Ultimate 4×4 Trails & Adventures in South Africa
Northern Cape
Kalahari Seekoeibaard Sand Route (5)
On Transboegoe Farm, which borders Kalahari Witsand Nature Reserve, there’s a 4x4er’s paradise. With more than 100 km of off-road wonders, it’s a great place to spend the weekend and leaves you wanting to come back, again and again.
There are four trails that work their way through the red sands of the Kalahari Desert – the pick of the bunch being the Seekoeibaard. The start of this trail involves a rocky climb to get over the Boegoeberg Mountains. There’s also a shady stopover on the route, which makes for an ideal lunch break.
The way there: The trail is off the R64 between Kimberley and Upington. Accommodation: There’s a campsite at the riverside from R70 a person a night. Contact: Louwrens and Elzahn Fourie cell 083-500-7180 or 083-238-9188.
Loch Maree 4×4 (6)
Loch Maree offers two trails, a 50 km self-drive trail and a 100km guided trail.
The shorter option is predominately on sand and gets progressively more testing as you move further into the dunes.
The longer trail will take you through savannah, across saltpans and over dunes that will test you and your vehicle’s skills … if you dare.
There’s plenty of game along the way – springbok, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, giraffe and other species.
The way there: Loch Maree is 30 km southwest of Askham, just off the R31.
Accommodation: There is a farmhouse DB&B that sleeps six, costs from R400 a person a night; self-catering chalets that sleep seven each, from R150 a person a night and camping facilities for 10 vehicles from R50 a person a night.
Contact: Retha Stadler tel 082-351-1834, or e-mail, website
Papkuilsfontein (7)
The Papkuilsfontein trail carves its way through the breathtaking scenery of the Bokveldsberg. It’s not only the seasonal Namaqualand flowers and the endemic Sterboom trees that will leave you breathless, but the sheer drops at the edge of the road. Drivers and their co-pilots will need to keep a vigilant watch as they negotiate this rocky mountain pass, which can be even trickier in wet winter conditions.
The way there: Follow the main street through Niewoudtville until it becomes a dirt road. Papkuilsfontein is another 22 km.
Accommodation: Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm offers self-catering from R220 a person a night or B&B from R280 a person a night in a number of cottages and farmhouses. There are also camping facilities available.
Contact: Mariette and Willem van Wyk tel 027-218-1246, email, website
The Mountain Desert Tour (8)
The Mountain Desert Tour is an off-road experience with a difference. Although it starts and ends in Springbok, the trail officially begins in Peila and runs along the Orange River to Vioolsdrif.
The guides, Ian Wheeler and Peter Raine, take care of all the planning and catering and are happy to part with their local and 4×4 knowledge. The trail itself is generally quite gentle and carves its way through some spectacular flora and fauna in this amazing part of the country.
The way there: The tour starts and ends in Springbok.
Accommodation: Along the way, it’s all camping under the night sky. For places to stay in Pofadder or Springbok, visit www, getaway.co.za. Contact: Peter Raine or Ian Wheeler tel 021-683-4175, website.
For more places to stay in the Northern Cape.
Other Trails in the Northern Cape
Introduction P1 | Western Cape P2 | Northern Cape P3 | Eastern Cape P4 | Free State P5 | Kwazulu Natal P6 | Gauteng P7 | Northwest P8 | Limpopo P9 | Mpumalanga P10 | Overlanding P11
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