4x4 Trails that we have been on

4x4 Trails

I have had a few 4x4's over the years, and have 1 currently, with an old Land Rover Series 111 1980..

I have had :

• Ssangyong Musso - Diesel - manual, and also a 320 petrol - manual
• Ssangyomng Rexton - old 290 - auto, as well as a newer 2.7 diesel auto
• Rang Rover - v8, but the old shape model - auto
• Land Rover Discovery 3 - TDV6 SE auto
• Chevrolet Trailblazer - 2.8 diesel 4x4 (current vehicle)
• Land Rover Series 3 - 1980 2.6 petrol model (also still have this)

I'm not a maniac when it comes to 4x4 trails and prefer those that will not damage the vehicle and leave it all scratched, dented and battered. For the more hectic 4x4 and trails closer to Johannesburg, I use the series III land rover. For longer trips and when towing the off road trailer, I use the Trailblazer.

Sani Pass

We have been up Sani a few times. Normally we go in winter.

In 2009 we traveled to the Midlands where we stayed a few nights prior to driving up Sani.

Midlands in KZN. A walk down near the river

We were staying over a few nights at Caversham Mill. Lovely place, and the room had a nice fireplace.

We then moved onto a farm stay. This farm had some really lovely chalets. It also had a super view out over the valley.

Then we tackled Sani in the snow. It was a relatively easy drive up in the Discovery.

A frozen "waterfall" near the top of Sani Pass.

The lesotho border post at the top of the pass.

Driving through some snow.

We stopped off at the lodge and visited the claimed highest pub. It really was cold, so we had some lovely hot chocolate.

Serendipity, Mateke and Marekele

Elizabeth and I decided to take the old 1980 series II landy on a few trails.

Camping at the river campsite at Serendipity. I used an old caravan rally awning that I had and riveted an extrusion onto the roof rack. It worked ok. But I can imagine that its much like a rooftop tent where you have to pack up every time you want to g for a drive. So not really ideal.

A drive in Serendipity

There are quiet a few accommodation options at Serendipity.
Below is a view of our campsite.

Driving up the hill at the start of the trail.

There was some water around, so I decided to take a walk through to see how deep it was. It only went up to just above my knees, so was not an issue for the landy.

We were all packed up and leaving Serendipity.

We decided to travel to Mateke via Rankins Pass. This is quiet a nice gravel road and very scenic.

We arrived at Mateke, safely, and were booked to stay in a "room" at the river camp. Basically its a camp where you sleep in a dorm kind of room on very hard beds.

On the second night we pitched Elizabeth's small tent and I slept in there while she stayed on in the dorm room.

Below is a road in Mateke. We did not do too much driving around Mateke, but did try out a few roads. No problem for the landy.

From there, Sue and my dad joined us at Marekele. We had a nice site, but it was not one of the ones near the waterhole. But, its still always nice to camp at Marakele.

We drove most of the roads around Marekele.

We also took the road up the mountain, to the signal units at the top. You get a fantastic view from there and the road is quiet enjoyable to drive.

Leaving Marekele National Park for home.

Other travels that we have been on (4)

Pilanesberg and Marakele

We really enjoy camping at Pilanesberg. (Cannot stay in chalets there as they are totally overpriced !)

We started going to Pilanesberg in the late 80's and on times there were only a handful of caravans there. However, not its a very popular weekend getaway and is often crowded. But, if you cam at Manyane, and go around to the "back" you can sill get a site in the caravan section which is normally quiet.

I hate noise and unruly, people at camping parks/sites.

On one trip to Pilanesberg, a crowd arrived in the large Jurgens Exclusive caravans, all towing with huge SUV and bakkies. They were a family of 4 caravans. Father, sons and daughters and their respective families. They wanted sites together (at Pilanesberg you cannot book sites, its first come first served).

So they proceeded to pull the gum pole marking the sites out of the ground. They moved their caravans into the center where you are not supposed to camp and totally disregarded everyone else, as well as the camp rules and property. You could just tell what kind of people these were (only care for and about themselves and don't give a continental about anyone else) and we know then that they were going to be unruly, drunk and disorderly. Well. the entire weekend, it dd not stop. Noise - drinking and loud people.

It was a ling weekend as well. On the 2nd night I could not take it any longer and shouted at then to keep quiet and behave. Well, the father of the group staggered over. he could hardly stand up and wanted to start a fight, because did I know how much they had paid to stay there and that entitled them to do as they pleased. Well, guess what, I had paid the same !!

Anyway, his daughter came across and she had also had enough and told him that he was misbehaving, loud, rude and that he should keep quiet and he was keeping her baby from sleeping. 

He quietened down.

But we had a similar issue at an Eco Game Lodge that we booked at. These people came in with their music blaring and were just rude and loud. When I asked that they turn the music down, their swearing started and it was unpleasant. When I complained to management, she said, why don't you just join them. Needless to day we will never recommend that Eco park to anyone and will never go back there.

Anyway, onto Pilanesberg :

Camping at Pilanesburg. We have found that it you go around to the extreme outside of the camping ground, its normally quieter. Also the sites look out onto the bush, rather than onto a neighbor or road.
Above is the dome tent without the extension.

Our Jurgens caravan with the rally awning erected. The red vehicle is my Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x4 2.8 diesel.

Looking from the ablutions towards our campsite.

Fish eagle drinking at a dam in Pilanesburg.

We found this heard of elephants at makwe dam.

These giraffe were also at Mankwe dam.

And Marakele :

We had quiet a nice site at Marakele. It was not on the outside, but was shady and just a few meters away from the side of the campsite.

The nice think about Makakele is that the campsite is not fenced. So, if you are lucky you will get the Rhino walking past your caravan. We only did see them at the waterhole this time.

The bird life at Marakele is amazing. We had numerous birds coming up onto the groundsheet of our caravan.

It was very dry where we were at Marakele. But we had some good sightings.

Marakele claims to have elephants and we have seen their dung around. However, on the numerous occasions that we have been to Marakele we have never seen any elephant. Perhaps on the next visit!

Other Travels that we have been on (2)

Other Travels that we have been on (2)

Knysna

When we first traveled to Knysna to camp, I booked at Buffalo Bay caravan park. I had heard that it was spectacular.

So we drove down from Johannesburg and when we arrived the entire Johannesburg was camping at Buffalo Bay. Tents were almost touching each other and there appeared to be no real demarcated sites. My wife said she was not camping there. Anyway, I went in to have a look and the lady at reception said that the park was overbooked. So, they had placed us in the other park, called Buffelskop. It was on the road out of town. We drove off, not to happy with the park. But, on arriving at Buffelskop, we were pleasantly surprised. It was spectacular. As the name suggests, it was on a head. So the sites were layered up the side of the mountain, and all over looked the sea. Each site was demarcated and there was no falling over your neighbors guy ropes. We have been back to Knysna many times and always book at Buffelskop. 

Its a great park and in my view streets ahead of the main park. The view is great.

The view from our campsite at Buffelskop Caravan Park

Our 2 sites at the park. These two are "alone" on one landing and very close to the ablutions.

Our Jurgens Avion L. We have had the caravan for 15 years.

On the beach at Buffels Baai. Thi sis the main swimming beach at the town.

Sue arranged a trip on the cat for me. It was really great but unfortunately we could not sail through the heads as the swells were to big. It was still an enjoyable afternoon.

Sunset at Buffels Baai

On the way home, we got caught in some roadworks and had to wait for quiet a while for the "Go" signal.

Mozambique

Having heard so much about Mozambique and also abut how amazing Beline was, we finally decided to go and see for ourselves. We decided that due to the many complaints regarding the Komatipoort border post, we would travel via the Kruger Park. This actually turned out to be a good idea and the border crossing was quick and easy. However, the road beyond the border was almost non-existent. But, after travelling thought many local villages and stopping to ask a lady who was herding her cattle, we finally made it. 

Our campsite was amazing, in that it was huge, had a reed wall around it, had private ablutions as well as a restaurant and very small shop. The only drawback was that it was on a lagoon, and actually nowhere near the sea. We were hoping to do some snorkeling, but that was not possible in the lagoon.

A friendly hippo. It was a infant, but that mouth was still very large. The hippo would join us for walks, but it was always good to be weary about the size if the animal and also that they kill more people than any other animal, in Africa.

Heading out from our overnight stay and onto the road to Kruger park. We stayed over a few nights at Mopani camp so that we cold use the Giriyondo border post. This proved to be a good decision, as we were the only people at the border crossing.

Our campsite in Beline. We stayed at the laguna camp. he campsites were awesome and large. We had more than enough room for the dome tent, tent extension as well as our off road trailer and trailer tent. There was also a braai area, and each site has a private ablution. The water is heated via a donkey.

Above is the dome tent and extension and below id the off road trailer with the tent erected. Both these are on one site !

We wanted to go to the beach (Laguna is on the lagoon and you cannot cross unless you have a boat, which we did not) so we went int Beline town where we managed to "catch" a boat across to the beach.

The restaurant at Laguna camp. The food was good and we had no problems.

Picture of our kitchen area in the off road trailer.

View from the restaurant at laguna Camp down to the lagoon.

One one of the days we drove across to Xai Xai and found a very nice beach restaurant and beach. had a good swim and a few cold beers.

this old landy was at a bar which we found, quiet by accident, at the very end of the lagoon. It was really nice to sit there with a few cocktails and enjoy the afternoon.

From this bar, we found a "road" which took us to the beach. It was extremely sandy, however my discovery managed to get down to the seaside and back up again. We had a few swims there.

Choose which way you would like t go !!!

This is the bar at the end of the lagoon where we enjoyed a few cocktails. You can "park" outside.

It was a good holiday, but I'm not sure that we will go back to Beline again.