As per usual at this time of the year, we travelled to the Southern Cape via the Karoo.
Spent a few days in the Karoo to break the trip down a bit and give to kids exposure to farm life (our 6 year-old also got to milk the cow) .
In doing so we tend to take the roads less travelled.
Fewer cars, no trucks and lots of dirt roads. Certianly safer and a lot more fun in a great tourer vehicle.
Once arrived along the coast we took one day of from the beach to drive the Paradise 4x4 dune track near Wilderness (http://www.paradise4x4.za.net/html/4x4_route.html)
This is not a guided tour, but the map and numbering of the trail is easy to follow.
Commentary on this clip, driving up an obstacle called Fugly's, is courtesy of my beautiful and beloved wife (now married to me for 18 years!).
We were on our own on this trail.
Consequently no waiting at obstacles.
The trail took us 30 minutes.
Normally it takes between 90 minutes and 3 hours.
But, I also had a few adults in the car whose understanding of fun does not include adrenalin.
So it had to be done quickly.
Question: With what other proper 4x4 can you have 5 adults and 4 smallish children as passengers in one vehicle, driving a grade 3+ track?
Conclusion:
The trail is no challenge for a petrol powered Patrol.
It is fun though, and much, much better value for money than the Vleesbaai route (now, I believe, at R500 per vehicle!)
On our way back to Gauteng (5 January), the Karoo reached 40 deg Celsius at some points.
There were pockets of rain and thunder though which was a welcome relief.
We reached one such pocket on the N9. What a pleasure. We all got out of the car and soaked in the rain.
Temperature dropped from 40 deg to 15!
5 minutes after being back on the road, temps got up to the high thirties again.
Oh, we also lost a bike due to a strap that broke off.
Lesson learned: One should invest in proper straps for tying up your things.
We searched for about an hour between Stilbaai and Vleesbaai until we eventually found my sons' bike.
We could have missed it quite easily as well. Hidden in the long grass!
Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014
- Alex Roux
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Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014
Last edited by Alex Roux on 08 Jan 2014 10:59, edited 1 time in total.
Skilpad, Shortie, Toro & Masewa
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Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014
Nice pics Alex. Dankie man.
Jorrie
1998 4500 GRX (Benji)
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Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014
.. en SWAMBO sê "Donna ..
hetie geweet Donna was ook saam'ie ?
Maar jy laat dit lekker lyk en klink .. DANKLIE vir die deel [nou was ik tog ook op vakansie ]
hetie geweet Donna was ook saam'ie ?
Maar jy laat dit lekker lyk en klink .. DANKLIE vir die deel [nou was ik tog ook op vakansie ]
Don't bring God down to your level of faith ... bring your faith up to His level!
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Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014
Ek is bly jy het dit geniet!
Herrie op Safari/Patrollie
1983 Safari
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1983 Safari
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