Jakkalskloof 4x4 Trails

About Jakkalskloof 4x4 Trails

About 200 kilometres north-west of Cape Town, in the South African province of the Western Cape, are the climbs and bends of the Jakkalskloof 4x4 Trails. This mountainous part of the country makes for excellent 4x4 adventures, and couples these with breath-taking views and plenty more in the way of things to do and see.

The Jakkalskloof 4x4 Trails, about 10 kilometres from the little inland village of Redlinghuys, comprise two individual trails (the Sand Route and the Mountain Route), which can take anywhere between two and six hours to complete, depending on how you choose to combine them and the speed and technical ability of the driver. Both are circular trails.

The Sand Route shows off the magnificent Sandveld fynbos and is fairly easy initially. Then, it presents drivers with steep drops, hair-raising twists, and soft sand to challenge them and their vehicles. Of course, during or after the rains, the sand is harder and easier to drive on. The Mountain Route is extremely rocky, with heart-pounding climbs and descents. This requires very experienced drivers that are willing to build tracks and pick lines as they go along. This trail has a grading of three to five and will need a skilled guide if drivers are not confident of their own abilities. While the Sand Route has escape options, the Mountain Route does not.

The Jakkalskloof 4x4 Trails are open all year round and a guide can be organised with prior notice, if required. The rainy season means a fuller river, which will add to the challenge, so drivers should take this into account before organising their trip here.

Additional activities in the area include game viewing and bird watching, thanks to the natural abundance of fauna and flora here. There are also hiking trails for the more energetic visitors, along which the stunning endemic fynbos can be seen in its untouched beauty.