Provincial colours

Where KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State meet, you'll find a well-known trail with a fitting name: 3 Provinces 4x4 Adventures.

-  Cyril Klopper

It becomes clear early on that Ronel Geldenhuys, who runs 3 Provinces 4x4 Adventures, knows exactly what she's doing.

She replies to your enquiry right away with a set of PDF documents outlining the rules, regulations, terms and conditions, and other important notes. She'll even keep you updated on the weather and temperatures in Volksrust, where the farm is located.

The pay-to-play trail is less than three hours' drive from Johannesburg. The trail explores Langkrans, 2 253 m above sea level, on the farm Waterval. The turnoff to Waterval is located on the R534 regional road at S27.36795 E29.74512 - a roadside sign reads, "Waterval Hiking Trail & 3 Provinces 4x4".

From there, a 5 km gravel road leads you past fields and kraals to the Geldenhuys homestead (S27.40856 E29.75270), and the road itself can be a challenge if there's been heavy rain recently.

Ronel and her husband Herman were on holiday during our visit, but their son PF welcomed us and talked us through the routes. You're also given a neat hard-card map printed with colour photos of the obstacles and activities.

3 Provinces 4x4 offers a total of six routes on Waterval, but the Geldenhuys family also operates trails near Tshipise in Limpopo - and they run historical battlefield tours around their holiday property.