KZN weather has been a bit spiteful recently.
Before this weekend there were about three consecutive weekends when I have either got wet, or have stayed at home sulking, so when Ian(The Tooth Doctor) & Debbie (The Shrink ;D ) put up an invite for a weekend camping in the Highover private game reserve in the middle of the Hela Hela pass, and when the weather forecast was for no rain, I was quick to put my hand in the air. I had only ever visited the campsite once – to join Mr and Mrs Badger and a few friends for breakfast, and decided then that a night in the reserve was a must.
It was a great weekend – both the company and the riding, and a big thanks to Ian and Debbie for having me along.
Debbie has only recently taken to her own bike – a Yamaha 230 that has been street-legalized, and Ian has a DR650 that he has fitted a big tank to, and this weekend was for them to test the water at bike-camping for future trips.
For you guys who have not been there it is highly recommended. Camping is R70 per person and there are toilets and showers provided.
For me it was also a bit of a learning curve as it was the first time I have ever done significant gravel on my bike kitted out with full panniers and all my camping stuff. I have always been a bit nervous and have slabbed with panniers to gatherings, taken them off, ridden and slabbed home. I need not have worried. It took a few KMS to get used to the extra load, and from there on both the bike and I forgot they were there.
This was the weekend route from my lodgings near Virginia.
We met in Northdene, and headed out to the Intake road, and from there took a detour to attempt the Inwabi mountain. Ian scuttled up quite a steep stony ascent, but I set a very poor example for Debbie by losing momentum on the ascent, and having to come back down, at which she, much to my relief, decided it was a bit beyond her current capabilities and so we set a course for Ufudu.
First tea break on the mountain where we were joined by the local herdsman for Cappuccinno.
The road on Ufudu and the weird rocks on the mountain.
A piece of Shongweni dam visible from “Die Ou Voortrekker Pad”
From Eston Ian plotted a route through the farmlands to Richmond. On the way we met a slightly irritated farmer who told us that what mapsource showed as a public road was what he called a “bridle path”, but he let us ride through the cane plantations but asked us not to come back in winter because of fire risk.
A bit of mud, actually more like half dry clay, from the rain during the week. No problems or incidents.
Hela Hela pass road.
The road on the game reserve on the way down to the campsite.
My camp patch – the same one Mr and Mrs Badger used when we visited.
Semi-domesticated Impala on the lawns.
The Mkomazi River from the camp site.
Late Sat afternoon the Owner, Dave, suggested a ride on the North (Richmond) side of the river. It is also part of the reserve and is about 7Km of fairly dense bush. A great ride and well worth a visit, but only rideable if you are an overnighter.
A nice pool and kloof at the end of the road. Dave says it nice for a swim if the water is a bit lower.
On Sunday I showed Ian and Debbie the Qunu falls. Not much water, and hard to photograph.
Our route back was via Ixopo and then down into the Mkomazi valley.
Last view of the Momazi, up the hill to Mid Ilovo, and back.
Strange. It was only a two day ride, and 400Km home-to-home, but felt like a bit of a micro-epic.
Thanks Ian and Debbie – let’s do it again !! :ricky:
Before this weekend there were about three consecutive weekends when I have either got wet, or have stayed at home sulking, so when Ian(The Tooth Doctor) & Debbie (The Shrink ;D ) put up an invite for a weekend camping in the Highover private game reserve in the middle of the Hela Hela pass, and when the weather forecast was for no rain, I was quick to put my hand in the air. I had only ever visited the campsite once – to join Mr and Mrs Badger and a few friends for breakfast, and decided then that a night in the reserve was a must.
It was a great weekend – both the company and the riding, and a big thanks to Ian and Debbie for having me along.
Debbie has only recently taken to her own bike – a Yamaha 230 that has been street-legalized, and Ian has a DR650 that he has fitted a big tank to, and this weekend was for them to test the water at bike-camping for future trips.
For you guys who have not been there it is highly recommended. Camping is R70 per person and there are toilets and showers provided.
For me it was also a bit of a learning curve as it was the first time I have ever done significant gravel on my bike kitted out with full panniers and all my camping stuff. I have always been a bit nervous and have slabbed with panniers to gatherings, taken them off, ridden and slabbed home. I need not have worried. It took a few KMS to get used to the extra load, and from there on both the bike and I forgot they were there.
This was the weekend route from my lodgings near Virginia.
We met in Northdene, and headed out to the Intake road, and from there took a detour to attempt the Inwabi mountain. Ian scuttled up quite a steep stony ascent, but I set a very poor example for Debbie by losing momentum on the ascent, and having to come back down, at which she, much to my relief, decided it was a bit beyond her current capabilities and so we set a course for Ufudu.
First tea break on the mountain where we were joined by the local herdsman for Cappuccinno.
The road on Ufudu and the weird rocks on the mountain.
A piece of Shongweni dam visible from “Die Ou Voortrekker Pad”
From Eston Ian plotted a route through the farmlands to Richmond. On the way we met a slightly irritated farmer who told us that what mapsource showed as a public road was what he called a “bridle path”, but he let us ride through the cane plantations but asked us not to come back in winter because of fire risk.
A bit of mud, actually more like half dry clay, from the rain during the week. No problems or incidents.
Hela Hela pass road.
The road on the game reserve on the way down to the campsite.
My camp patch – the same one Mr and Mrs Badger used when we visited.
Semi-domesticated Impala on the lawns.
The Mkomazi River from the camp site.
Late Sat afternoon the Owner, Dave, suggested a ride on the North (Richmond) side of the river. It is also part of the reserve and is about 7Km of fairly dense bush. A great ride and well worth a visit, but only rideable if you are an overnighter.
A nice pool and kloof at the end of the road. Dave says it nice for a swim if the water is a bit lower.
On Sunday I showed Ian and Debbie the Qunu falls. Not much water, and hard to photograph.
Our route back was via Ixopo and then down into the Mkomazi valley.
Last view of the Momazi, up the hill to Mid Ilovo, and back.
Strange. It was only a two day ride, and 400Km home-to-home, but felt like a bit of a micro-epic.
Thanks Ian and Debbie – let’s do it again !! :ricky:
