Provided you take reasonable precautions 4x4 trails are an immensely rewarding experience.

Mountain bike enthusiasts are always welcome in the region, and there two-wheel trails of varying levels of fitness and competence, particularly in the Drakensberg. 

You may wish to follow the routes of the red coats up Amajuba or get close to the fauna and flora in the Tugela Biosphere. History buffs will opt for a local mountain bike trail in one of the battlefield towns. The superbly scenic Rainbow Gorge in the Drakensberg is a popular mountain bike excursion while mountain bike trails in the Greytown area offer overnight options.

Drakensberg 4x4 trail directory

• Mikes Pass - This 4x4 trail is located in the Cathedral Peak Section of the Central Drakensberg. This 32km trail is one of the most scenically beautiful anywhere. It includes some steep climbs and a hair-raising 7km downhill on the pass.
• Sani Pass - This is a fairly challenging 4x4 route with access from Himeville in the southern Drakensberg. The pass twists and climbs upwards, beneath towering cliffs and buttresses, reaching the top of the Drakensberg escarpment at 2 873m. You need a passport to cross the border post into Lesotho at the top.
• Thule Beacon Trail - From St Bernards Peak in East Griqualand. This trail is renowned as a tough 4x4 trail that takes you high into the southern Drakensberg mountains. The experts say that this trail is much tougher than Sani Pass.
•