Drifting in the Dunes - Cape Town

The midday sun beats down hard and a screaming engine revs up high. Wheels spin and sand flies everywhere. The rugged 4x4 is stuck fast on the crest of a dune, it's undercarriage straddling the V-shaped sandy ridge. With a few helping hands, the vehicle finally lurches forward to cheers from the sand-caked crowd and begins to slide down the other side.

'Come on boys, if they can get over, then all of us can,' says one of the sweaty rescuers, eager to tackle the steep slope. One by one, they battle up the dune, many taking two or three attempts to reach the summit. Then it's my turn. I have my doubts about my baby 4x4 matching the performance of the other high-powered brutes so it's a pleasant surprise when I'm up and over and sliding down the sheer descent.

If you're a 4x4 city slicker, constantly craving the desert landscape but put off by the long haul to Namibia, then it's time to head up the West Coast. Just three scenic hours drive from Cape Town is the answer to your desert dreams. Ten kilometres before Lamberts Bay on the road from Clanwilliam is The Dunes, South Africa's own sandy playground for 4x4 fanatics, quad bike enthusiasts, sandboard surfers, hikers and flower folk.

The Dunes was taken over several years ago by Suzie and Theunis Engelbrecht and is fast becoming a very popular off-road trail for anyone who enjoys driving in the sand. The 26km route through the 250 Ha of undulating dunes has been laid out with the cooperation and approval of Nature Conservation. With the strong winds experienced in the area, the tyre tracks have usually disappeared by the following day.

'We don't allow vehicles to go off on their own and everyone follows the same path,' says Theunis. 'A minimum of three vehicles and a maximum of 40 are allowed on the route and there is always a guide for their safety and to ensure that they keep to the eco-friendly rules.'
The area also offers interesting hikes through the dunes and vegetation with many species of birds to be seen. In the flower season, the surrounding bushveld is transformed into a colourful wonderland.