With obstacles which range from easy to mildly challenging, this course at the Mahindra Off Road Academy near Tshwane will give a novice a great introduction to off-road driving.

If you, or someone you know, always wanted to try some off-roading but never got around to it, Mahindra’s Off Road Academy offers the perfect way to scratch that itch.

Where is it?

Hosted at Leribisi Lodge on the furthest south-eastern edge of Pretoria, this academy is conveniently located for Gauteng residents and offers a comprehensive introduction to the off-roading world.

You don’t even need to use your own vehicle (if you have a 4x4) except to get there, because there’s a variety of Mahindra 4x4s to choose from.

Off-roading isn’t scary

They even make getting into a strange big 4x4 and setting off into the bush easy, thanks to a squad of instructors to help you navigate your way through a course that will make you feel like a hero.

And, if you have your own 4x4 and want to try it out too, the course is open for other vehicles at the end of the day.

What do they teach you?

The course starts out with a short talk by course leader Derick Crous, and explains the basics of off-road driving and the vehicle mechanics behind it on a white board. But the real excitement begins soon after, when you take to the driving part of the day.

Every obstacle has an instructor on hand to advise drivers regarding 4WD system settings and the correct driving lines, and soon, you’ll be cocking a front wheel in a cross-axle situation with the best of them. And you’ll feel clever, because someone properly explained those terms to you.

What does the course look like?

Most off-road scenarios are catered for, with the main exceptions being snow, moving water, and extreme rock climbing. The surfaces vary from rocky patches to deep diagonal ditches, steep earthen hills, wooden post bridges, and a proper mud pit.