Sani Pass is one of southern Africa’s legendary mountain routes, connecting Underberg in South Africa with the Kingdom of Lesotho and climbing dramatically into the highlands often described as the “Roof of Africa”.
The final stretch before the Lesotho border is so steep, narrow and badly damaged that bringing our 13-tonne expedition truck up there was simply not an option. Instead, we hired a 4×4 from Major Adventures for 950 ZAR per person and left our truck safely parked in Underberg in front of their office for two nights.
From Underberg, we climbed from roughly 1,544 metres above sea level to 2,876 metres at the summit, following the road through deep mountain valleys and the Mkhomazana River area before reaching the spectacular Drakensberg escarpment. The views are impressive, but so are the drops beside the road.
South African border control is located at the bottom of the pass, while the Lesotho border post sits at the top. The pass is officially restricted to suitable 4×4 vehicles with low-range capability, and for good reason. The road is a combination of rough gravel, loose rocks, washed-out sections, deep ruts and extremely tight hairpin bends, with some gradients reaching around 1:3 or even 1:4.
Our journey was even more challenging because the mountain weather changed so quickly. During the same day, we experienced rain, snow, ice, heavy mist, strong winds, a storm and even hailstones. The already steep track became extremely slippery, turning the drive into a serious mountain adventure rather than a scenic road trip. Weather conditions can deteriorate quickly, and the pass may be closed when conditions become unsafe.
The drive from Underberg to the foot of the pass takes around 30–40 minutes, while the actual ascent usually takes another 1–2 hours, depending on weather, road conditions and how often you stop to admire the scenery. With every bend, the landscape grows more dramatic— until the road finally carries you over the border and into the spectacular highlands of Lesotho.
Parking location – Underberg: 29.7936077S 29.4935241E (🅿️,🚻)