4x4 Trails in Western Cape

4x4 and Four Wheel Drive Adventures

The Western Cape is beautiful and boasts majestic mountain ranges, indigenous forests and wildlife. What better way to explore this wonderland than to go on a 4x4 trail through these terrains.

The Boegoeberg Trail is a scenic route that boasts panoramic views of the sea and the majestic Cedarberg Mountains. It is set high in the 'Engelsman-se-berg' on the Lambertshoek Farm. The trail offers a variety of challenges from steep inclines and descents to sections which involve technical driving skills and where you will need to negotiate your passage around and over large rock formations. A shimmering stream is crossed on numerous occasions. The difficulty of this section can vary depending on the time of year the trail is visited.

Did you know? Driving on the beach in South Africa is prohibited to everyone except those who have special permits. Defying this law carries a heavy penalty and confiscation of the offending vehicle.

Your driving skills and your vehicle traction will definitely be tested but rest assured your car will not be damaged. A guesthouse and farm shop stocking necessities are available. The accommodation is awesome and an ideal place for a breakaway weekend. Take the short 10 minute hike which will lead you to a magnificent waterfall.

Just an hour and 30 minutes outside of Cape Town is the Glen Oak 4x4 trail situated in the Greyton little valley at the foot hills of the Klein River Mountains. This area boasts beautifully lush forests and magnificent views. This trail stretches over a distance of 7km and all obstacles are numbered and marked with colour coded poles. It will take you approximately 3-6 hours to complete, depending on the level of driver experience and the number of vehicles in the group.

The difficulty of the trail and driver experience is flexible and varies between dry and wet conditions. Experienced drivers will enjoy a challenge, yet there are alternative options for beginners at every obstacle.

You will be offered some natural obstacles including mud, sand, rock, gullies and steep banks. At first you will encounter some fairly easy bumps and dips, after which the terrain becomes more challenging. You will also cross over a few beautiful streams most having a soft sand or muddy surface. You will reach an optional section which is a very technical section that should not be tackled without decent recovery gear. It consists of mud and deeply rutted tracks. The Glen Oak trail will lead you over majestic mountains, steep rocks and to a viewpoint from where the view of the entire farm can be seen.

The Klein Tafelberg trail is situated in the Sandveld, between the towns of Redelinghuys and Aurora just 2 and a half hours away from Cape Town accommodation. Explore this scenic and adventure-filled 4x4 trail, snaking along sandy fynbos covered slopes and weathered sandstone formations to magnificent viewpoints. Camp for the night in the shadow of "Klein Tafelberg" and experience the brilliance and silence of the peaceful Sandveld nights.

The majority of the trail consists of sand driving but it does cover a gorgeous mountain section offering a different type of challenge to drivers. The length of the trail is approximately 20km and it will take about 5 hours to complete.

The Karoo National Park is situated in the Nuweveld mountain range and boasts an attractive mix of plants, animals and birds. Soils of this area are mostly derived from dolerite or shale. This beautiful park offers two 4x4 trails. The first is a relatively short route and is approximately 20km, taking you 2 to 3 hours. The full day / overnight route is approximately 85km and takes 8 to 10 hours. These trails offer fantastic game viewing opportunities. Look out for Bat Eared Fox and Steenbuck along the dirt road especially at night.

When crossing the stream on route, you will be provided with an insight into riverine thickets which develop on the deeper sandy soils. The denser vegetation provides shelter for a diversity of species such as kudu and duiker, whilst aardvark make there burrows in upper river banks. The lush foliage also provides protection and shelter for many bird species. Do not leave you vehicle except in demarcated areas, as there are Black Rhinoceros in the Park which are dangerous.