Scenic Drives Around Ladismith, Exploring Route 62 and Beyond

By Volstruis Paleis | Where Heritage Meets Hospitality

The first thing you notice about travelling around Ladismith is not the distance. It is the rhythm. The rise and fall of the land, the sound of tyres on different surfaces, the way sunlight flickers through the gaps in the mountains. Driving here is not about getting somewhere quickly. It is about letting the road become part of the experience.

“Around Ladismith, the road itself is the adventure.”

Set along the legendary Route 62, Ladismith is perfectly placed for travellers who love the journey as much as the destination. From smooth stretches through orchards and vineyards to winding climbs into sandstone cliffs, the roads carry stories in every curve.

The Pulse of Route 62

Approaching Ladismith along Route 62 feels like slipping into another tempo. Orchards lean close to the roadside, vineyards run along the valleys, and ridges of sandstone rise in shifting colours as the light changes. The road is generous and unhurried, the kind that encourages you to ease off the accelerator and simply take it in.

This is the heart of South Africa’s longest wine route. Farm stalls offer jars of fruit preserve and local cheeses. Cyclists pedal by in bright flashes of colour. The road invites pauses, and the best moments come when you give in to the urge to stop and take a look around.

Where the Passes Lead

North of Ladismith the tar pulls you into Seweweekspoort, a canyon where cliffs climb high and the air feels close. The road bends through layered rock, sunlight shifting across the walls until the stone glows gold, then violet, then a deep shadowed red. Drivers slow not only because the road requires it but because the scale asks for attention.

To the south, Garcia’s Pass offers a different mood. Its curves are wider, its air cooler, and the valleys that open beneath it seem endless. Here the road feels less dramatic and more meditative, the kind of drive where you roll down the windows and let the scent of forest and mountain air drift in.

Further still, Bosluiskloof pushes into quiet country where tar becomes gravel and the sound under the tyres deepens. Dust trails behind you as the mountains grow leaner and the silence grows heavier. There is little here but stone, air and the occasional cry of a bird, and that is exactly why people come.

For those who want challenge, Buffelspoort calls with rocky climbs and sharp descents. Mountain bikers grind over the ridges. 4x4 drivers pick their way through ledges and riverbeds. It is effort more than scenery that defines this route, but the view at the end feels earned in a way that makes it unforgettable.

“Seweweekspoort humbles, Garcia’s Pass soothes, Bosluiskloof silences, Buffelspoort tests.”

Not every road is dramatic. Some are quiet detours that reveal their worth only when you take them. A farm track through orchards in summer where fruit bends the branches low. A short gravel lane that lifts suddenly to reveal Towerkop, the split peak of legend standing sharp against the light. These small discoveries are often the ones travellers talk about most, because they are personal, unplanned and real.

Where the Road Finds Its Rest

Some destinations require you to slow down; Ladismith commands it. As the iconic peaks of the Klein Swartberg rise from the Route 62 plains, they frame an escape defined by history and elegance: Volstruis Paleis Luxury Hotel & Accommodation.

We are a meticulously restored landmark, not merely a place to sleep. Our philosophy is that genuine heritage should feel luxurious. The result is a seamless fusion of timeless architecture and contemporary five-star comfort

Your Private Sanctuary

Guests settle into a diverse collection of accommodation from spacious rooms to exclusive suites all designed as private sanctuaries. Look forward to high end bedding, quiet garden views, and personal service that anticipates your needs. This is where the dust of the road is replaced by deep tranquility and luxury.

“After the roads unwind,Volstruis Paleis is where the journey settles into memory.”

Why Ladismith Belongs on Every Journey

Travelling the Klein Karoo is never about speed. It is about the way the landscape moves with you, the way each pass carries its own character, the way the road itself becomes part of the story. Around Ladismith, driving is discovery.

And when the day closes, Volstruis Paleis ensures the journey ends with comfort and care, so that tomorrow you can set out again with the same sense of anticipation.

Ready to feel the rhythm of the road? Drive Route 62 and the mountain passes around Ladismith, and let Volstruis Paleis be your base in the Klein Karoo.