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Swartberg Pass (Horlosie Kloof) | Swartberg

Christi Geldenhuys on the off-width part of Broken Apple (20/A0) - March 2025, photo thanks to Tyson Baars.

Mike McKechnie on the 3rd pitch on the FA of Stack of Chimneys (17) in Swartberg Pass, 1978. Photo thanks to John Moss.

Richard Halsey & Clinton Martinengo on the FA of Desert Eagle (21) Apr 2021. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

Derek Marshall on first pitch of We Will Prevail (20), 17 June 2019. Photo thanks to Ruben Snyman.

Mike McKechnie leading the 2nd or 3rd pitch of Stack of Chimneys 1978. Photo courtesy of Mike McKechnie's collection.

Kevin Anderson high above the road June 2019. Photo thanks to Blaine Camons.

Richard Halsey & Clinton Martinengo on the FA of Desert Eagle (21) Apr 2021. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

Derek Marshall climbing the semi free standing fin next to the road. Fun stuff! Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Christi Geldenhuys at the top of Broken Apple (20/A0) - March 2025, photo thanks Derek Marshall

Epic! Richard Halsey & Clinton Martinengo on the FA of Desert Eagle (21) Apr 2021. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

Basher Attwell belaying Carl Fatti at the stance at the top of the first pitch of Don't Open the Coffin 17/09/2010, photo thanks to Brain Lambourne.

Simon Attwell climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Richard Halsey & Clinton Martinengo on the FA of Desert Eagle (21) Apr 2021. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

Basher Attwell on the first pitch of Don't Open the Coffin (FA) 17/09/2010, photo thanks to Brain Lambourne.

Deon Nortjé leading on the Eerster Water Fin, Authur Kehl belaying. Photo thanks to Deon Nortjé collection.

Basher Attwell on the FA of Barking Mad 2015. Photo thanks to Basher Attwell collection.

Christi Geldenhuys on opening ascent of Only Grace (19) - March 2025, photo thanks to Tyson Baars.

Derek Marshall on the final pitch of the long awaited Die Horlosie (21) - March 2025, photo thanks Terence Trevaskis.

Ruben Snyman climbing the pinnacle next to the road. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Ruben Snyman & Derek Marshall on the summit of The Main Buttress, 17 June 2019

Simon Attwell climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Eastern Cape climbers climbing in Swartberg Pass, 1978. John Moss, Kim Cadle & Joe Maclennan. Photo thanks to Mike McKechnie collection.

Simon Attwell climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

The Main Buttress at Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

Kevin Anderson on FA of Deception (21), 16 June 2019. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Ray Maclean on Slabs 101 (13). Photo thanks to Basher Attwell collection.

Garrreth Bird climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Christi Geldenhuys opening Broken Apple (20/A0) - March 2025, photo thanks to Tyson Baars.

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Simon Attwell climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Basher Attwell belaying Brian 'Crater' Lambourne & 'Frog' Dalais up Temptation in the Swartberg. Photo thanks to Basher Attwell.

Climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks to Mike McKechnie collection.

Derek Marshall on first pitch of We Will Prevail (20), 17 June 2019. Photo thanks to Ruben Snyman.

The Cool Kids on FA of Deception (21), 16 June 2019. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Blaine Camons repeats Quim the Eskimo (19). This is a perfect open book right next to the road. 15 June 2016. Photo thanks to Simon Shaw.

Authur Kehl left & Deon Nortjé (who wrote the first Swartberg Pass guide) right, preparing to climb. Photo thanks to Deon Nortjé collection.

Simon Attwell climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Shaun Pieterse opening the 2nd pitch of Wrapped & Finished (17), 16 June 2019. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Derek Marshall & Ruben Snyman on the 4th pitch of We Will Prevail (20), 17 June 2019. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Deon Nortjé playing on Desert Of Shattered Hope (20) in more resent days. Photo thanks to Deon Nortjé collection.

Ray Maclean on Geelgat (13). Photo thanks to Basher Attwell collection.

Ruben Snyman climbing the semi free standing fin next to the road. Fun stuff! Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Danor Groenewald climbing next to the road in idyllic setting, 15 June 2019.

Derek Marshall opening Rafaq - March 2025, photo thanks to Tyson Baars.

Eastern Cape climbers camping in Swartberg Pass, 1978. Photo thanks to Andrew Forsyth.

Climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Simon Shaw opening Not What I Thought (18) , 15 June 2019.

Deon Nortjé playing on Desert Of Shattered Hope (20) in more resent days. Photo thanks to Deon Nortjé collection.

Mushroom Munro on 1st pitch of Wrapped & Finished (17), 16 June 2019. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

The Cool Kids on FA of Deception (21), 16 June 2019. Photo thanks to Terence Trevaskis.

Ruben Snyman on the summit of The Main Buttress, with a view of Horlosies Kloof below, 17 June 2019

Derek Marshall on I Fail (17). Photo thanks to Blaine Camons.

Derek Marshall on I Fail (17). Photo thanks to Blaine Camons.

Ruben Snyman climbing the semi free standing fin next to the road. Fun stuff!

Deon Nortjé abseiling at the Car Park Crag. Photo thanks to Deon Nortjé collection.

Early post card of Swartberg Pass.

Climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Climbing in Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks Simon Attwell collection.

Lekker beers after climbing in Swarberg Pass 2021. Photo thanks Simon Attwell.

Tyson Baars about to abseil - March 2025, photo thanks Derek Marshall

3 Snakes (Terence Trevaskis, Ruben Snyman & Tyson Baars) & Derek Marshall having lunch - March 2025, photo thanks to Christi Geldenhuys.

Climbing at Swartberg Pass 2021. Photo thanks Simon Attwell.

The Main Buttress at Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

The Main Buttress in Swartberg Pass, 1978. Photo thanks to Andrew Forsyth.

The Main Buttress at Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.

The Main Buttress at Swartberg Pass. Photo thanks to Garrreth Bird.
Swartberg Pass (Horlosie Kloof) | Swartberg
Traditional routes on vertical quartzite cracks in Swartberg Pass. 109 routes recorded so far.
Access
Climbing is along a public road. There are no known restrictions to climbing or bolting.
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