Karoo Nuweveld 4x4 Trail

About Karoo Nuweveld 4x4 Trail

The Karoo National Park, perched quietly in the Western Cape Province, is an apt representation of the vastness and the beauty (which is sometimes in the form of sparse, arid landscapes and other times quite green and abundant) of the Great Karoo of South Africa. The Karoo Nuweveld 4x4 Trail is nestled within this place of splendour and intrigue, showcasing it off to perfection.

This eco-trail spans some 90 kilometres, with an optional loop of seven kilometres, called Kookfontein. It takes between 12 and 48 hours to complete and has a grading of between one and two, making it a comfortable, manageable drive. No guiding is required, and the route is open all year round. It is a circular trail with terrain that includes management tracks and farm roads (being part of SAN Parks, although many of these have been left to fall into a state of rugged disrepair), as well as sandy riverbeds and rocky outcrops, which add to the fun and excitement.

The Karoo Nuweveld 4x4 Trail is scenic, and drivers should keep an eye out for antelope (like kudu, klipspringer, black wildebeest, springbok and eland) along the way, as well as some zebra and plenty of bird life. Drivers and their passengers will, no doubt, want to stop along the way and even stay overnight just to get the most out of the abundance and loveliness of the park. The highest point of the trail is some 100 metres above sea level, offering breath-taking vistas of the Western Cape, but definitely testing the resolve of those afraid of heights (who may prefer to walk this part of the trail, if they are passengers).

The park itself covers some 90 000 hectares, and is a popular tourist attraction. While visiting it for its awesome 4x4 adventures, drivers and their friends or families may also want to explore some of the walking and hiking trails, go on game drives, head outside for some bird watching, or embark on the Fossil Trail to learn more about the ancient civilisations that once inhabited the Karoo.