101 Trail Guide | 2010

Kliphuiskloof 4x4 Trail

If you think there is nothing but vlaktes between Ceres and Calvinia, you’re wrong. The Kliphuiskloof 4x4 Trail runs straight through those vlaktes and it’s anything but flat.
From the Doring River canyons to Agtersfontein se Kloof, the Kliphuiskloof trail traverses some of the roughest, rockiest terrain in the Northern Cape. Akin to a mini Grand Canyon, it offers great koppie- and mountain-driving opportunities.
Situated on Elandsvlei farm, Kliphuiskloof is a circular trail of some 60 km that takes at least six hours to complete. It can be driven as a one-way, to exit on the road that connects to the R355 to Calvinia. The trail snakes over land that is moulded around the Tankwa and Tra-tra rivers, which flow into the Doring River on Elandsvlei. Between the Elandsvlei farmhouse and the start of the trail, you cross the Doring and Tra-tra rivers in relatively quick succession, and then follow the signboards into the “Wild, Wild West”.
The trail starts off easy-going and softroader friendly, chasing the Doring River to where it disappears in a maze of canyons and ravines. Just after the Tankwa and Doring rivers meet, the trail leaves the river and continues northwest, rising towards the plateau. Twenty kilometres on, just after Karretjies, a signpost indicates the start of another 4x4 trail, the Old Postal Route.
The Kliphuiskloof trail continues east around a simple right turn, and then the experience changes dramatically. Leaving no room for error, the rocky track winds its way between koppies, with you clinging desperately to the mountain edge.
Erratically cambered steep descents pull you down towards the canyon floor. You exit over a well-packed rock causeway that provides an easy route over the river when the water level is low. The trail then climbs to the plateau. Although much less steep than the entry, it is still not to be taken lightly – a good navigator would not go amiss as you cross the rocks.
The trail ends at the top and the track leads to a private road, where you can turn left to Reenen or right to Elandsvlei on the road that connects to the R355 to Calvinia.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
The Koeskap, Tra-tra House and Cobus se Gat cottages on Elandsvlei have recently been renovated, and there’s camping in numerous places along the river.
 

What else?
There is nothing else to do, and that’s the whole point of doing the trail.

Contact:
Ferdi Kotze
027 341 2131;
073 062 4959; 
mvoa@telkomsa.net

Nearest town: Calvinia (120 km), Ceres (150 km) or Clanwilliam (145 km)

Best time to go: Autumn and flower season (August-September)

Trail distance: 58.6 km

How long will I be driving? At least 6 hours

Full Review | June 2008 (DO31) | Phillip Sackville-Scott

If you think there is nothing but vlaktes between Ceres and Calvinia, you’re wrong. The Kliphuiskloof 4x4 Trail runs straight through those vlaktes and it’s anything but flat.

From the Doring River canyons to Agterfontein se Kloof the Kliphuiskloof trail traverses some of the roughest, rockiest terrain in the Northern Cape.

Akin to a mini Grand Canyon, it offers great koppie- and mountain-driving opportunities.

Situated on the old Elandsvlei farm, the Kliphuiskloof trail is a rough circular trail of some 60 km that will take you at least six hours to complete. It can be driven as a one-way to exit on the road that connects to the R355 to Calvinia.

The trail snakes over land that is moulded around the Tankwa and Tra-tra rivers that flow into the Doring River on Elandsvlei.

Between the Elandsvlei farmhouse and the start of the trail, you cross the Doring and Tra-tra rivers in relatively quick succession. Thereafter you just follow the signboards into the “Wild, wild West”.

Not for the fainthearted
We set off over rough farm tracks comprising loose rock and gravel, chasing the Doring River all the way to where the river disappears into a maze of canyons and ravines.

Initially, the going on the trail is easy, it’s softroader friendly and devoid of any vegetation higher than a Jack Russell.

Just after the Tanqua and Doring rivers meet, the trail leaves the Doring River and continues northwest, rising towards the plateau.

We’d next catch a pano¬ramic glimpse of the river from the adjoining ridge.

Pushing on for some 20km, we progressed easily through the Karoo scrub.

We paused at a signpost just after Karretjies that, in retrospect, deserved far more deliberation than it received. Our placid afternoon drive was to end right there.

While a left turn leads to the Old Postal Route (see description overleaf), the Kliphuiskloof trail continues along a seemingly simple right turn.

Unaware that we had just bought rollercoaster tickets (minus the harnesses, but with a better view), we headed off.

Leaving no room for error, the tight, rocky track wound around the koppies.

Erratically-cambered, steep, rocky descents pulled us down towards the canyon floor.

Tracing a knife edge, the Cruiser hugged the canyon wall as if its life depended on it. Ours certainly did. Cliff wall on the one side, sheer drop on the other, all passenger doors remained firmly locked.

A hairpin bend or two, barely wide enough for the Cruiser to scrape around, were thrown in for good measure. Conversation ceased as we tiptoed by with bated breath. Complete adrenalin overload was only kept at bay by the prospect of a dip in the Doring River below.

Just a hop, a skip and a jump
The riverbank below is a great place for a day or two’s camping.

There are no luxuries, just white sand and silence, pierced every now and then by the solitary echoes of a fish eagle. It’s desolation at its best.

During the winter rains, tributaries feeding into the Doring River create an entirely different experience – marked by waterfalls and free-flowing cascades.

We exited over a causeway of well-packed rock that pro¬vides an easy route out over the river when the water level is low. As the Cruiser’s nose dipped down to the river, I imagined it could get quite hair-raising in the rainy season.

Once clear of the river, the trail climbs to the plateau. Although less steep than before, it’s still not to be taken lightly – a good navigator would not go amiss as you cross the rocks.

Once on top, the trail is over. The dirt track leads to a private road, at which point you can turn left to Reenen or right, back to Elandsvlei on the road that connects to the R355 to Calvinia.

Drive Out says: The silent embrace of barren mountains, a bubbling river, desolate beauty and adrenalin-rushes – what more could you ask for?

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DO_Trails Kliphuiskloof.pdf