Sir Lowry's Pass
Sir Lowry’s Pass, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7133
A mountain pass in South Africa’s Western Cape, Sir Lowry’s Pass winds through the Hottentots Hollands Mountains on the N2 highway that links Cape Town and the Garden Route. It offers spectacular views back towards Cape Town, up towards paragliders (in season), and over into the lush landscapes of rural Elgin.
The basics
A 4-lane highway, Sir Lowry’s Pass is a fun route to self-drive, but many travelers enjoy the views more as passengers on a tour. Many tours from Cape Town opt to take the scenic route via Sir Lowry’s Pass on the way to Cape Agulhas, Africa’s southernmost point, the whales of Hermanus, the seals, sharks, and seabirds of Gansbaai, or the Garden Route. You can also cross the pass by steam train on the return trip to Elgin Railway Market, while bird watchers prize the area as a place to spot Cape rock jumpers and Victorin's warblers.
Things to know before you go
Sir Lowry’s Pass is an excellent choice for adventurous drivers, steam train fans, and anyone en route to whale watching, seal spotting, or shark diving in Hermanus and Gansbaai.
There’s a car park on the Cape Town side of the pass if you want to stop, take photos, take a walk, or go birdwatching. Drones can be helpful for photography here.
Many travelers don’t even stop when driving over Sir Lowry’s Pass, so you shouldn’t allow extra time unless nature walks or bird watching are on your agenda.
How to get there
Sir Lowry’s Pass is on the N2 highway, which runs from Cape Town to Durban and beyond. It’s about a 35-mile (55-kilometer) drive southeast of downtown Cape Town and about 210 miles (340 kilometers) west of Mossel Bay, where the Garden Route begins. You can also pass through on the Elgin Railway Market steam train from Cape Town.
When to get there
You can cross Sir Lowry’s Pass at any time of day or night, but the Elgin Railway Market steam train runs only at weekends, leaving Cape Town around 8am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
South Africa’s wildest mountain passes
South Africa offers more than its fair share of natural beauty, and mountain passes like Sir Lowry’s Pass can be a great way to discover it. For a dose of adrenaline, brave the Sani Pass, a 4WD-only route that winds its way between KwaZulu-Natal and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Or discover the Gamkaskloof, one of South Africa’s most thrilling gravel roads. This includes the Elands Pass, a 4WD-only route with more than 50 vertiginous and unguarded bends.
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