What you need to know
The kloof route FROM BAVIAANS TO THE GAMKAS
Two of South Africa’s most beautiful kloofs lie close to each other, and you can explore both within two days. Depart from Patensie: a narrow dirt road first takes you over the Grootrivier Poort Pass and through the Groot River to Bruintjieskraal. Next up is the Combrink’s Pass with its sharp turns, then the Holgat Pass’s deep ravine and several river crossings – Smitskraal’s water is especially deep if there’s been rain.
The Grasnek Pass is next, but after this the kloof starts to widen and flatten. You leave the Baviaanskloof over the Nuwekloof Pass, join the R332 and follow this road for 30 km to the N9. After a mere 6 km, turn right onto the R341 and follow this road to De Rust. Take the back roads at the foot of the Swartberg to the Cango Caves. The caves are definitely worth a visit and there are a number of campsites in the area for overnighting. The next morning, tackle the Swartberg Pass, and at its summit, turn left onto the Otto du Plessis road to the Gamkaskloof, better known as Die Hel. About 30 km after turning off to Die Hel, you will find the Elands Pass that descends against the steep slopes of the Gamkaskloof.
The coastal route WEST COAST, BEST COAST
This route has no official name – although a section between the Groen and Spoeg rivers is jokingly called the green phlegm section. It stretches from Velddrif in the south to Alexander Bay in the north, is 600 km long and will take you at least three days.
The first section takes you through Laaiplek, Dwarskersbos, Elands Bay, Lambert’s Bay and Doring Bay. It is a good tar road, with sections of dirt, to Koekenaap, from where you turn back toward the ocean and follow a twin-track to Brand-se-Baai and the Namaqua National
Park. From here, the road alternates between dirt and tar to Alexander Bay.
Quite a number of the towns along this route have fuel and food plus some restaurants and bars – so there’s no need to pack water and food for more than a few days. Most roads are public ones, although some require a farmer’s permission. To drive through the national park, however, you have to pay a day rate (not if you have a Wild Card, though). You can tow an off-road trailer here, but not a road caravan. There are campsites at Velddrif, Dwarskersbos, Elands Bay, Doring Bay, Strandfontein, the national park, Hondeklip Bay, Kleinsee and Port Nolloth.
The river route FOLLOW THE GARIEP
The Namakwa 4x4 eco trail starts at Pofadder and ends at Brandkaros. Depending on how many detours you take, it’s between 400 km and 600 km long and takes three to six days. The first section of the route (between Pofadder and Viooldrift) is passable for ordinary SUVs, although all-wheel drive is essential. But the second section between Vioolsdrift and Brandkaros through the dunes is more challenging, especially when it comes to the multitude of dry riverbeds you have to cross.
The main challenges are rocks and sand, but what you need to watch out for most is that your vehicle breaks down on a remote section of the route. You would most likely have to wait a couple of days until someone passes by or you’d have to walk out to get help. Speaking of danger: if you’re brave and experienced, we suggest you explore the nearby Road to Hell. It’s best to tackle it when you have companions who know what they’re doing.
You must get a permit to drive the route, but it’s a fairly quick process and only takes a day or three. Contact Wilma James at
081 873 9043 or info@namakwa4by4. co.za for reservations.