This 30 mile stretch of road that hugs the mountainous coast between Gordon’s and Betty’s Bay, is arguably one of the most scenic drives that South Africa has to offer. It’s a bold statement to make, but it is backed by the New York Times so you know, it’s not one that we’re making lightly.
Home to 77 bends, ranging from meandering winds to sharp twists, Clarence Drive is a road that you’ll want to take slowly and not just for safety reasons. Here marks the start of “The Whale Coast”, a shore generally regarded as the best place in the world to spot these giants of the ocean – remember to keep one eagle-eye on the Atlantic when tracing this impossibly pretty route.
Located along the southern coast just a short drive from Cape Town and the winelands, Clarence Drive makes for the most idyllic way to travel en route to Oudtshoorn - it’s a short detour and well worth the extra 35km. And with numerous lay-bys, lookout points and pretty villages dotted along the way, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to views and lunch spots.
A mountain pass it may be, but this will be the flattest mountain pass that you’ll ever drive. Make the journey in the late afternoon and you’ll catch the natural amphitheatre of colour created as the dramatic mountains curve around the sun as it falls into the endless horizon of the waiting ocean.