With all-year great weather, spectacular outdoor scenery and a diverse variety of habitats, South Africa is a perfect playground for quad biking enthusiasts. There are over 60 different trails to experience, and a good selection of these also offer quad bikes for hire along with crash helmets. In South Africa you can ride in wildlife reserves, through the winelands, along the coast, up mountains and past waterfalls – the possibilities are almost endless, with enticing trails in every province. All the trails listed below offer quad bikes for hire and are fully guided.

Limpopo
About four hours north-east of Johannesburg, near Tzaneen, is Sunland Baobab. It is home to the biggest baobab tree in the world at over 6 000 years old with a 47m waistline and there’s a unique pub inside the trunk. This area is also a highly recommended quad biking venue where enthusiasts can ride along a river, through forest and also traverse a 4 000 hectare game farm, watching wildlife as they go. There’s also a track specifically for children, comfortable overnight accommodation for the whole family, and a swimming pool to cool off in the heat of summer.

Mpumalanga 
Oppikoppi is near Barberton and offers quad trails that cross old ox wagon trails that go right over the mountains. The area is rich in gold mining history and you can visit a gold mine along the way too. But, you won’t be alone while biking, as rhino, leopard and springbok are likely to be seen along the way since the trail is in a game reserve. Private tented accommodation is also available for overnight stays.

The Sabie River area offers spectacular scenery and a range of quad biking trails for all levels of riders. There are day trails from two hours, to three-day quad safaris and other options that include additional adventure sports along the way. Depending which option you choose, there will be forests and waterfalls, spectacular mountain views including God’s Window, lots of boulders and of course the Sabie River at the heart of it. Choosing an overnight option is highly recommended as you will be able to camp along the Sabie River.

Gauteng
Just south of Johannesburg near Villiers, is Lekoa Lodge in the middle of potato country. Here bikers can gameview as they ride and there are plenty of activities to entertain the whole family, plus good overnight accommodation.

Free State
Shumba Valley Farm, near Fouriesburg in the scenic eastern Free State Highlands, offers magnificent trails for both novice and experienced riders – amidst scenic sandstone cliffs. There’s also the Caledon River to negotiate and in the distance the rural huts of Lesotho can be seen. Comfortable overnight accommodation is available.

Also in the picturesque eastern Free State Highlands is De Ark Lodge and Game Ranch, near Clarens. On offer are relaxed game viewing rides as well as the chance to take on the mountains and put your quad biking skills to the test – there’s something for everyone.

KwaZulu-Natal
Elephant Coast Adventures, near Mkuzi in the heart of Zululand, has plenty of options for quad bikers – from a ranger of trails across farmland to a two-day trip to Sodwana Bay on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Self-catering air-conditioned accommodation is available for overnight stays, as well as a swimming pool for refreshment.

Eastern Cape and Garden Route
Through lush hills with ocean views and sometimes through reserves, these are all the turf of Green Adventures based near Port Elizabeth, who specialize in offering quad bikers new and unique habitats to ride in. From the rugged Baviaans Mega Reserve to the Wild Coast and including game reserves along the way, all these venues are possibilities for quad bikers with a thirst for something new. Or you could ride 4x4 trails near the coast if time is limited.

Western Cape
With miles of vineyards set against spectacular mountain back drops, Nature Quad Rides operates in a truly unique environment, offering quad bikers the chance to ride through the winelands and savour the fruits afterwards in a wine tasting. The Dellrust
Winery, just outside Somerset West, offers just this experience - along with many more in the immediate vicinity.

The proof is all there – South Africa has truly unique environments for quad bikers to enjoy and test their mettle, regardless of experience.

Useful contacts
Sunland Baobab: email: baobabbars@mweb.co.za; see: http://www.baobab.fhi.co.za/
Oppikoppi: email: hitech.security@soft.co.za; see: http://www.ecoquadadventures.com/
Sabie River: email: info@sabieriveradventures.co.za; see: http://www.sabieriveradventures.co.za/
Lekoa Lodge: email: riette@lekoalodge.com; see: http://www.lekoalodge.com/
Shumba Valley Farm: email: barmour@worldonline.co.za; see: http://www.shumbavalleyfarm.co.za/
General trail information and online magazine:
http://www.quads4fun.co.za/ or email: quads4fun@mweb.co.za

Hire costs
Quad bikes can generally be hired for R150 – R350 per hour or from about R500 per day.