Sani Pass

Sani Pass is the mother of all South African mountain passes. Statistically and in every sense, it out distances, out climbs, and out performs all it's competitors with consummate ease to have become the most iconic gravel pass in SA.

 

In 2019 I was planning on running up and down Sani Pass which has an altitude gain of 1332m in about 29km. A few weeks before that I broke my wrist and was unable to run, so instead we took a dive up which my legs were grateful for. I had never been to Sani pass before and did not quite understand what a hell of a climb it is. My eyes popped out of my head as I followed the road up into the sky and sat comfortably in the car as it used all its power to get up.

 

Driving up the Sani Pass was a wild experience! The road is a narrow dirt road only wide enough for one car to pass along the edge of the mountain. It winds all the way up with sharp hairpin turns and no railing adding to the thrill. The road leads you to Lesotho; The Kingdom in the Sky and also Africa’s highest pub at 2874m where you can enjoy a cold Maluti beer and look at the incredible view.

 

This black and white pen drawing expertly captures the rugged beauty of Sani Pass. The artist has skillfully rendered the jagged peaks and winding roads of the pass, with an attention to detail that brings the scene to life. The use of monochrome palette gives a timeless feel to the image, depicting the Sani Pass as an iconic and enduring symbol of natural beauty

 

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