HONINGKLIP 4X4

WHAT IS HONINGKLIP 4X4?

A 956-hectare working farm known for its olives and reams of mountainous 4x4 tracks. You’ll also find three Mountain Bike routes, a 4x4 obstacle course, a sandy playpen, and a well-known microbrewery.

WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT THIS TRAIL?

Honingklip 4X4 is roughly 100 km from Cape Town’s city centre and one of the city’s closest bona fide 4x4 trails. The route crisscrosses a few streams, trundles up mountain slopes, and claws through mud pits and densely grown gum tree forests.

The views are spectacular, and the trail offers something for everyone – irrespective of 4x4 experience and vehicle capability.

For this reason, it’s a terrific trail for newbie off-roaders wishing to hone their 4x4 skills.

However, don’t be fooled into believing that Honingklip’s a walk in the park; by choosing your route, the trail is as hard as you want it to be... and that goes for the more experienced drivers, too.

WHERE IS HONINGKLIP 4X4?

Situated in the Overberg Region in the Western Cape, Honingklip 4x4 is a mountainous farm conveniently located not far from the sea − it’s approximately 15 km away. The trail is a short drive from popular holiday destinations such as Kleinmond, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and Hermanus.

Things to do in the area include beer tasting at the farm’s very own micro brewery (Honingklip Brewery), horse riding (on the farm), quad biking (on the farm), golf (Arabella), boating and canoeing along the Kleinmond estuary, wine tasting, hiking, mountain biking (4 routes on the farm), and exploring the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.

WHEN CAN THE ROUTE BE DRIVEN?

The trail is open all year round.

HOW HARD IS THE TRAIL?

Depending on how wet the trail is, parts of the route can be driven in a capable soft-roader. However, the fun stuff is restricted to low-range-capable 4x4s, and the more textured terrain (mud and rock) will require some form of traction aid such as a diff-lock, traction control system, or above-average suspension travel.

DIRECTIONS TO HONINGKLIP 4X4

The quickest way there would be to head along the N2 from Cape Town, then take the R43 turnoff, drive straight for another 10 km, and look out for the Honingklip sign on your right.

However, a far more scenic route would be to hop off the N2 before Sir Lowry’s Pass by taking the M9 turnoff on your right towards Gordon’s Bay.

Follow this road until its end, and take the R44 south. Follow the R44 past Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond until you hit a T-Junction. Turn left at the junction and travel along the R43 for roughly 1 km until you see the Honingklip sign on your left.

DETAILS ABOUT HONINGKLIP 4X4

Distance: Approximately 12 km of combined off-road track.

Rating: 3, but optional 4s are available. It could be a 5 after heavy rain.

GPS: S34° 17.115 E19° 08.900

Closest town: Kleinmond (13km)

Cost: R200 per vehicle

Contact: Richard Middelmann on 083 287 5112 to make a booking. For more information, visit Honingklip’s Facebook page: Honingklip Farm 4x4.