101 Trail Guide | 2010

Duiwelsberg/Louvain

Louvain is a working sheep, ostrich and crop farm, set in an area rich in history.
One of its main attractions is the Old Voortrekker Pass over the Outeniqua Mountains. Nowadays it’s one of Louvain’s two 4x4 trails but for about 100 years (from about 1772 to the late 1800s), the Old Voortrekker Pass was an important trading route between the coast and the Langkloof.
After the opening of the Montagu Pass and the Seven Passes Road between George and Knysna, it fell into disuse – except for 4x4 drivers, that is.
While one section of the Old Voortrekker Pass is on Louvain, another runs through a state forest. You will therefore need a permit to complete the trail over the Outeniqua Mountains. Permits are issued at Louvain, and are included in the trail cost.
The trail is graded 2-3, which means your vehicle must have low-range and good ground clearance. It is well maintained, and vegetation is trimmed to limit vehicle damage.
It will take you 2-3 hours to do the 30 km trail from Louvain over the mountain and through the Bergplaas State Forest, to the junction with the Seven Passes Road near the Woodville shop. You could, however, give yourself a bit more time to look at the proteas and fynbos, and take in the views over the lake area at Wilderness, Sedgefield and Knysna.
The route starts with a gradual climb through an indigenous forest and then through forestry plantations to a gate.
From the gate, the trail becomes increasingly narrow as you drive next to the Diep River for long stretches, crossing it a few times on causeways. Eventually, you reach more open areas, and now’s the time to engage low-range, because from here on you will be scrambling over rough, rocky terrain. Wheel positioning is important, and it’s the only way you will get over the rocks without damaging your vehicle’s undercarriage.
The stony terrain eventually evens out but you are still climbing, between proteas and other fynbos. After about 1½ hours, you reach the lookout point (more than 1 000 m above sea level) on top of the Outeniqua Mountains.
From here the trail starts to drop slowly, and suddenly the fertile Langkloof opens up before you. On the other side of the kloof you can see the outline of the Kammanassie Mountains, while the dark blue Swartberg stands guard in the background.
For the Forest Drive, a natural one-way obstacle course that runs in and next to a riverbed in a forest, you need a proper 4x4, low-range and good ground clearance. The practical side of 4x4 training at Louvain takes place on this trail, with obstacles like The Gorge, The Staircase and The Donga. It can get very slippery, especially after rain, when you’re in for a muddy time.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
The old farmhouse has been converted into a self-catering guesthouse, and various outbuildings have been converted into chalets. There’s also a shady campsite at one of the farm dams.

What else?
Wedding and conference facilities, a super endurance and motocross track, mountain biking, hiking and fishing (catch and release, in three dams). You are also close to the Garden Route and Oudtshoorn, with its Cango Caves, ostrich show farms, game lodges and wine cellars.

Contact:
Nico & Florence Bester 
044 888 1726,
083 287 6927,
079 505 8509; 
info@louvain.co.za,
www.louvain.co.za,
www.4x4ineden.co.za

Nearest towns: George (50 km); Oudtshoorn (60 km)

Best time to go: All year round

Trail distances: The Voortrekker Pass: 30 km; Forest Drive: 5 km

How long will I be driving? The Voortrekker Pass: 2-3 hours; Forest Drive: all day … playing

GPS: S33.81195 E22.64920

Following ox-wagon tracks

Full review | Johann Grobler | May 2010

From a panoramic mountain trail to a tough forest trail, Louvain Guest Farm guarantees something for everyone who loves fun in nature, says Johann Grobler.

Like a box of Quality Street chocolates, Louvain offers something for every taste: loads of history, a guesthouse, chalets and campsite, conference facilities, and on top of it all, it’s a working sheep, ostrich and crop farm. You can even get married here.
And just in case you were wondering, yes, there are also two top-class 4x4 trails and they offer 4x4 training. By the way, the meeting at which NOW (the National Off-Road Workgroup) was founded, took place here in 2005.
But the one thing that attracts especially 4x4 drivers to this farm to the north of the Outeniqua Mountains, about halfway between George and Uniondale in the Langkloof, is the historical Old Voortrekker Pass over the Outeniqua Mountains.
Nowadays the pass is one of Louvain’s two 4x4 trails, but for about a century (from about 1772 to the late 1800s) the Old Voortrekker Pass was an important trading route between the coast and the Langkloof.
After the opening of the Montagu Pass and the Seven Passes Road between George and Knysna, the pass fell into disuse – except for 4x4 drivers that is.

Wow, what a view!

A section of the Old Voortrekker Pass is on Louvain and another section runs through a state forest. Therefore you must get a permit at Louvain before you can start the trail over the Outeniqua Mountains (it’s included in the trail cost).
The trail was repaired at great expense after serious flood damage in 2006, but its grading remains a 2-3, which means your vehicle must have low-range and good ground clearance.
It’ll take you about 2-3 hours to do the 30 km trail from Louvain over the mountain and through the Bergplaas state forest to the junction with the Seven Passes Road near the Woodville shop.
But it could of course take much longer if you stop every so often to have a closer look at the masses of proteas and other fynbos species, or to take in the views over the lake area at Wilderness, Sedgefield and Knysna, with the Indian Ocean in the background.
Luckily you don’t have to worry about your vehicle being scratched, as the trail is well maintained and bothersome branches are regularly trimmed.

Baboons with walking sticks

You usually start the trail at Louvain and continue over the mountain, but during my visit I tackled it from the Seven Passes Road side accompanying Nico Bester, owner of Louvain with his brother Willie, and a convoy of guests of a tyre manufacturer.
The first part of the trail climbs gradually through an indigenous forest and then through forestry plantations to a gate on the other side of the Bergplaas forestry station.
From here, the trail becomes increasingly narrow as you drive next to the Diep River for long stretches – and cross it a few times on causeways.
Eventually you reach more open areas, where you need to engage low-range, because from here on you’re scrambling over relatively rough, rocky terrain.
Wheel positioning is important here as it’s the only way you can get over the rocks without problems or damage to your vehicle’s undercarriage.
The stony and rocky terrain eventually evens out, but you’re still climbing between masses of proteas and other fynbos on either side of the trail.
After about an hour and a half we reach the lookout point (more than 1 000 m above sea level) on top of the Outeniqua Mountains. On a good day the views from here over the sea and lakes are spectacular.
Here Nico shows us a section of the original ox-wagon route that the legendary road and pass builder Thomas Bain improved around 1864 by diverting it so that it runs next to, rather than over, a mountain peak. The impressive dry-stone walling next to this old route is still visible.
When you stand here and look at the original ox-wagon route, you can’t help but admire the courage and daring of the old transport drivers. The original section is so steep and it has so many rocky steps that the transport drivers had to carry their wagons in places to be able to cross these obstacles.
A baboon would need a walking stick here, so it’s no wonder that Nico and his family have found the remains of many ox wagons at the bottom of the cliff.

A natural obstacle course

From here the trail slowly but surely starts to drop, and suddenly the fertile Langkloof opens up before us.
On the other side of the kloof you can see the outlines of the Kammanassie Mountains, while the majestic dark blue Swartberg stands guard in the background.
As we descend into the Langkloof between masses of proteas saluting us from both sides of the trail, a number of axle twisters welcome us just before we drive past one of the farm dams and stop next to the conference centre on Louvain’s farmyard.
If you’ve had enough action for one day, walk around and see how Nico and his wife, Florence, have converted this farmyard into a relaxing chill-out spot that has everything your heart desires.
But if you’re keen for more action, you can try Louvain’s other 4x4 trail, the Forest Drive, and really test your vehicle.
For this natural one-way obstacle course that runs in and next to a riverbed in a black-wood forest next to the farmyard, you need a proper 4x4, low-range and good ground clearance.
The practical side of the 4x4 training at Louvain also takes place on this trail with its obstacles with names like The Gorge, Staircase and The Donga … It can get very slippery, especially after rain, and then you’re in for a pretty muddy time.

Drive Out says: Whether you want to 4x4 or do something that takes real courage – like getting married – at Louvain you can do it all to your heart’s content.

---

What you should know

Why should I go?

Good times and an off-road adventure (with a bit of history thrown in) are guaranteed. .

EN ROUTE
How long are the trails?
The Voortrekker Pass: 30 km; Forest Drive: 5 km
How long will I be driving?
The Voortrekker Pass: 2-3 hours; Forest Drive: all day … playing
Maximum number of vehicles? Not limited
Do I get a map? No
Will my car get scratched?
Not if you stay on the well-maintained trails.
Should I remove my running boards?
Consider it for the Forest Drive, but it’s not necessary for the Voortrekker Pass.
Should I take a compressor?
It’s unnecessary − there are compressors at the farm.   
Can I turn around halfway?
The Voortrekker Pass is a one-way trail, and the Forest Drive can only be done in one direction due to the high difficulty rating of some of the ascents and descents.
Can we have a braai en route?
No, only at the campsite and conference facility. 

THE SURROUNDS
Best time to go?
All year round
Can I take my family along?
Absolutely
Just for the day or the weekend?
There isn’t enough time in a day.
Are there ablution facilities for day visitors?
Yes, at the conference facility
Can I see game? No  
The nearest town?
George 50 km; Oudtshoorn 60 km
How do I get there?
The turn-off to Louvain (S334719.1 E223842.9) is on the N9/R62, some 25 km east of the N12/R62 junction with the N9/R62.
The nearest fuel?
At Herold, some 17 km west of the Louvain turn-off

WHERE CAN I STAY?
The old farmhouse (which has been converted into a self-catering guesthouse) and various outbuildings (which have been converted into chalets) sleep 38 people. There’s also a shady campsite at one of the farm dams.

WHAT ELSE?
Must I take anything special?
The kids, grandparents and own food
What else can I do there?
Besides a wedding in the historical Schoonberg Anglican church (1855), a super endurance and motocross track, mountain biking, hiking and fishing (catch and release) in three dams, you are close to the Garden Route and Oudtshoorn with its Cango Caves, ostrich show farms, game lodges and wine cellars.

COST?
Trails:
 Voortrekker Pass: R200 per vehicle;
Forest Drive: R150 per vehicle
 Training:
R600 per vehicle (only by special arrangement)
Accommodation:
•    Camping: R80 per vehicle per night
•    Self-catering guesthouse and chalets: R150 per person per night

CONTACT
Nico & Florence Bester 
Tel 044 888 1726;
Cell 083 287 6927; 079 505 8509; 
E-mail info@louvain.co.za;
Web www.louvain.co.za; www.4x4ineden