STAGE 5

Oct 30

Blaauwater to Swaershoek Pass summit

A taste of the stage

Stage 5 leaves Blaauwater with a 10 km gravel descent — narrow and uneven in places, so stay alert before the roads open up. Riders then enjoy a fast, long tar section, keep to the left at all times. The Wapadsberg Pass offers beautiful Karoo views before a thrilling 12 km descent — again, stay left and watch for traffic. Around 80 km, the route passes Spekboom Game Farm, before moving through farm and tar roads to the final climb up Swaershoek Pass. The stage finishes at the summit with stunning views of the Merino Burn Camp below, then riders roll 4 km down to the burn camp, where all the usual services await.

Highest Point

1,73Om

Distance

137km

Climb

1,58Om+

Descent

1,47Om-

the peaks
and troughs

Towns &
landmarks

town

Cradock(CRAD-uck)

eastern-cape

Cradock is a historic town on the Great Fish River, deeply rooted in South Africa’s colonial and frontier past. It played a key role in the 19th-century Frontier Wars and later became a major centre of the wool industry. The town’s wide streets and preserved Karoo architecture speak to its colonial legacy, while its role in the anti-apartheid struggle — most notably through the story of the Cradock Four — adds a powerful layer to its identity. Cradock remains a place where South Africa’s complex history is keenly felt.

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landmark

Cango Caves

Eastern Cape

The Cango Caves are Africa's largest show caves and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa, making the Cango Caves an archaeological and historical highlight of the Klein Karoo.

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landmark

Merino Burn Camp

Cradock, Eastern Cape

Merino lies under the Swaershoek pass, where riders will wind their way down to rest after a long day out on stage 5.

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landmark

Merino Wool Farms

Eastern Cape

Between Blaauwater and Merino Burn Camp, riders move through sheep-farming country — hills, windmills, and flocks on fields like foam on a stormy sea.

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