How we rank

Difficulty — Grade 1 to 5

We use the grading language the South African 4x4 community already speaks:

• Grade 1

  Maintained gravel. Any high-clearance vehicle in dry weather.

• Grade 2

  Rougher going: loose surfaces, ruts, steep sections. High clearance needed; 4x4 recommended.

• Grade 3

  Low range needed. Proper 4x4 with clearance and recovery points. Some obstacles are clearance-critical.

• Grade 4

  Difficult. Rock, deep sand or serious gradients. Experienced drivers, recovery gear, ideally two vehicles.

• Grade 5

  Extreme. Winch, diff-locks, real damage risk. Not for stock vehicles.

Where the route's operator publishes a grade, we use theirs — marked "Operator grading". Where they don't, we assess from recent trip reports and mark it "OL assessment". Weather moves grades: most routes here get harder by a full grade in rain or snow.

Cost — R to RRRR

Bands, not prices — fees change and we'd rather send you to the operator for the current number:

• R

  Free or under R150. Public passes and low-fee routes.

• RR

  Roughly R150–R800 per vehicle. Most trail parks and day permits.

• RRR and RRRR

  Bigger-ticket trips: guided convoys, multi-day park trails, and routes where 3+ days off-grid mean real fuel and supply costs. Guided requirements and off-grid days push a route up a band.

Always confirm current fees with the operator before you travel — the booking link on each route page takes you there.

Popularity — 0 to 100

A blend of four signals, weighted like this:

• 40%

  How often the route comes up in the SA 4x4 community (forums and 4x4 media).

• 25%

  Its social media footprint.

• Up to 15 points

  Google review volume where the route or operator is listed.

• Up to 20 points

  How many South Africans search for it every month (Google search data, updated monthly).

Popularity isn't quality — some of the best drives in the country score low simply because few people know them. We think that's a feature.

What your rig needs

The gear checklist on each route page is generated from that route's actual conditions — water crossings call for a snorkel and breathers, multi-day off-grid stretches call for dual-battery or portable power, no cell signal calls for comms backup, and so on. It's a starting point, not a quote: your nearest Opposite Lock fitment centre partner will confirm the right spec for your vehicle before you spend a cent.

Where the information comes from

Every route was researched from operator and park sources, community trip reports and current news, with a "last researched" date shown on its page. Routes marked "Check conditions" have something worth phoning ahead about; routes marked "Currently closed" were confirmed closed at research time. Conditions, fees and access change fast in this game — always confirm with the operator before you travel.

We've kept the scoring conservative on purpose. If you reckon we've got a grade wrong, tell us: info@oppositelock.co.za.