Uitkyk Pass

Uitkyk Pass

Located in the heart of the Cederberg, Uitkyk Pass forms part of the myriad gravel back roads so popular with bikers, campers and hikers in this incredible wilderness. It also has one of the best view points at the top of the pass.

Roughly two hours' drive from Cape Town takes you into an area filled with breathtaking scenery and a series of gravel passes – an enviable wild countryside to which Capetonians with outdoor leanings flee whenever the weather is right, although the height of summer is probably not a good time as it can get unbelievably hot. Uitkyk Pass is particularly well known because of its proximity to one of four popular campsites in the area – Algeria. The other three are Driehoek, Sanddrif and Jamaka, all of which provide place to set up a tent within the Cederberg Wilderness Area.

Uitkyk Pass is an alternative pass to Algeria. The more direct route is probably the Nieuwoudt's Pass just off the N7, but Uitkyk links Algeria to Sanddrif campsite and the Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve. The road also continues up in a V-shape to the town of Wuppertal. To reach the Uitkyk Pass take the central Cederberg road, roughly 30 kilometres past Citrusdal, whereafter one travels past the Algeria Forest Station and onto the pass.

It also forms part of what is known as the Koue Bokkeveld loop, which follows the turnoff to Algeria, over Nieuwoudt's and Uitkyk passes. At Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve one takes a southerly turn over the Grootrivier and Blinkberg passes to Ceres. Gravel changes to tar just before Op die Berg, whereafter one takes a northly swing onto the R303 through farmlands and on to the Middleberg Pass, where it again becomes gravel. It ends on the outskirts of Citrusdal.