* Friendly Matat & Magical Mbotyi
* Filming of Ramatselitso's Pass
* Cry the beloved railway (Part 1)
* Crossing the Karringmelkspruit
* Podcast - A chat about days 2 and 3 of the Ben 10 Eco Challenge
* Pass of the week
As you read this newsletter we are already based in Matatiele, which is our rendezvous point for the Wild Coast 2021 Tour. The minimum temperatures hover between -1C and 3C at this time of here, so its a cold start to the tour, but by the time we reach Mbotyi at the coast, the maximum/minimum temperatures improve a lot to 23C/14C on average. We base ourselves at Resthaven Guest House for the first 2 days of the tour, where our hosts, Philip & Elrita Rawlins move heaven and earth to ensure our group is comfortable, well fed and happy.
We will be filming Ramatselitso's Pass before the tour starts. This pass has evaded our attentions for almost 8 years and persistently given us the bird mainly due to unsuitable weather. We last drove this pass in 2012 when it was a seriously challenging 4x4 route. Since then the steeper parts have been concrete paved which should make our camera work a lot easier.
The area has had a very wet summer and autumn, so we are expecting plenty of slipping and sliding on this tour as well as a number of bridgeless river crossings to contend with. Our routing tomorrow takes us up to Mountain Lake high above Matatiele as well as a visit to the Mariazell Mission, which is always a big hit with our guests.
On Saturday we say farewell to friendly Matat and head south on gravel via the Nungi Pass and Colonanek both which offer sublime high altitude scenery. We then do a short section on the N2 before turning south to Tabankulu and on to the magnificent Mzintlava Pass, which will be the highlight of the day. We will dodge the taxis, dogs, goats and cattle in Lusikisiki and descend all the way to the coast at Mbotyi, where we will spend two nights and includes a hike to Waterfall Bluff and Cathedral Rock.
Along the mountainous border of Lesotho, between Aliwal North and Barkly East, ran what was arguably the most scenic branch railway line in South Africa. Railway enthusiasts also know the line for the famous set of eight reverses (or switchbacks) that negotiate the difficult terrain of the Witteberge in the southern foothills of the Drakensberg. Although relatively short in length, its overall construction period was unduly long (28 years), spanning from March 1903 to December 1930, and included the puzzling abandonment of an essentially completed and particularly striking section. What circumstances interfered? Because of conflicting explanations, and other questions, a group of five civil engineers visited the disused line during October 2012, seeking answers to their questions. Comprising what came to be known as the 2012 Barkly East Railway Reverses Tour (BERRT), the participants offer these findings, hoping other engineers and enthusiasts will visit this remarkable branch line in a magnificent part of South Africa.
[Read more...]
* Trips & Tours in 2024
* Ben 10 Eco Challenge (Day 1)
* Wild Coast V7 Tour (Day 2)
* Kouga Baviaans Tour (Day 4)
* Pass of the Week
Welcome to our first newsletter of the year. We wish you good health, happiness and lots of travel adventure. It is with sadness that we have learned of the sudden passing of Magriet Kruger of Zandvlakte farm. Piet and Magriet Kruger have hosted our groups over many years. Our condolences go to Piet and the family as all the communities of the Baviaanskloof. Magriet was a smart lady who wrote books on the flora and fauna of the kloof. Her influence in establishing tourism to the Baviaanskloof is immeasurable as well as her efforts to bring literacy to the locals via a schooling system Rest in peace.
Our tours for the year have been launched and here are the details.
February 17th - Atlantis Training Day (Soft sand tuition) - 1 place available
April 3-10th) - Lesotho V2 Tour - Fully booked
April 13 - 20th - Lesotho V3 Tour - Fully booked
May 14-25th - Wild Coast V8 Tour - 8 places available
July 7 - 13th - Swartberg Classic - 3 places available
August 11th - Grabouw 4x4 Training Day - 8 places available
September 23 - 28th - Kouga Baviaans Tour - 6 places available
November 4 - 16th - Wild Coast V9 Tour - 4 places available
December 1 - 7th - Ben 10 Eco Challenge - 4 places available
With an upside down weather forecast, we had to make some decisions. The name of the game is to tackle the notoriously difficult Bastervoetpad on the driest day. Despite the forecast of 5 days of rain, the volume of rain was the lowest on the first day. We made the announcement early that morning that we would be swapping some of the days around in the interests of group safety. Bastervoetpad here we come - with no preamble or soft introduction!
I was concerned about the Mercedes Benz GLE 400d as it's not a true 4x4. It does however have a 9 speed automatic gearbox and plenty of power to spare. It also has the ability to raise it's suspension below 20 kph. To be safe I slotted the Merc in just behind the lead vehicle, as I was fully expecting that I would be recovering the vehicle. My fears would prove to be futile as the Merc completed Bastervoetpad without any problems.
We left the hotel at 08.00 after breakfast heading west on the R58 for a short drive, turning onto gravel towards the Bottelnek Pass.
* Hello Summer?
* Tours & Trips
* Lesotho Tour Part 5
* Technical
* Katberg Tour Part 2
* Featured Pass
With the shortest day of the year behind us, we can look forward to small increments of additional sunlight as we slowly move into the second part of the winter. From a Cape Town perspective it's been a very mild winter so far and not nearly enough rain has fallen. Local dams are standing at an average of 68% compared to the same time last year at 84%. The second half of winter is almost always more severe than the first half in the Western Cape, whereas upcountry, things tend to be the opposite.
The southern parts of the Western Cape, the Little Karoo and parts of the coastal belt of the Eastern Cape took a walloping in June with lots of infrastructure damage. Most of the roads have been either partially or fully reopened to traffic - and just in time for our Swartberg Tour which starts on 7th July.
In the grip of a 5 year financial winter is the Tiffindell Ski Resort. All the legal wrangles have finally been tied up and the property is officially up for sale. It will be interesting to see how the next Tiffindell chapter unfolds and whether The Ben MacDhui Pass will ever be driven again.
We have been inundated with inquiries for our 2025 Katberg Tour. It seems we hit the sweet spot with this inaugural version. Half of the places have already been pre-booked.
We've had a cancellation for our 11th August Grabouw 4x4 Novice Training Day. Book here.
We are looking to grow our tour offerings in 2025 by engaging other guides to help with the workload, so next year we plan on doubling the number of tours. This will also allow me to explore and create new tours (like the Katberg Tour). More news on this development when its cast in concrete.
Our route followed the Fish Tunnel for a while before branching off to the west, following a quiet dirt road up the northern flank of the Waainek Pass. This was a delightful drive with some nice technical bits thrown in to keep the adrenaline flowing. We passed the main farmhouse near the summit, then faced the very long descent down to the coastal plateau at Somerset East.
* Paying the rent
* Great Karoo Tour
* Technical Corner
* Wild Coast (The Haven to Kob Inn)
* Lesotho Tour Replay
* Featured Pass
Listen to an AI-generated discusion of this newsletter:
AUGUST: Swartberg Classic Tour (17th to 23rd). Bookings for this ever popular tour closed on the 31st July. We hpe the flowers and the parties will be wild and the weather docile. As usual there will be a comprehensive report on our return. We have kept the route the same as in previous years. The only change this year is that we are running the tour in August (for better wild fowers) vs the month of July in the previous 4 tours.
SEPTEMBER: Cederberg Spring Tour ( 14-19) This tour is fully booked.
NOVEMBER: Ben 10 Official ~ Take up the challenge and earn the badge, There is nothing to compare what this tour offers in terms of technical driving, adrenaline charged obstacles, stunning highlands scenery, towering mountains, comfortable venues and local cuisine, vulture watching and local engagement. Book early to avoid disappointment.
APRIL 2026 : MOUNTAIN KINGDOM TOUR
Our 5th self drive tour that covers all the very best Lesotho has on offer. This tour includes Sani Pass, Black Mountain Pass, Polihali Bridge construction site, Letseng Diamond Mine, Oxbow Lodge, Moteng Pass, Lifofung caves, Muela Hydro Power Station, Mafika Lisiu Pass, Katse Dam, Cheche's Pass, Mohale Dam, Blue Mountain Pass, God me help me Pass, Thaba Bosiu cultural village, Kome caves, Metolong suspension bridge, Botsoela Pass, Malealea Lodge, Gates of Paradise Pass, Maletsunyane Falls, Semonkong Lodge, Qachas Nek, Tsoelike Pass, Christ the King Mission (Senqu Horseshoe) and the absolute best is the Sethlabathebe National Park. Enjoy 9 nights and 8 sublime days in the Mountain Kingdom. It's a trip of a lifetime. You will have two highly experienced guides leading the way - Philip Rawlins and Trygve Roberts to ensure your Lesotho experience runs smoothly. Book early to avoid disappointment.
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