Sidetracking

[sidetrack]

Where is that old bridge? Missed that one. But I believe it is better to stay up north of the river as there aren't any farms just open bush with tracks, while I can clearly see farms south of the river.

I followed the river on the north side all the way to Nkotokwane - a village across the river from where that track between Apel and Malogeng hits mountains, crossed the river in the village where cars cross (no bridge) and then hit that track to Malogeng. Half way through that track my battery died (as I have habbit of using kill switch too often and not switching off the key - well not anymore) and had to walk to that dam where I had to find somebody with car and jumper cables. I found car, not jumper cables, but they took be back to the bike, which by that time (about 7 pm) healed itselft and I rode it out in the dark.

BTW Malogeng is where the Little Kaokoland route starts - heading south east, I'm curious to see if you managed any of that.

Little Kaokoland sounds great but if I look for Malogeng it seems I bypassed it by taking the R37 to make up some time  :-\

Yes you did. I refer as Little Kaokoland to the part of that range north of the humbly named Sidetrack pass - and at the north it ends at Malogeng village.

D4220 sounds a bit boring  :biggrin:

 

[roxenz]

[member=41]sidetrack[/member] - The road you have named as "sidetrack pass" is known to the locals as the Djate (or Tsjate) road (not Djata - that's a typo). It goes past the old Sekukune battleground where the locals gave Paul Kruger and his burgers a snotklap.

I see you have found one of the roads we made ("Eerste Geluk to Moshate" below). From Moshate there is a road along the top of the mountain, that takes you to the Hoepakrants community (rough outline attached below "Moshate to Hoepakrants"). Rough road, but very scenic. Can be very chilly in winter.

We made a road from Garatau ("Garatau (up Leolo Mtn)") from the Garatau community to the top of the mountain at Hoepakrantz. The Garatau community is settled around the Maandagshoek hospital and school, which is a mission settlement that was run by Hans Merensky's farther (Arthur), who was an amateur geographer who drew some of the earliest maps of the eastern Tvl highlands. No coincidence that Hans Merensky discovered our famous platinum deposits only a short distance away at Driekop.

We made another road (De Kom road), which heads north from Hoepakrantz towards Djate. Our road did not go al the way down to the Djate road, but the locals used a footpath to get to Djate. Perhaps that may be navigable with a light plastic.

cheers,
Andre.

 

[Xpat]

[member=41]sidetrack[/member] - The road you have named as "sidetrack pass" is known to the locals as the Djate (or Tsjate) road (not Djata - that's a typo). It goes past the old Sekukune battleground where the locals gave Paul Kruger and his burgers a snotklap.

I see you have found one of the roads we made ("Eerste Geluk to Moshate" below). From Moshate there is a road along the top of the mountain, that takes you to the Hoepakrants community (rough outline attached below "Moshate to Hoepakrants"). Rough road, but very scenic. Can be very chilly in winter.

We made a road from Garatau ("Garatau (up Leolo Mtn)") from the Garatau community to the top of the mountain at Hoepakrantz. The Garatau community is settled around the Maandagshoek hospital and school, which is a mission settlement that was run by Hans Merensky's farther (Arthur), who was an amateur geographer who drew some of the earliest maps of the eastern Tvl highlands. No coincidence that Hans Merensky discovered our famous platinum deposits only a short distance away at Driekop.

We made another road (De Kom road), which heads north from Hoepakrantz towards Djate. Our road did not go al the way down to the Djate road, but the locals used a footpath to get to Djate. Perhaps that may be navigable with a light plastic.

cheers,
Andre.

I have done most of that last week and the week before (https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=250700.120) - at least the bits doable on big bike. One cannot get to the Djate pass from the south - there is actually track heading in that direction, but requires plastic, will be back on 500 to finish it.

But most of the south section is perfect dirt highway, except for the southern-most loop to Steelpoort, which is completely washed out (pictures in that link earlier).

North of the Djate pass is much more manageable (lower) even on big bikes and provides plenty of riding opportunities for people who really like to ride - not the tourist bunch tough.

 

[sidetrack]

[member=41]sidetrack[/member] - The road you have named as "sidetrack pass" is known to the locals as the Djate (or Tsjate) road (not Djata - that's a typo). It goes past the old Sekukune battleground where the locals gave Paul Kruger and his burgers a snotklap.

I see you have found one of the roads we made ("Eerste Geluk to Moshate" below). From Moshate there is a road along the top of the mountain, that takes you to the Hoepakrants community (rough outline attached below "Moshate to Hoepakrants"). Rough road, but very scenic. Can be very chilly in winter.

We made a road from Garatau ("Garatau (up Leolo Mtn)") from the Garatau community to the top of the mountain at Hoepakrantz. The Garatau community is settled around the Maandagshoek hospital and school, which is a mission settlement that was run by Hans Merensky's farther (Arthur), who was an amateur geographer who drew some of the earliest maps of the eastern Tvl highlands. No coincidence that Hans Merensky discovered our famous platinum deposits only a short distance away at Driekop.

We made another road (De Kom road), which heads north from Hoepakrantz towards Djate. Our road did not go al the way down to the Djate road, but the locals used a footpath to get to Djate. Perhaps that may be navigable with a light plastic.

cheers,
Andre.

Thanks that is good info  :thumleft: I actually saw the photo of the King / Chief's statue at the beginning of the pass whilst still in the village on Google Earth but did not stop there. It seems the locals are a bit peeved that the road is so bad nobody can visit the monument site.

https://sekhukhunetimes.co.za/2020/10/05/shocking-d4220-road-continue-to-be-on-the-spotlight/

 

[sidetrack]

[member=41]sidetrack[/member] - The road you have named as "sidetrack pass" is known to the locals as the Djate (or Tsjate) road (not Djata - that's a typo). It goes past the old Sekukune battleground where the locals gave Paul Kruger and his burgers a snotklap.

I see you have found one of the roads we made ("Eerste Geluk to Moshate" below). From Moshate there is a road along the top of the mountain, that takes you to the Hoepakrants community (rough outline attached below "Moshate to Hoepakrants"). Rough road, but very scenic. Can be very chilly in winter.

We made a road from Garatau ("Garatau (up Leolo Mtn)") from the Garatau community to the top of the mountain at Hoepakrantz. The Garatau community is settled around the Maandagshoek hospital and school, which is a mission settlement that was run by Hans Merensky's farther (Arthur), who was an amateur geographer who drew some of the earliest maps of the eastern Tvl highlands. No coincidence that Hans Merensky discovered our famous platinum deposits only a short distance away at Driekop.

We made another road (De Kom road), which heads north from Hoepakrantz towards Djate. Our road did not go al the way down to the Djate road, but the locals used a footpath to get to Djate. Perhaps that may be navigable with a light plastic.

cheers,
Andre.

Should send this road (Djate) to [member=18228]Trygve Roberts[/member] , pretty sure it has not been reviewed or listed yet ?

 

[sidetrack]

After reaching the R555 it was much too late to still finish my route and I headed west passing the De Hoop Dam and taking tar till the Highside Tavern / Tonteldoos turnoff. I initially wanted to camp there somewhere but after finishing my burger I decided to rather head home, I managed to do the remaining dirt whilst I still had some daylight left. I had to do 500km plus on Saturday so was a bit paste but glad I could ride some very nice tracks in LP. I reckon next time I will try and get to the Burgersfort / Steelpoort areas asap and then explore from there. Unless you have plenty of time the breakout rides from GP is just like any other weekends ride. I don't think I will be able to ride soon as work is now quite hectic up untill Christmas and the XT needs a bit of TLC now, front tyre is done, needs front brake pads and I noticed one fork seal starting to leak a bit. Oh well all worth it, thanks for reading.

 

[Trygve Roberts]

[member=41]sidetrack[/member] - The road you have named as "sidetrack pass" is known to the locals as the Djate (or Tsjate) road (not Djata - that's a typo). It goes past the old Sekukune battleground where the locals gave Paul Kruger and his burgers a snotklap.

I see you have found one of the roads we made ("Eerste Geluk to Moshate" below). From Moshate there is a road along the top of the mountain, that takes you to the Hoepakrants community (rough outline attached below "Moshate to Hoepakrants"). Rough road, but very scenic. Can be very chilly in winter.

We made a road from Garatau ("Garatau (up Leolo Mtn)") from the Garatau community to the top of the mountain at Hoepakrantz. The Garatau community is settled around the Maandagshoek hospital and school, which is a mission settlement that was run by Hans Merensky's farther (Arthur), who was an amateur geographer who drew some of the earliest maps of the eastern Tvl highlands. No coincidence that Hans Merensky discovered our famous platinum deposits only a short distance away at Driekop.

We made another road (De Kom road), which heads north from Hoepakrantz towards Djate. Our road did not go al the way down to the Djate road, but the locals used a footpath to get to Djate. Perhaps that may be navigable with a light plastic.

cheers,
Andre.

Should send this road (Djate) to [member=18228]Trygve Roberts[/member] , pretty sure it has not been reviewed or listed yet ?

We do not have this road listed yet, but would love to have all the details available. Please send the following to us per email:
1. GPS coordinates in decimal degrees of the start, end and summit points.
2. As full a description as possible of the technical parts of the pass.
3. Any good quality HD video footage
4. History
5. Points of interest in the area.
6. Which places the road connects.
7. Public Road or private road?

[email protected]
Mobile: 0836588888

 

[sidetrack]

[member=41]sidetrack[/member] - The road you have named as "sidetrack pass" is known to the locals as the Djate (or Tsjate) road (not Djata - that's a typo). It goes past the old Sekukune battleground where the locals gave Paul Kruger and his burgers a snotklap.

I see you have found one of the roads we made ("Eerste Geluk to Moshate" below). From Moshate there is a road along the top of the mountain, that takes you to the Hoepakrants community (rough outline attached below "Moshate to Hoepakrants"). Rough road, but very scenic. Can be very chilly in winter.

We made a road from Garatau ("Garatau (up Leolo Mtn)") from the Garatau community to the top of the mountain at Hoepakrantz. The Garatau community is settled around the Maandagshoek hospital and school, which is a mission settlement that was run by Hans Merensky's farther (Arthur), who was an amateur geographer who drew some of the earliest maps of the eastern Tvl highlands. No coincidence that Hans Merensky discovered our famous platinum deposits only a short distance away at Driekop.

We made another road (De Kom road), which heads north from Hoepakrantz towards Djate. Our road did not go al the way down to the Djate road, but the locals used a footpath to get to Djate. Perhaps that may be navigable with a light plastic.

cheers,
Andre.

Should send this road (Djate) to [member=18228]Trygve Roberts[/member] , pretty sure it has not been reviewed or listed yet ?

We do not have this road listed yet, but would love to have all the details available. Please send the following to us per email:
1. GPS coordinates in decimal degrees of the start, end and summit points.
2. As full a description as possible of the technical parts of the pass.
3. Any good quality HD video footage
4. History
5. Points of interest in the area.
6. Which places the road connects.
7. Public Road or private road?

[email protected]
Mobile: 0836588888

Details sent

 

[sidetrack]

So the past long weekend Saddle Up and son joined on a 3 day trip of the Bushveld. Pretoria - Warmbaths - Thabazimbi - Cumberland (ZA Bots border) - Vaalwater - Pretoria

Somewhere near Loubad, the rain was chasing us the whole day and managed to catch up to us during the camp near Thabazimbi

 

[sidetrack]

We stayed at Roussouw 4 x 4 a great spot just outside of Thabazimbi tucked into the mountains with great views all round. The bushveld was lush and green. The track up the mountain and some views from the top.

 

[sidetrack]

The camp site, warm showers by way of a donkey

 

[sidetrack]

The next morning we left the mountains behind and headed north, the mountainous region quickly gave way to open sandy roads as we headed north towards the Limpopo river. We were told the track we followed did not allow access to the River  itself but we made a plan at Cumberland thanks to the SAPS.

 

[sidetrack]

Crossing the Crocodile River near the SANDF base Rooibokkraal

 

[sidetrack]

On the way to Cumberland, the SAPS station opened the gate for us which allowed us to ride a track right up to the river. From here we would head east then turn back down and ride towards Vaalwater via Steenbokpan where we had a well deserved beer and burger. Just outside of Vaalwater we hit one hell of a thunderstorm. Drenched we made it to Vaalwater and from there home the next morning. Around 1000km round trip.

 

[Chrisl]

Love your trips!! :thumleft: :drif:

 

[Aprilian]

Looks like a super trip! Reminds me that I have a lot more exploring to do locally.

Sent from my SM-A315F using Tapatalk

 

[Elkanah]

:sip:

 

[sidetrack]

XT and me got some plans, lets see where the dirt road leads us  8)

 

[LouisXander]

Lucky fish

 

[sidetrack]

Namaqua Flowers

My Tenere did not accompany me here but I took my dad to go and look at the famous Namaqua flowers. The N14 through the West Transvaal and Northern Cape is quite barren and dry this time of year, we made for Upington for an overnight stop. Between Kuruman and Upington some mountains started to appear. In Keimoes it was clear just what an impact water has as the Orange gave life to vineyards and other farmlands.