Fun 4×4 trails in South Africa
These top 4×4 trails in South Africa offer 4×4 beginners and experienced drivers something to write home about. The trails give you the opportunity to get your teeth stuck into challenging obstacles, or simply keep your training wheels on, with the option to by-pass a tough route in some cases.
Ithala Game Reserve - KwaZulu Natal
Above: Ithala Game Reserve by VSmithUK
- GPS Coordinates: S27° 32′ 40? E31° 16′ 49?
- Grading: 1 – 3
- Distance: 23, 17 and 5 km
- Time: ½ – 3 hours
- Self-drive
- Cost: Day visitors R40, overnight guests no entry fee, R70 per vehicle.
Grootwater 4×4 Trail – Limpopo
- GPS Coordinates: S23° 33’ 00” E28° 31’ 10”
- Grading: 1 – 5
- Distance: 30 km total
- Time: each route takes about 4 – 5 hours
- Self-drive
- Cost: R200 per vehicle
Witsand Kalahari Mountain View 4×4 Dune Route – Northern Cape
Above: Photo by Martin Heigan of the dune route – one of the most fun 4×4 trails in South Africa.
- GPS Coordinates: S28 34’ 967’’ E22 29’ 242’’
- Grading: 2 – 4 (seasonal)
- Distance: 40 km
- Time: 5 hours
- Self-drive
- Cost: R320 per vehicle
About 20 km outside of Witsand lies one of the most fun 4×4 trails in South Africa. This award-winning trail is filled with a variety of challenges. Nestled between the Langberg and Skurwe mountains, the trail is great for beginner 4×4 adventurers. The terrain comprises of farmland and stunning red Kalahari sand and dunes along the way, but is a fairly easy track. The route is 36 km long and has an additional 4 km trail taking you up a steep, rocky mountain slope if you’re up for it.
Getting there: On the N14, 6 km southwest of Olifantshoek on the road to Upington, turn left at the Witsand Nature Reserve signpost.
Three Provinces 4×4 Trail – South Africa
- GPS Coordinates: S27° 25’ 28” E29° 44’ 25”
- Grading: 2 – 5
- Distance: The trails total 200 km
- Time: 2 days
- Self-drive
- Cost: R180 per vehicle. Main and battlefield trails, R80 both extra trails.
An epic fusion of three amazing 4×4 trails in South Africa. Just outside of Volksrust lies Waterval farm with its stream crossings, mountainous areas, rocky terrain and muddy holes which proves most enjoyable for beginner 4×4 drivers.
The trail boasts gorgeous views with the Versamelberge Mountains forming the track’s backdrop. Inspiring the trail’s name, at the top of Langkrans, a sheer cliff 2 253 metres above sea level, is the meeting point of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State. The main trail is about a 30 km route that gives you the opportunity to take on Bobbejaankrans and Tierkloof as extra trails.
Getting there: Take the R543 towards Vrede from Volksrust for 13,6 km. Turn left onto the gravel road at the 3 Provinces 4×4 sign. Continue straight for 5 km until you reach the farmhouse.
Hennops 4×4 Trail - Gauteng
- GPS Coordinates: S25° 79’ 13” E27° 98’ 16”
- Grading: 3 ½
- Distance: 9 km
- Time: 3 hours
- Self-drive
- Cost: R180 per vehicle
Located along the Hennops River, 40 km from Sandton and Pretoria, this is one of those much talked about 4×4 trails in South Africa, packed with exhilarating challenges for drivers of all experience levels. With its rough 4×4 terrain, tyre-challenging ascents, absurd descents, dongas, mud holes, water crossings and axle-twisting side slopes – the trail truly is an adventurous route.
If the trail gets too intense, there are bypass routes on the tough sections to help out first timers. Wildlife like zebra, blue wildebeest, blesbok and impala as well as a variety of bird life can be spotted along the way, if you manage to break your concentration for a moment.
Getting there: From Johannesburg, take the R511 from Fourways towards Hartebeespoort. Drive for approximately 28 km; the entrance to the Hennops off-road trail is on the left.
Watch the traveller footage below of a Toyota Landcruiser tackling one of the Hennops trail dips. Click here >> Drive South Africa
4×4 trails in South Africa are great to learn on before venturing off on a 4×4 safari into Africa. Most of the 4×4 trail roads in Africa require an experienced 4×4 driver.
But how do you get experience as a 4×4 driver? You start tackling tracks. Most of South Africa’s nature reserves and national parks offer great self-drive safari 4×4 trails which range in difficulty, giving beginners and experienced drivers the opportunity to enjoy all kinds of terrain.
