Tankwa Long-Way.
25 → 27 Sep 2026 · Grade 3 · 540 km- Ceres
- R355
- Tankwa Karoo NP
- Ouberg Pass
- Sutherland
The classic Tankwa loop: the R355 — the longest road between towns in SA with no fuel — through the national park, then up Ouberg Pass to Sutherland for a night under the SALT skies. The R355's sharp gravel is famous for eating tyres; the convoy carries a communal plug kit but your spares are your own.
The route
Depart 06:00, deflate where the tar ends past Karoopoort. The R355 gravel day — steady pace, big following distances, the sharp stuff shreds sidewalls at speed. Camp inside the park; no generators after 21:00.
Up the escarpment on Ouberg — the view back over the Tankwa is the photograph of the trip. Fuel and beds in Sutherland; SALT observatory visit if the evening slot confirms.
Tar via Matjiesfontein for brunch at the Lord Milner. Convoy dissolves on the N1; drive your own pace home.
Requirements
- Full-size spare — two strongly advised for the R355
- Tyre deflator + compressor
- Long-range fuel or 20L jerry (no fuel Ceres → Sutherland)
- AT tyres, minimum 60% tread
The climb
Altitudes · Mountain Passes South Africa
The road itself
Published figures for the passes on this route. Anything the club could not source is simply not listed.
- Ouberg Pass summit
- 1 402 m
- Mountain Passes South Africa
- Ouberg ascent
- 820 m gained over 10.4 km
- Mountain Passes South Africa
- Ouberg gradient
- Average 1:13, steepest 1:6
- Mountain Passes South Africa
- Ouberg bends
- 44 bends, 8 of them hairpins
- Mountain Passes South Africa
- Ceres → Sutherland
- 450 m → 1 450 m elevation
- Town elevation records
- Fuel
- None between Ceres and Calvinia — carry it
- Tracks4Africa
Where it runs
Ceres → R355 → Tankwa Karoo NP → Ouberg Pass → Sutherland