The saucer, sir ...” says the woman behind the counter of the Montagu Wimpy.
I’m already turning to the door to walk to the bakkie.
“Sorry?”
“You still have the saucer in your hand, sir.”
I look down and notice that I’m about to walk out of the restaurant with the saucerful of peppermints.
“Ag, sorry, my mind is somewhere else.”

And it’s true. I’m thinking about the trail I’m about to drive that will lead me past three of the area’s best 4x4 trails before my overnight stop at the Anysberg Nature Reserve.

The plan is to drive back to Montagu from the direction of Ladismith tomorrow, via the interesting Ouberg Road (not to be confused with the Ouberg Pass near Sutherland!), a stretch of gravel road that is so great you want to draw up an internet petition against it ever being tarred.

Although this circular route is about 300 km long, it’s impossible to cram it all into one weekend. You therefore have to decide beforehand whether you only want to drive the road or whether you want to fit in a 4x4 trail or two as well.

Your choice would be influenced by the vehicle you drive: If you have a 4x4 with good ground clearance, you will be able to tackle the trails (they say the factory where rocks are made is here somewhere), and those with softroaders will be able to enjoy the great gravel roads and beautiful Karoo landscape.

Ball breaker

Last week Danie le Roux and I arranged to meet at noon at the gate (S33.59617 E19.86872) of his farm Koeniekraal, where the Wagon Wheel 4x4 Trail is. But he has no cellphone reception so we never confirmed.
That’s why I almost walked out of the Wimpy with the saucer. I was clock-watching to be on time.
Some distance after the small settlement of Koo I enter the first twists of the Rooihoogte Pass. According to my GPS the gate is just around the corner.
And, what do you know; there is Danie, over six feet tall, in his jeans, khaki shirt, hat, grey-blue eyes and beard flecked with grey. Like a lean Kris Kristofferson with a white Land Cruiser bakkie.

It’s 11:59 on my watch.
“I like a man who’s punctual,” Danie says.
The Wagon Wheel & Karoo Adventures Trail has easier parts, but if you like some white-knuckle driving and have a vehicle with ample ground clearance, you’ll be in your element.
Only invite guests along if they have a calm disposition. “I’ve seen some husbands and wives having major fights here,” Danie says a while later while we’re bouncing and shaking over the rocks.

Then I see the “Chicken Run” sign, pointing the way to a formidable grade 4 trail.
Danie just smiles. Just like he does when you see the “Land Rover Hill” sign and wonder what exactly it means.

Wagon Wheel isn’t one of those trails that you drive with Barbra Streisand crooning in the background. No sir, this is not exactly a runningboard-friendly stretch of earth. The mountains and stones will see to that. But it is about the views from the higher-lying areas, as well as the satisfaction of mastering the terrain.

There are two campsites on the trail – Peerboom and Luiperdskloof. Featuring a nice windscreen at the braai, the first is a smaller area suited to small groups. It also has a toilet and shower (with hot water) in a wooden house on the site.
Luiperdskloof is more suited to larger groups, with a lot of space for a get-together under shade netting and an ablution block with neat washbasins and mirrors.

Eventually I say goodbye and head out on the R318 weaving north up against the mountains to the N1. A kilometre or two after reaching the top of the plateau, the gravel road turns right and runs past the 4x4 trails of Leeuwenboschfontein and Kopbeenskloof.

Leeuwenboschfontein is one of Drive Out’s highly recommended trails, because the owner, Jannie du Plessis, has been building good facilities for visitors over the past ten years. Apart from neat accommodation for groups, there’s a swimming pool and playground for kids as well.

It’s a great weekend destination on its own, because it offers so much more than just a 4x4 trail.
You can hike, watch stars and birds, abseil and go micro-lighting.
The entrance of the Kopbeenskloof 4x4 Trail is right opposite Leeuwenboschfontein
Another option is the Wintertrek Trail, which is situated on the farm Zoutrivier, about 16 km from Koeniekraal.