The Western Cape might be the best off-road touring province in South Africa: within three hours of Cape Town you can be camped behind a West Coast dune, deep in Cederberg sandstone, or alone on the Tankwa plains. This is our home ground — 4Matt Campers is based in Bellville, and these are the routes our customers (and our own rigs) run every season.
The West Coast — Langebaan, Paternoster, Elands Bay
The driving: easy tar and good gravel, with sandy tracks near the coast. The catch: wind. Summer south-easters test every tent and awning you own.
The rig: anything from a rooftop tent to a full caravan works here — but pitch nose-in to the wind and favour hardshell tents and low pop-tops. Spring (August–September) is flower season: book early, and expect the gravel to corrugate as the season wears on.
Gear that earns its place: a solid awning with tie-downs, and a proper camping fridge — resupply is far apart up the R27.
The Cederberg — gravel, sandstone and cold nights
The driving: long gravel passes (Pakhuis, Uitkyk) that are kind at the right tyre pressure and brutal at the wrong one. Drop your trailer and vehicle pressures by roughly 20–25% on corrugations, and slow down.
The rig: this is classic off-road-caravan country — independent suspension and a galvanised chassis matter here. Winter nights drop near freezing: insulated bodies and proper bedding beat canvas in July.
Gear: 12 V lighting and a second battery — many Cederberg camps are unpowered. See solar to stay off-grid for a week.
The Tankwa Karoo — the self-sufficiency test
The driving: the R355 is famously the longest stretch of gravel between towns in South Africa — and famously hard on tyres. Carry two spares, water and fuel margin.
The rig: dust-sealed everything. This is where moulded fibreglass bodies and seam-sealed monocoques prove their price. There is no water to speak of: tank capacity is your trip length.
Gear: tyre repair and recovery basics, and double your water plan.
The Overberg & Agulhas coast
The driving: gentle gravel through wheat and fynbos to the southern tip of Africa — one of the easiest introductions to gravel touring you'll find.
The rig: ideal first-trip country for a new caravan or camping trailer; facilities are good and distances short.
The Klein Karoo & the great passes
The driving: Seweweekspoort and the gravel passes around the Swartberg are bucket-list towing — steep, spectacular, and no place for an overloaded rig. Know your tow vehicle's limits, use low range down the steep sides, and check pass conditions after rain.
The rig: weight discipline matters most here — a lighter, well-balanced van is safer and more fun than a maxed-out one.
Before you go — the practical bits
- Licence: trailers over 750 kg GVM need a Code EB licence; light trailers under 750 kg tow on a Code B.
- Tyres: drop pressures on gravel, re-inflate for tar, and check your trailer spare before every trip.
- Water & power: plan camps as if the next one has neither.
- Service: corrugations loosen things — a pre-trip check of wheel bearings, brakes and couplers is cheap insurance. Our Bellville workshop does exactly that.
Start the trip in Bellville
Every route above starts within an easy drive of our showroom. Browse new off-road caravans and pre-owned stock, kit out with rooftop tents and gear, or book a visit and tell us where you're headed — we'll match the rig to the route.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a 4x4 for these routes?
Not for most of them. The West Coast, Overberg and main Cederberg camps are fine behind a capable SUV or bakkie with an off-road trailer or caravan. The Tankwa and the remoter passes reward high clearance and proper tyres.
When is the best time to tour the Western Cape?
Spring (August–October) for West Coast flowers and green Karoo; autumn (March–May) for the Cederberg and passes. Summer works everywhere if you respect the wind and heat.
Can I rent-then-buy, or trade in my current caravan?
We take trade-ins and arrange finance in-house — many customers upgrade after their first season. Talk to us about where you want to go.