Which is the most hair-raising South African mountain pass you've driven?

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This one in Southern Namibia, Was a track that went up to a cell mast.... As I drove down, It felt like an unseen force was trying to pull my bakkie over the edge....

We had a seafood braai on top of the hill and the views were worth it...

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Sometimes modern and well maintained ones can be deceptive, as I discovered to my cost several years ago. When a sign says 70km/h on a downhill bend, that is not a 'recommendation'.

Google confirms:
The Hex River Pass is a scenic but notoriously dangerous mountain pass along the N1 in the Western Cape, South Africa. Connecting Worcester with Touws River, it features a long descent and a sharp bend where trucks and buses frequently lose control.
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A 70 km/h sign on a downhill bend warns drivers that the safe, maximum recommended speed for negotiating the curve is 70 km/h. Because of the added force of gravity pushing your vehicle forward, you should adjust your driving before you hit the bend to stay in complete control.
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Up Naude's Nek and into Rhodes in the pouring rain on a big bike. Thought I was going to die for sure.
2 double Redheart's and full-creme coke in Walkerbouts pub at the end of that were the best I've ever had in my life
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We want some reports about passes in the Andes (Chile, Bolivia). No overtaking whatsoever. Buses full of adults, children and chickens
 
Without a doubt Rebellie pass between Old Mill and the Fouriesburg- Clarens R711 route. But it is a 4x4 route so probably doesn't count in the context of the question. Beautiful views on Lesotho and technically very difficult.

For normal diving, I guess Swartberg stands out.
 
The South African ones would be:

  • Sani, for obvious reasons
  • The pass to Kromrivier in the Cederberg. The last section down to the camp has a steep drop-off and is really only wide for one and a half cars. You just hope like hell that no-one is traversing in the opposite direction.
And one in NZ to mention is the Remutaka Hill Road (SH 2 between Kaitoke and Featherston). For those who mentioned Bainskloof, it's that on steroids: twistier, tighter, full of off-camber corners, a much steeper drop-off, and a lot more traffic. I have to drive that fairly frequently because there's good wine farms over on the other side.
 
I've never really had issues with mountain passes, except maybe once or twice in the rain - but thick compacted snow up (and down) Matroosberg was a challenge.
 
Not sure if the Majuba Mountain pass counts, but scary as hell to see those trucks passing by at full speed... Also, if your car is not geared right, prepare to row those gears... (if manual) not fun to keep the pace and constantly braking up and down the pass... Had to constantly go back and forth on 2nd and 3rd gear.

Also had the opportunity to go to Lesotho for some skiing. Your car's brakes will certainly be tested there, up or or down on the pass. The brakes were a little smoky when we came back to South Africa. Luckily, we were driving an Audi Q7 TDI with the biggest brake kit you could get for it.
 
Van Rhyns Pass, in the dark, in thick fog, behind heavy transport trucks

less to do with the pass itself than the combination of factors that make you wonder if you'll live to tell the tale
 
Gravedigger said:
Not sure if the Majuba Mountain pass counts, but scary as hell to see those trucks passing by at full speed... Also, if your car is not geared right, prepare to row those gears... (if manual) not fun to keep the pace and constantly braking up and down the pass... Had to constantly go back and forth on 2nd and 3rd gear.

Also had the opportunity to go to Lesotho for some skiing. Your car's brakes will certainly be tested there, up or or down on the pass. The brakes were a little smoky when we came back to South Africa. Luckily, we were driving an Audi Q7 TDI with the biggest brake kit you could get for it.
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If your brakes are smoking, you're doing it wrong :D
 
This is a hard one, the only thing that really makes a pass hair raising is weather conditions. I have twice seen runaway trucks going over under normal conditions. There is a pass near Calvinia and Clanwilliam that had such a tight turn coming down that I am quite sure some people who were unaware died there. I think that has been broadened now. I don't remember its name though.

I have two cousins who are seasonal, and seasoned, truck drivers, and they have shown me hair raising videos.
 
Not really a pass, but the road up to the top of Matroos mountain near Ceres when it snows - narrow single dirt lane, with big trucks full of visitors who don't have a proper 4x4 and get transported to the top and down again. So many places you have to reverse and teeter on the edge while a truck with laughing tourists inches past you. Not to mention those inclines in the road where you literally lean over and see the long drop to your side.
 
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