Godt nytt år | Nyakhomtsha | Gelukkige Nuwejaar | Happy New Year!
Our first newsletter of 2025 brings with it our wishes to you and your family for a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.
The festive season is mainly done and dusted. Schools have reopened and parents have gone back to work. As usual our roads were the scene of many terrible accidents in the annual human version of the sardine run, where sensibilities fly out the back door in the wild rush to get to the coast. Massive traffic jams were experienced on the N1, N3 and in Limpopo Province. Well done to everyone that made it back home in one piece. Christmas is not known as the silly season without justfication.
Listen to an AI-generated discusion of this newsletter:
4x4 TOURS
WILD COAST V10 TOUR. - Our longest tour we offer is our ever popular Wild Coast Tour which offers all the very best on offer in this beautiful region of South Africa. We have 3 spots left. BOOK ONLINE HERE.
The Katberg and Lesotho tours remain fully booked.
We still have capacity for our Zevenwacht 4x4 training day in February. It's a good time to brush up on your off-road skills, especially if you have booked on an upcoming tour.
We will be adding the next series of tours by the end of January, which will include the all new Karoo Tour, Baviaanskloof and Swartberg tours.
SOCIAL MEDIA
On the 31st December at 18.32 our FaceBook followers topped the 200,000 mark with the current figure (today) logging in at 203,500). The festive season always sees a boost in these numbers. Next goal is to reach 300,000 by the end of December, 2025. We have managed to attract a wide variety of followers across all races and 18 international countries (many of whom are expats - it seems our page feeds their longing for home.)
TECH CORNER
How to traverse steep, rocky terrain.
1. Before navigating uneven ground, secure anything inside the vehicle that could fall around and possibly injure a passenger.
2. If possible, remove any roof-rack items. Roof top tents negatively affect the rollover angle. Use the lowest gear possible and approach at a crawl. Avoid the temptation to steer up the slope.
4. If you slide, steer downhill and gently apply the throttle.
5. If you lose traction on your uphill wheels, stop immediately, reverse away and choose a more suitable route.
6. Keep an eye out for anything that could unbalance the vehicle, like rocks or potholes.
7. Approach logs, rocky steps or ditches diagonally: you want three wheels on the ground at all times.
TELEMETRY OVERLAYS
A few months ago I watched a video taken by a motorcyclist which featured some real time dials overlaid on the video. I immediately thought it would add a lot of value to our videos, if I could replicate his efforts. From there I started on a long and tough learning curve trying to figure out how to get telemtry overlays to work on MPSA videos. It is not nearly as simple as it sounds.
Progress developed quite quickly in December when we released our first TO (Telemetry Overlay) video.
You can review an example here:
We are still figuring out a few technical issues, but the final product will have the following gauges:
- Mini Course Map with hot dot tracking
- Distance
- Altitude
- Gradient
- Heading
- Speed
We strongly believe that the telemetry data will add a lot of value to our videos. All our new videos also feature optional subtitles which have been accurately edited.
BEN 10 ECO CHALLENGE - DAY 1
We departed Mountain Shadows Hotel (MSH) promptly at 08.30 heading foe Jouberts Pass via Barkly East. The weather was perfect as we wound our way down a beautiful green valley surrounded by magnificent sandstone buttresses past the Diorban farm, where one can view bushmen paintings in large caves.
The two radio squaked: "Robby, we have a puncture"
This was barely 3 km from MSH. Mary Ann West had a brand new set of expensive tyres fitted to her Land Cruiser and managed to pick up a nail just after leaving the hotel. What bad luck, but punctures have no conscience and pick on anyonw in the group. As things turned out, it would be the only puncture in the tour. A sort of sacrificial anode.
The back road off the R58 to Jouberts Pass is a great "sagmaker" where guests who are unaccustomed to gravel road driving have a 40 km stretch of undulating road to gain some confidence before tackling the first of the challenge passes. It was along this road that we found our path completely blocked a very large fallen tree. There was no way around it either and chopping or sawing it into bite sized pieces would have taken many hours.
We came up with a plan to winch the tree out of the way, by using a snatch block attached to another sturdy tree about 45 degrees to the line of the fallen tree.and positioned the Land Cruiser in straight line at the same angle to ensure no snagging of the winch rope. The entire operation took about 20 minutes. Some guests got stuck in to assist, whilst others observed quietly.
We had beautiful weather for the ascent up the eastern side of Jouberts Pass which allowed for good photography from the summit. This first day the weather man decided to play along nicely, as we enjoyed really good weather for the entire tour. This was the first Ben 10 in a decade that we didn't have rain.
After the long and winding descent of Jouberts Pass, we stopped briefly in Lady Grey for a comfort break, then looped around towards the south east via the Benjaminshoogte Pass and the second challenge pass of the day - Heuningneskloof.
Time spent fixing the puncture and the fallen tree had eaten into our ETA, so the decision was made to leave Heuningneskloof for the next day, which was probably a good thing, as things went awry the next day. We will tell you the full story on that little bit of adventure in the next newsletter.
The group arrived back at MSH before 17.00 eager to gather in the pub to swap photos, videos and war stories.
WILD COAST TOUR - DAY 2
The main attraction of this day is a fairly stiff hike to Waterfall Bluff and Cathedral Rock. Getting there is something of an adventure in itself as it involves a two hour drive down the Ghanja Pass which is followed by a muddy two spoor of about 7 km which properly tests driver skills.
Waterfall Bluff is one of the 7 Wonders of the Wild Coast. It's something of a rarity to see a waterfall plunging directly into the sea. Only a handfull of these can be seen around the world. The stretch of coastline between Mbotyi and Port Grosvenor sports two of them.
The Wild Coast, a stretch of untouched beauty in South Africa's Eastern Cape, is steeped in a rich tapestry of history. This rugged coastline, extending from the Kei River in the south to the Mtamvuna River in the north, is a land of legend and cultural significance.
Historically, the Wild Coast is home to the Xhosa people, who have lived in harmony with this landscape for centuries. It was here that the great Xhosa chiefs led their people, and where epic tales of bravery and resilience were born. The area also played a crucial role during the Frontier Wars, a series of conflicts between the Xhosa kingdoms and British colonialists during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Cathedral Rock, north of Mbotyi
Shipwrecks along the treacherous coast are silent witnesses to many maritime tragedies, further adding to the Wild Coast's mystique. With its breathtaking natural beauty and deep cultural roots, the Wild Coast remains a captivating and evocative chapter in South Africa's history.
Some of our guests remained behind at Mbotyi River Lodge to enjoy the beach, whilst others went fishing and birding. That night was festive in the pub as the Chappies were handed out to worthy recipients.
Next Episode: Msikaba N2 mega bridge visit and vulture colony.
KOUGA BAVIAANS TOUR - DAY 5
For the final day of this popular tour, we were set to a complete east-west traverse of the Baviaanskloof from Cape St Francis to Willowmore, so we set an earlier departure time of 08.00.
So much has been written about the Baviaanskloof, yet each traverse offers new experiences, new sightings and an ever changing kaleidoscope of vistas, which are all weather dependent.
The Baviaanskloof, a World Heritage Site and one of South Africa's unspoiled treasures, stretches across 192,000 hectares of pure, untamed wilderness. This mountainous area, tucked between the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, is a paradise for nature lovers, offering an enchanting blend of rugged landscapes, rich biodiversity, and a sense of timelessness.
Sederkloof Lodge in the Western Conservancy. The lodge is currently closed.
The Baviaanskloof is often described as a place where heaven meets earth. Its vast, secluded valleys are surrounded by immense peaks and carpeted with an array of unique plants and flowers. This region boasts an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including many endangered species found nowhere else on the planet. From the rare Cape Mountain Zebra and the Red Hartebeest to the elusive Leopard, the area's wildlife thrives in its natural habitat, making it an unforgettable destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike.
One of the most striking features of the Baviaanskloof is its impressive rock formations and towering cliffs. These geological wonders, carved out by ancient forces over thousands of years, offer a spectacular backdrop to the verdant valleys below. The region's rivers and streams, brimming with clear, fresh water, wind through this landscape, providing lifelines to the ecosystem and stunning spots for visitors to cool off and reflect on nature's beauty.
Camping at Doodsklip is magnificent / Photo: Baviaans Tourism
Adventure seekers will find no shortage of activities in the Baviaanskloof. The rugged terrain is perfect for off-road driving, offering challenging and exhilarating routes that reward with breathtaking vistas. Hikers can explore an extensive network of trails, each unfolding new scenes of the area's majestic landscape. For those wishing for a more serene experience, the Baviaanskloof offers opportunities for birdwatching, fishing, and simply immersing in the tranquility of the wild.
In Baviaanskloof, every corner holds a story, every path invites exploration, and every moment spent is a reminder of nature's unparalleled grandeur. It is a place of wonder, where the soul finds respite and inspiration amidst the beauty of untamed Africa. So, take a journey into the heart of the Baviaanskloof and discover a land where the magic of the wilderness still reigns supreme.
We arrived at The Willow Historical guest house in Willowmore in time for the rugby, cold beer, a great Chappies final night and sumptious home cooked Karoo food. Our hearfelt thanks to El Anne who pulled out all the stops to ensure we had a great visit.
And so ended yet another wonderful Baviaans tour. The next one is scheduled for the second half of 2025.
Trygve Roberts / Founder MPSA
"If you believe it will work, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't, you will see obstacles."