape province of South Africa. To the north of the range lies the other large semi-arid area in South Africa, the Great Karoo.

There are several passes through the Swartberg Range, the most famous of which is possibly the Swartberg Pass that runs between Oudtshoorn in the south and Prince Albert in the north. The pass is not tarred and can be a little treacherous after rain, but offers spectacular views over the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo to the north. The plant life along the pass is particularly interesting, many hundreds of species being found on the Swartberg, as is the drystone work supporting some of its picturesque hairpin bends.

To the east of the Swartberg Pass, the Meiringspoort provides tarred road transit through the Swartberg along a river. The 'poort runs north out of the town of De Rust. The Meiringspoort offers a spectacular drive through incredible rock formations, and is the setting for an annual half marathon that ends in the town of De Rust.

Much of the Swartberg is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.