'If John Wayne were alive and living in South Africa, he'd be at home in the North West Province. He'd spend his afternoons sitting on the stoep chewing twak with that other old skelm Oom Schalk Lourens (the narrator of many Herman Charles Bosman stories of the area) and they'd reminisce over cups of fortified coffee about rough trails walked and some driven.

The North West is that sort of place dry, wild and hard, but where afternoon coffee is culture and odd characters can share a stoep. It's also an area mapped with off-road trails worth considerable stoeptalk, most within day-trip reach of Gauteng's snarling traffic jams.

It's the place Gauteng 4x4ers should go when looking for something more intense than parking on a Sandton sidewalk or dodging road works on Jan Smuts Avenue.

An added bonus is that you can get real Wild-West dirt on your vehicle and still be home to watch 'Egoli' depending on how many times you get stuck.

If Oom Schalk had a 4x4, these are the trails he'd share with John Wayne.

1. Moegatle

Wild West factor: It's the venue for an annual Rock Crawl competition for modified vehicles. Go figure.

Accommodation: Fully serviced chalets with breakfast, self-catering chalets, camping costs R100 a stand.

The way there: Take the R511 from Brits to Thabazimbi. After 21km turn right onto the dirt road at the Moegatle and Dikhololo sign. Moegatle is another 10km further on.

Make a plan: Tel 012-277-1430 or 082-563-6015, e-mail alex@moegatle-lodge.co.za or visit http://www.moegatle-lodge.co.za.

Minimum time: Six hours

Guided: Compulsory

Minimum five and maximum 10 vehicles

From Gauteng: Two hours

The lowdown:
It's never a good idea to go near a bar before tackling a 4x4 trail (or any kind of driving for that matter), but you should totally avoid it at Moegatle, even for a cool drink. The reason: a wall in the pub covered with daunting images of up-turned bakkies and the results of other obstacle attempts gone wrong. The Moegatle locals call it the wall of shame membership fees usually run into the thousands, payable at your local garage or spares shop.

If you drive with confidence and take direction from the guides through the sand and over the granite hills, the 21km trail will challenge your skills, but shouldn't damage your vehicle (or ego) too much. Diff-lock is a must and removing any running boards recommended.

2. Berakah 4x4

Wild West factor: A hill known as the Rhino Challenge.

Accommodation: Two-sleeper self-catering chalets, camping and caravan sites.

The way there: Take the N1 southeast out of Joburg to Parys. Drive through Parys and out on the Potchefstroom/Fochville road (R53). Cross the Vaal and follow the Berakah signs.

Make a plan: Tel 056-818-1313 or 082-339-9177 or visit the website at http://members.freemail.absa.co.za/meziter/Frames.htm.

Minimum time: Three hours

Not guided

Maximum: 40 vehicles

From Gauteng: One-and-a-half hours

The lowdown:
Take along a co-driver to read the map detailing each feature on the 13km creep and climb through the hills of the stony Vredefort Dome. There's no way of negotiating all the narrow log bridges alone.

Most of the obstacles needing diff-lock and low-range have bypass routes and almost half the trail is soft-roader friendly. Paint-scratching branches and sump-threatening rocks have been cleared to minimise risk of damage to your vehicle.

3. Protea Eco 4x4

Wild West factor: Bumper-chewing lions in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve.
The way there: Take 14th Avenue out of Joburg. Turn right into Hendrik Potgieter and follow it for 20km. Turn right into the R28 for 5km and then left into Robert Broom Drive. The Protea Safari Trail is at the second traffic light on your left.

Accommodation: Discover Lodge B&B, Ngonyama Caravan park.

Make a plan: Contact Jannie Rykaart, tel 083-268-0566, fax 011-764-2220 or visit http://www.passport2adventure.co.za. Minimum time: Three hours full day

Guided: The Safari Trail is not, but the Protea Off-road Experience is

Maximum: 10 vehicles

From Gauteng: 30 minutes

The Lowdown:
Okay, so technically it's not in the North West Province, but it's close enough and Oom Schalk would approve... There are two different trails at Protea Eco, one in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve and the other one a built trail that doubles as a training facility.

The unguided Safari Trail (on the constructed route) is well marked and excellent training for any planned cross-border overlanding trip. "From the driving conditions to the camping equipment, it's good to get used to everything so close to home," said instructor Jannie Rykaart. It's advisable to have two vehicles on this trail, at least one with recovery equipment.

There's serious day-trip family appeal on the Eco Trail game viewing in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, or simply kicking back for an out-of-town braai in one of the many lapas.

4. Karee-Krans 4x4 route

Wild West Factor: There's a resident African rock python rumoured to be six metres long that frequents the rock pool below the waterfall.

Accommodation: Camping, self-catering chalet (which leeps four)

The way there: Take the N4 through Rustenburg. 2km after Moedvil turn right at the sign ('Hoë Bome'). Turn left at a T-junction 8km on. Karee-Krans's signboard is 800m on your right.

Make a plan: Tel 073-158-1545 or fax 014-592-1568.

Minimum time: One hour

Not guided

Maximum: Two vehicles

From Gauteng: Two-and-a-half hours

The lowdown
There are three trails of various difficulties on this farm outside Rustenburg. While there's ample opportunity to test your skills (especially rock driving) and your vehicle, the main attraction is the North West bushveld. It's also the type of place your kids will nag to go back to abseiling, foefie slides, natural swimming pools, volley ball and the like will keep them laughing while you're white-knuckling behind the wheel.

5. Doornrivier 4x4

Wild West factor: Only 40km from the Botswana border and a great place to overnight before heading into that country.

Accommodation: Self-catering, camping and caravanning

The way there: Take the N4 out of Rustenburg towards Zeerust. At the fourth four-way stop in Zeerust turn right onto the Gaborone/Madikwe road (R49). Doornrivier is 9km out of town on your right.

Make a plan: Tel 018-642-3394 or 082-219-6649 or e-mail andrev@gds.co.za.

Minimum time: Four hours

Not guided

From Gauteng: Three hours

The lowdown:
The natural features at Doornrivier will make a large 4x4 seem small from driving through the deep, narrow dongas to rock koppies and towering trees. There are four individually graded trails offering fun for novice 4x4ers and soft-roaders, as well as some serious challenges for experts. Two of the trails (especially the rocky Blue Route) are serious four-star baddies in wet weather and require diff-lock and recovery equipment.

This feature originally appeared in Getaway Magazine. For more, visit getawaytoafrica.co.za