Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Please share information about trips you have done
Post Reply
User avatar
Alex Roux
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 2627
Joined: 11 Jul 2011 10:54
Full Name: Alexander Roux
Nickname: Calculator
Home Town: Johannesburg
Current 4x4: 2004 GU 3TDi (Lexus) - aka "Witblits" (sold)
2005: GU TD42 - aka "Masewa"
1996: GQ TB48 conversion - aka "Skilpad"
1993: GQ SWB TB42 - aka "Shortie"
1985: MQ Patrol (Safari) SD33 - aka "Toro"
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 49 times
Been thanked: 240 times

Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Post by Alex Roux »

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!
Beautiful Karoo, in the middle of nowhere, near a place called "In de Middel"!
Beautiful Karoo, in the middle of nowhere, near a place called "In de Middel"!
Karoo1.JPG (220.85 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Karoo2.JPG
Karoo2.JPG (295.85 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Karoo3.JPG
Karoo3.JPG (348.58 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
LostbikeInTheLong grass.JPG
LostbikeInTheLong grass.JPG (501.76 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Paradise4x41.JPG
Paradise4x41.JPG (546.16 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Paradise4x43.JPG
Paradise4x43.JPG (506.47 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Paradise4x42.JPG
Paradise4x42.JPG (654.83 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Petrusville, fuel availability is variable. Overall consumption, being fully loaded as per picture and aircon on, was 17l per 100km. 5.9 km per litre.
Petrusville, fuel availability is variable. Overall consumption, being fully loaded as per picture and aircon on, was 17l per 100km. 5.9 km per litre.
Petrusville.JPG (74.23 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Single track bridge crossing the Orange river, somewhere between Luckoff and Koffiefontein
Single track bridge crossing the Orange river, somewhere between Luckoff and Koffiefontein
OranjeRivier1.JPG (535.07 KiB) Viewed 4239 times
Last edited by Alex Roux on 08 Jan 2014 10:59, edited 1 time in total.
Skilpad, Shortie, Toro & Masewa
User avatar
Tinus lotz
Moderator
Posts: 7579
Joined: 29 Aug 2010 13:07
Full Name: Tinus lotz
Nickname: Tinus lotz
Home Town: Centurion
Current 4x4: Nissan patrol 4.8 GRX 2005

Toyota 2.7 legend 35 LWB 4X4
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 800 times
Been thanked: 549 times

Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Post by Tinus lotz »

Looks very lekke man.....hope to do it soon :thumbup:
User avatar
Jorrie
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 2184
Joined: 21 Jun 2011 18:55
Full Name: Jacobus Jordaan
Nickname: Jorrie
Home Town: Pretoria
Current 4x4: 1998 Nissan Patrol 4500 GRX (now in Benji's hands), 2019 Zook Gen 4, 2011 4.8 GRX Patrol Adventure 60
Home Language: English/Afrikaans
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 184 times
Been thanked: 165 times

Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Post by Jorrie »

Nice pics Alex. Dankie man.
Jorrie
1998 4500 GRX (Benji)
2011 4800 GRX Adventure 60 (Jorrie)
2011 Jimny Sold (Benji)
2 x 2019 Jimnies (1 x Lizzybean69, 1 x Jorrie)
User avatar
Kagiso II
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 3452
Joined: 10 Jun 2009 16:58
Full Name: Mac Mc Menamin
Nickname: Oom Mac [Uncle Mac] [Uncle] [Oompie] Kagiso
Home Town: BrentwoodPark, Benoni
Current 4x4: 1982 Datsun Safari 2,8 aka LOBO; [1,300,000 Km verby !]
'99 PATROL 4,2 diesel.
2012 Jimny [SWAMBO se Kantoor-toe]
Home Language: AFRIKAANS
Location: Benoni and wherever the Outreach takes me.
Has thanked: 299 times
Been thanked: 155 times
Contact:

Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Post by Kagiso II »

.. en SWAMBO sê "Donna ..

hetie geweet Donna was ook saam'ie ? :rolling: :rolling:
Maar jy laat dit lekker lyk en klink .. DANKLIE vir die deel [nou was ik tog ook op vakansie :wink: ]
:oldtimer: :oldtimer:
Don't bring God down to your level of faith ... bring your faith up to His level!
User avatar
Herrie
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 2999
Joined: 08 Apr 2009 07:17
Full Name: Kobus Pienaar
Nickname: Herrie
Home Town: Kempton Park
Current 4x4: 1999 Patrol 4500e GRX
1983 Datsun Safari
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Post by Herrie »

Ek is bly jy het dit geniet!
Herrie op Safari/Patrollie
1983 Safari
1999 Patrol 4500 GRX
User avatar
Chris Skinner
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 852
Joined: 26 Nov 2009 12:58
Full Name: Chris Skinner
Nickname: Chris
Home Town: Centurion
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol 4,8 GRX 2005
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 53 times

Re: Trip report: Karoo & Southern Cape Dec & Jan 2014

Post by Chris Skinner »

Cool - Looks like you had a lekker holiday!
Post Reply

Return to “24. Trip Reports”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 8 guests