INDEX

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Eastern Cape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Free State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5KwaZulu-Natal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Limpopo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Mpumalanga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 North West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Northern Cape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Western Cape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Page 1

INTRODUCTION Our isolation from nature and from the natural rhythms of life has become a dominantfeature of modern man’s existence. We continue knowingly to succumb to the“megalomaniac” desire to control the world around us, not realisng that this dominationbrings with it the burden of confinement. People are now imprisoned by their own lifestyles,condemned by the very inventions that were supposed to set them free. Humans areelemental beings, ruled by basic emotions that are founded in survival from their origins. Weneed space, we need times of loneliness and thought, and most of all, we need to get backin touch with our primal roots.

South Africa offers man the best of both worlds, the opportunity to become part of nature,while still enjoying the comforts that modern technology offers. The diversity and variety ofSouth African landscapes have rightly earned our country the reputation of being the ideal4x4 playground. Visit and explore South Africa and discover why it is called “a world in onecountry”. One unique way to ensure that you experience everything that our wonderfulcountry has to offer, is to take to less-travelled roads in your 4x4, RV, SUV, Off-Roader orjust plain Bakkie (a local term).

Over-landing or “Four-by-Fouring” is an activity that keeps growing in popularity among bothSouth Africans and visitors from abroad. The wide selection of vehicles on the market andthe many vehicle-rental companies that have these vehicles available have made the greatoutdoors accessible to all.

There are more than 150 recognised off-road or 4x4 trails in South Africa and more arebeing developed every month. South Africa literally offers all the 4x4 opportunities theOverlander may wish for. But this fact can only remain true if visitors and outdoorenthusiasts remain conscious of their responsibility towards nature and to those who willfollow in their tracks. Leave the terrain in the same, if not a better, condition than you foundit and, if you keep the following 4x4 mantra in mind: “Travel as slowly as possible and asfast as is absolutely necessary,” you will ensure an enriching experience for yourself andthose who come after you.

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EASTERN CAPE

Diversity is the word that can best describe this province - from the region known as theTranskei, with its coastal beauty to the majestic Drakensberg Mountain Range that inspiredthe author Tolkien to write “Lord of the Rings”.

Because of the lack of roads and infrastructure in the north of the province (the formerTranskei), many locations are only accessible by 4x4 vehicles, making this area an idealholiday spot for modern-day explorers. Trails such as the Brulberg Trail near the town ofMiddelburg are popular but, for those who favour less rustic surroundings and moresophisticated amenities, the Garden Route is the ideal “stomping ground”. Through thetowns of George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, the coastal forests in between, to the settlers’town of Port Elizabeth, this region is an adventurer's haven. The Bloukrans Bridgebungee-jump (currently the highest in the world - with a drop of over 216m) is certainlyat the top of the adventurer’s list of things to do.

The region is also known for its amazing flora and fauna, and the elusive Knysna Loerie is awell-known feathered inhabitant of the forest canopy.

A wide range of new conservation areas has recently been opened to the public, which areonly accessible to off-road vehicles. Educational programmes have made it possible for thepublic to be involved in the discovery of new species of plants, chameleons and even of apreviously unknown species of moth.

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FREE STATE

Because of a general misperception aboutthis province and its attractions, the FreeState is one of the best-kept adventuresecrets around. Even South Africansdescribe the Free State as mainly flat, withsparse small shrubs and regard it only as asection to be crossed on the way fromGauteng to the Western Cape.

However, this perception could not be morewrong. Over the last few years, local 4x4enthusiasts have become aware of the allureof the Free State and the area around thetown of Clarens has become the new hotspot for 4x4 adventures. Some 4x4 trainingacademies have also opened near town.

This playground is very close to the GoldenGate National Park, named after the goldencliffs that adorn the landscape. The solid rocksurfaces and old farm roads make for somechallenging driving. However, be advised thatyour vehicle clearance needs to be optimal.

The town of Ficksburg, in addition to itsfamous cherry festival, also offers variousadventure opportunities, hunting andagriculture, and also has one of the firstconservation areas to be proclaimed in thecountry.

Over the years, as a result of erosion andovergrazing, dongas (large erosion furrows inthe land) have formed in certain areas andnow provide excellent challenges toOverlanders. An excellent example is thearea near the town of Kroonstad that hasbeen used to train the South African CamelTrophy teams.

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GAUTENG

The largest group of 4x4 vehicle owners InSouth Africa is to be found in the provinceof Gauteng. This is often a reason forridicule, since this province has the fewest4x4 routes in the country. However,Gauteng has a large number of trainingcentres or academies where the 4x4owner, potential buyer or even the visitorcan test the capabilities of both vehicleand driver and learn techniques that willprepare him or her for the roughestterrains in South Africa.

At these training grounds, both the noviceand the expert Overlander will be facedwith conditions similar to those that maybe encountered in nature. In a controlledand sustainable environment, both manand machine can be put to the test andgain experience.

One such training facility is at Gerotek, anadvanced testing ground just outsideJohannesburg. At this facility, qualifiedinstructors guide students in the art andtechnique of optimising the off-roadadventure while, at the same time, takingcare to preserve the surroundingenvironment.

The “Offroad Adventure Partnership” runs4x4 programmes at several locationsaround South Africa and expands theadventures by adding diving, micro-lightflying, mountain-biking and several otheractivities, depending on the terrain andlocation of the training centre.

There are several locations in Gauteng,such as the Kromdraai Conservancy nearKrugersdorp, where, especially during therainy season, a four-wheel drive vehiclewill ensure access to all corners of theregion. In this recently proclaimed worldheritage site, you can visit the very farmwhere the gold rush started in the latteryears of the 19th century, view fourof the “Big Five”, go caving, trout fishing,horse-riding and even take a ride on an“ossewa” (ox-wagon), the traditionaltransport of the early pioneers.

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KWAZULU-NATAL

KwaZulu-Natal offers Overlanders all the different 4x4 terrains they could ever dream of.The Drakensberg Mountain Range to the west, the coast to the east, the subtropical foreststo the north and the midlands are all the diversity the 4x4 enthusiast will ever need. Anglo-Boer War sites are much more accessible and visible from the height and comfort of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. 4x4 Holidays are made even more attractive by the camping sites set in spectacular surroundings that are available all over the province.

Divers are drawn towards the north, towards the Sodwana Bay area, where they can diveon some of the most magnificent reefs in the country. Since the roads are rudimentary, 4x4vehicles are the preferred mode of travel. Although beach driving is permitted in certainareas, it is always better to check with the local authorities beforehand.

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Further north, towards the Mozambique border near Kosi Bay, lies an area that offers manysurprises. It is home to such exotic creatures as the palmnut vulture, the small and uniquemarine animal called the sea horse and a species of owl whose main diet consists of fish.During the months of October to February, this area is also the nesting site of sea turtles.

Because of the diverse animal life of the area, the Parks Board enforces strict laws andpenalties to protect the natural inhabitants. Overlanders should always keep track disciplinein mind (following the existing marked tracks) and, in this region specifically, should drivebelow the high water mark as the turtle nests are just above this mark.

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LIMPOPOThis province is shrouded in the myths and legends of the Rain Queen, the Sacred Forest,the Forbidden Lake and the Golden Rhino. The Waterberg (Water Mountain) area is atreasure trove for botanists and conservationists alike.

Rocky terrain is the main obstacle in the north, but for those who have patience anddetermination and an informed guide at their side, a world of archaeological andpalaeontological wonders awaits. Venturing deep into regions to which only 4x4 vehicleshave access, visitors can view the mighty baobab trees that, according to local folklore, fellfrom heaven and landed upside-down, a legend that makes perfect sense when one seesthese trees.

The region is also well known for its private game reserves. The Soutpansberg Mountainsalso offer the thrills of red sand driving, similar to the conditions of the Kalahari desert,which lies more than a 1000km to the west. Because of its topography, theregion offers some of the best bird-viewing opportunities in the country, with the emphasison the various species of raptors.

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MPUMALANGA

This province is home to the world famousKruger National Park, which has recentlyopened a 4x4 trail inside the park. Otherattractions include the many private gamereserves and old pioneer towns such asPilgrim’s Rest, which saw its heyday in the late1800s when gold was discovered there.

4x4 Enthusiasts are mostly attracted by the tracks in the forest areas. The lush greensurroundings hide many treasures, for instance“Thulamela”, the archaeological remains of lostcivilisations dating back to the Iron Age.

Another lure to Mpumalanga is the fishing forrainbow and brown trout on the highlands ofDullstroom and Lydenburg. The terrain is oftenmuddy and a 4x4 vehicle would make thefishing trip much more enjoyable.

A 4x4 training centre, the “Off Road Experience”,is situated near the town of Nelspruit.Often used by the Land Rover Company, thisis considered to be one of the top 10 centresof its kind in South Africa. The area nearNelspruit also contains many San rock artsites, worthy destinations for 4x4 journeys.

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NORTH WEST

People often make the mistake of ignoring the North West but the “Platinum Province” hasgained much strategic importance over the last few years. The small town of Zeerust is themain access point to the Trans-Kalahari highway that runs through the neighbouring countryof Botswana and provides access to Namibia.

The province also gained fame because the two biggest casino complexes in South Africa,Sun City and Lost City, are situated here. The Pilanesberg area is a popular 4x4 playgroundand offers game and bird viewing along ancient trade routes. The dormant volcanic crater ofthe Pilanesberg is decorated with bushveld vegetation and offers the outdoor enthusiastseveral challenges, as well as access to the Kalahari Desert.

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NORTHERN CAPE

One of the largest provinces in South Africa, the wide-open spaces and the sense ofsolitude of this sparsely populated region offer an ideal destination for the Overlander.Draped in the history of the Anglo-Boer War, this region is also rich in iron ore anddiamonds.

The Witsand Nature Reservehouses one of the mostamazing natural wonders ofthe area, white desert dunescovered in wetlands as a resultof the very shallow water table.

South Africa has initiated manysuccessful communitydevelopment programmes inrecent years. A proud exampleis the Riemvasmaak projectthat has relocated local tribes

to their ancestral lands. Unfortunately, the harshness of the region offers limitedagricultural opportunities but, true to their enduring spirit, the local people havedeveloped a very successful tourism industry.

Riemvasmaak offers four off-road trails and lends access to the Green Kalahari regionand its red dunes to the north. The strip along the Orange River offers someunexpected surprises such as wine tasting opportunities and dates that are exported tothe rest of the world.

One of the prime destinations for 4x4 owners in the Northern Cape is the RichtersveldNational Park, which is bordered on the north by Namibia. To the south of the park liesNamaqualand, an area that is world-famous for the natural wonder that occurs hereevery year, the vast plains of small colourful flowers that spring to life from July toSeptember, depending on the rainfall.

In the far west, the province is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal area offersexciting opportunities to explore the coast via its 4x4 routes. On account of the opencast diamond mines in the area, some sectors are still restricted and driving is onlyallowed in designated areas.

Due to the lack of pollution andthe absence of major industries, theKaroo region is an ideal destinationfor astronomy enthusiasts and theworld-famous SutherlandObservatory can be visited byappointment. This area alsocontains many dinosaur fossils.

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WESTERN CAPE

One of the largest provinces in South Africa, this region offers a multitude of adventurepossibilities and trails to explore. A good start would be the Hex River Valley, known as oneof the richest wine cultivar-producing areas in the world.

In winter, the Hottentots Holland Mountain Range may even offer you the opportunity to testyour 4x4 vehicle in the snow.

The period from September to November brings visitors to the protected beaches ofHermanus where they can see whales or the protected oyster catchers that nest on thebeach.

Perfect your dune driving skills on the white inland dunes near the town of Lambert’s Bayand after a hard day behind the steering wheel, stop for excellent seafood at the Posduifkliprestaurant (named after the wild pigeons that used to nest here).

The Western Cape offers some of the best mountain and valley terrain in the country. TheCeres Valley is known forboth its citrus cultivation andits prehistoric fossil sitesand the Breë River Valleyhas more than twenty-five 4x4trails.

The Good Hope NatureReserve opens up anotherexciting opportunity for 4x4enthusiasts, to see “fynbos,”the floral kingdom endemicto this part of the globe.

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CONTACT DETAILS

There are several 4x4 clubs, rental companies, books and websites where the 4x4enthusiast may obtain information on overlanding or off-road activities in South Africa.

To ensure that you have the best experience possible, please contact the followingnumbers:

4x4 Central Reservations for Southern AfricaTel: +27 (0) 12 346 3232

4x4travelanddestinationguide.com

4xforum.co.za

Four Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa Tel: +27 (0) 11 452 3860

The Outdoor Warehouse(chain store group) Tel: +27 (0) 11 397 3844

Any Avis and Hertz rentaloutlet.

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