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He trail starts next to the Olifants River in the small West Coast town of Koekenaap and ends 235 km farther in Hondeklip Bay. When driving up from Cape Town, you’ll arrive in this town shortly before noon, and there’ll only be enough time to complete a q

SHORTLY AFTER YOU turn right at the fork, the first of many farm gates awaits. A notice on the gate informs you that you are now entering private property. However, the stern message does not forbid you to enter, as the road is a servitude that serves several farms along the coastline.

After closing the gate behind you, the dirt road takes a long, leisurely curve to the coast. You can manage the dirt road with a family sedan, but there are occasional patches of loose sand and it is advisable to lower your Toyota Corolla’s tyre pressure to about 1,8 bar, just in case.

There are several twin tracks that turn off to the beach, and for these you will need a proper four-wheel drive vehicle as the sand is deep and loose. This is why it makes little sense to come here in a sedan since the hard gravel road never comes nearer than 200 m to the beach. If you want to dip your toes in the sea and pitch a tent next to the beach, you’ll absolutely have to bring a 4x4 vehicle.

Reduce the tyre pressure to 1 bar and take the first sandy twin track (S31.47817 E18.01859) to the beach. The first bay where you are allowed to wild camp is called Gert du Toit-se-baai. Here you’ll encounter an old Jurgens Fleetline with its wheels removed, one of the many to come. Considering the remarkable view, a caravan could hardly retire at a finer place.

Gert du Toit-se-baai is popular with West Coasters, and you’ll see braai places and wind-breaks built by local campers over many years using scree. If you’re planning to travel here over the Easter weekend or December, you’ll probably have a hard time claiming your own private beach at Gert du Toit-se-baai, because everyone will have the same idea as you. The good news is that there is more than 200 km of coast ahead and you will definitely find an unoccupied