Climbing onto your very own quad bike and following a tantalising track through unknown territory is one of the most popular adventure activities in South Africa. With so many diverse and beautiful landscapes to explore, quad biking offers a fun way to cover ground and see the sights. It’s easy to learn to handle these forgiving, sturdy machines with most operators offering fully automatic models. We’ve taken some of the slog-work out of your search for which quad biking adventure will suit your interests. Are you looking for a hard-core technical track that will put your driving skills to the test? Or do you just see quad biking as an exciting way to explore- stopping regularly to game watch or learn about a rare plant? Here’s a list of some of the best quad biking experiences in South Africa. Quad bike trails vary from exciting dune riding all the way through to more sedate vineyards tours ending in wine tastings and elegant picnics.
Cape Town & Cape Winelands
Cape Town offers two very different types of quad biking adventure. It shouldn’t be hard to choose which one’s for you. Quad biking through dunes is technically challenging, super exciting and other-worldly- think exploring on Mars. Quad biking through vineyards is a more relaxed affair and usually ends with a glass of wine! That should seal it one way or another…
Overberg
For those of you who think quad biking is less about communing with nature and more about the thrill of roaring around a bumpy track, think again. If you have a little time it’s well worth heading eastwards out of town to the beautiful Overberg region. Quad biking in the Kogelberg biosphere reserve in the company of a qualified field guides who will introduce you to the wonder-world of fynbos is an eco-experience on steroids.
Drakensberg
All Out Adventures offers a premier quad biking adventure in the rippled foothills of the Drakensberg. Comprehensive and interactive driver training goes hand in hand with excellent off-road bikes. Add exciting technical trails and stunning scenery to all this and you can’t go wrong.
Eastern Cape
Three different operators offer three very different quad biking adventures in the Eastern Cape. A quad biking safari is Areena Riverside Resort’s novel way of getting guests deep into the bushveld and up close to a variety of game including zebra and wildebeest. Criss Cross Adventures takes guests further inland and gives them a glimpse of the environment around Addo, with amazing trails through riverine thicket along the Sundays River or you can take a wild ride on the Wild Coast with Wild Coast Sun Resort’s quad bike adventure.
Free State
Let the energetic team at Clarens Xtreme in the Free State show you the stunning Golden Gate area on a quad biking tour. Though the charming town of Claren’s has earned its popularity from its wealth of original arts and craft shops and gourmet café’s the adventure activities springing up in its nearby rivers and mountains are fast gaining an equally good reputation.
Garden Route
Quad biking in the Garden Route is well covered. You’ll find an excellent operator in all the main coastal towns and a few out-of-way places too; Mosselbaai, George, Wilderness, Knysna, The Crags and Plettenberg Bay. Take your pick. Trails traverse fynbos covered hills, wild coastal corridors, bushveld and forest.
Gauteng
Gauteng offers quad biking close to urban centres. Adventure Zone’s quad biking safari is a short distance from Pretoria. A short drive from home and you’ll be zooming around the bushveld looking for kudu, eland and other game. Ground Zero Adventures are only 35-minutes from Pretoria and Johannesburg- a quick urban-escape for the family. For an exciting experience quad biking in the foothills of the Magaliesberg, contact Saddle Creek Adventures.
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga, being the adventure province of South Africa, quad biking here is highly recommended. You’ll explore bushveld and river valleys near Kruger National Park’s border, or you can choose to zig-zag though the picturesque hills of Dullstroom. A range of quad biking options can be found here ranging from highly technical-river crossings and off-road - to fun and easy-going tracks.
North West
North West Quad biking just got wilder! Mankwe Gametracker’s expert guides will take you into the Letsatsing Game Park near Sun City, Pilanesberg. Exploring wild bushveld on a quad bike has got to be one of the best safari experiences around.
South Coast
Oribi Gorge is the stunning setting for Wild Five Adventure’s quad biking trail on the South Coast. After a thorough practice ride, you’ll set off on the fun, winding 8-kilometer woodland trail. Destination? One of the stunning view sites into the spectacular gorge.