Kruger fence run

[Noneking]

Nice one just needs some greenery now when the rain comes

Exact same spot March 2018

 

[Amsterdam]

I have seen some of your photos of this on Facebook.  Will follow this one and once we are allowed some interprovincial travel this might make a good alternative to the Cederberg.

Comon Jan - that is very low standard ... here in Africa we prefer proper juicy riding, not oupa outings  ot: >

With every passing year my rides get more befitting of an old man.

 

[ClimbingTurtle]

This ride is ALSO on my to do list....

:thumleft:

 

[bud500 (R.I.P)]

One of my wish list rides!.

Nice one!

 

[Minxy]

Great, I'm happy the routes I sent you were put to good use :thumleft:

Also glad you are doing a write up this time instead of just sharing on FB, have missed your RR's, FB is fine, but just not the same amount of detail ;D

Can't wait for the rest :ricky:

 

[ClimbingTurtle]

Great, I'm happy the routes I sent you were put to good use :thumleft:

Also glad you are doing a write up this time instead of just sharing on FB, have missed your RR's, FB is fine, but just not the same amount of detail ;D

Can't wait for the rest :ricky:

Whats the FB link, if I may?  :thumleft:

 

[Minxy]

Great, I'm happy the routes I sent you were put to good use :thumleft:

Also glad you are doing a write up this time instead of just sharing on FB, have missed your RR's, FB is fine, but just not the same amount of detail ;D

Can't wait for the rest :ricky:

Whats the FB link, if I may?  :thumleft:

Xpat (Martin) normally shares his photos under the Adventure Riders SA group on FB, you will find them all there if you scroll through :thumleft:

 

[sidetrack]

Nice one just needs some greenery now when the rain comes

Exact same spot March 2018

:thumleft:

 

[Xpat]

Nice one just needs some greenery now when the rain comes

Sorry, couldn't disagree more. The bush is much nicer in winter (at least in the first half of winter before it dries out too much) with beautifull vibrant colors of the autumn leaves. Much nicer than uniformly bland green of summer.

This day wasn't very good to show it as it was heavily overcast - but the next day's pictures will hopefully show some of that. Or I may need to post pictures from DeWildt for the past month that are way nicer than what you would see there in summer.

 

[Xpat]

I have seen some of your photos of this on Facebook.  Will follow this one and once we are allowed some interprovincial travel this might make a good alternative to the Cederberg.

Comon Jan - that is very low standard ... here in Africa we prefer proper juicy riding, not oupa outings  ot: >

With every passing year my rides get more befitting of an old man.

Nonsense. Just the rides you did that I'm aware of in Lesotho and Bots -  vast majority of 30 year olds here wouldn't dare to even contemplate them. And that 500 or some such will keep you doing that for many years to come. I ride with people of your physical age (the oupa was reference to mental age and there are some people on this forum in their 30-40s who manifest much higher age than you) and most of them will kick ass of many much younger people - both in attitude and endurance.  Which I find very uplifting and life-affirming. :thumleft:

 

[Xpat]

Nice one just needs some greenery now when the rain comes

Sorry, couldn't disagree more. The bush is much nicer in winter (at least in the first half of winter before it dries out too much) with beautifull vibrant colors of the autumn leaves. Much nicer than uniformly bland green of summer.

This day wasn't very good to show it as it was heavily overcast - but the next day's pictures will hopefully show some of that. Or I may need to post pictures from DeWildt for the past month that are way nicer than what you would see there in summer.

Here some examples from my weekend rides recently:

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Another classic! Thanks Martin.

 

[Xpat]

Day 3 - CopaCopa lodge to Zebra Camp in Popallin Ranch

The plan for day 3 was to finish the last bit of Kruger fence. Initially I had the highest expectations for this section as it is the most remote part (always good) and on the Googlemaps and Mark's tracks it looked like I may be able to follow tracks along the Luvuhu river all the way to Pafuri. The hope was riding along the river should provide for nice change in scenery and some potential game sighting opportunities. But to my dismay later closer look on T4A indicated that Google omitted to show Makuya Nature Reserve running along the western bank of the river, which would be most probably off-limits to bikes, especially as internet said there is no fence between the reserve and KNP.

On the positive side, the gloomy clouds from the day before were on the way out and the sunny day was promising more joyfull and vibrant colors in the bush. Another positive is that unlike the prior day the area was quite hilly providing for a nice change in the scenery.

I set-off on the local dirt road sneaking up the mountains through local villages and went to explore some side tracks heading into surrounding forrest:

I came upon much less used and more gnarly section. Local officials as well as Marks track (designated as 'Hard') indicated this is not going to be walk in the park. I tried few 100 meters, but the track deteriorated further and this being 3rd day of quite hard riding on the big cow, I opted to turn back and return to the main dirt road, failing my first attempt to sneak up to the Luvuhu river:

Found another rocky off shoot running to the top of the mountain and transmission tower. The tracks continued further into the forrest and I investigated for a bit but most of them eventually disappeared into the overgrowth, so I had to turn back again:

 

[Xpat]

I headed north on the main dirt road for dozen or so km until I came past the mountains and reached another east running possibility for connection to Luvuhu. The scenery changed quite a lot. This whole area along the Limpopo river reminded me of Kaokoland in Namibia, with scorched rocky / sandy tracks running through scrub bush across low laying hills dotted with baobab trees. There was a little settlement with a boom, but the guard had no problem to let me through. He said I'm not going ot make it to Pafuri that way, but I explained that my 4x4 might give me chance to try some remote track:

Eventually I came to dreaded gate to Makuya, which would not let me get to Luvuhu. So it was back to fence run - I turned north and followed the fence with the objective to reach the main gate about 10 km away. However there wasn't any track to speak off. To be sure there was wide clearing next to the fence, but not used by vehicles and it was like riding pile of rubble on construction side with sand and rocks thrown around haphazardly. After km or two I run out of commitment - It was perfectly doable, but just just hard work and no fun so I turned back again.

 

[P.K.]

Eish....classic stuff Martin

Minimal gear, solo, far from the Wimpy....couple of members could take a few pages from your book.

Don`t know that area at all , but you got me interested.

 

[Xpat]

I backtracked 10 or so km back to the main dirt road:

It was relatively early afternoon, but I was starting to feel properly tired from the last three days of bundu bashing so I decided it will be short day and headed on the main dirt road to Masisi about 20 km north. On the way I came upon lonely rider on BMW 1290 (yeah, I know it has KTM sticker, but let's get real - that whole range is BMW) stationary under a tree. When I stopped to check whats up he called me by my name straight away, which is always bizzare experience in the middle of nowhere, but I figured he must have been following my trip on Adventure Riders SA thread on FB. Which he did and we chatted few minutes. He was part of the group of riders from Luvumbu who were staying in the nearby Pafuri river camp and spending weekend riding around. He was trying to gather scaterred group back together as some of the guys had flat they were trying to fix in the nearby Masisi, while other rode obliviously into the horizon.

When one of the guys come finally back I continued to Masisi where I located on third trial petrol place, filled up and headed on tar 35 or so km to the Popallin ranch on the banks of Limpopo river. Barbara (Minxy) recommended the place and I have booked two nights there. The ranch is wide spread with number of different camps (whole camps, not just campsites) spread in the bush few km apart. I expected to arrive to some kind of central reception which would direct me to my camp, but that wasn't the case and I got lost straightaway heading for the most remote camp. There they were able to radio the main camp and ask where I belong and then direct me to the right camp - Zebra camp 5 or so km further up the road.

Zebra camp turned out to be very well maintained place with luxury feel and very well priced challets at R500 a night. There weren't any other guests (while their other camp - DeWet camp was filled by group of 4x4ers) and no food, but I have arranged with the owners before and they left me meat and wood to keep me alive for the next two days. I spend the rest of the day doing one of my favourite things - bugger all, on an excuse that I need proper R&R.

 

[growweblaar]

Great RR!  :thumleft:

Zebra Camp looks amazing.

The Katoom looks funny (but cool) with the chopped screen. 

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Agreed, that Zebra camp looks great! Nice price too.  :thumleft:

 

[m0lt3n]

Great RR spot!

What's up with your left hand grip?

 

[ClimbingTurtle]

Great, I'm happy the routes I sent you were put to good use :thumleft:

Also glad you are doing a write up this time instead of just sharing on FB, have missed your RR's, FB is fine, but just not the same amount of detail ;D

Can't wait for the rest :ricky:

Whats the FB link, if I may?  :thumleft:

Xpat (Martin) normally shares his photos under the Adventure Riders SA group on FB, you will find them all there if you scroll through :thumleft:

:thumleft: