Three Provinces 2020 - Postponed

Long Weekend Trips (3 - 5 Nights)
 Registration Closed
 
23
ThreeProvinces2018
Date: 10 April 2020 04:00 AM - 13 April 2020 05:00 PM

Three Provinces 4x4 over Easter 2020 (POSTPONED).

New dates to be advised once COVID-19 Lockdown and Threat Over.

 

FINAL WEEKEND ITINERARY:
ROUTES: Please be sure to take with snacks on the road for every day. No lunch is included on anyone of the routes.
Day 1. 6am: Leave from the Rotunda at 6am sharp!
On arrival we will set up camp and then go to Wakkerstroom.
1pm: Bird Watching @ Wakkerstroom: Meet at the Three Provinces Farmhouse. Don't forget your Binoculars and a Birding books! (Approximate duration - Half day from 13h00 - Sunset! . Correspondants: Judy-Lynn Wheeler & Kristi Garland (Manager of Birdlife Wakkerstroom Training & Education Centre) - Guides: * For a group of 20 people, two Field Guides will be provided. 10 People per guide. * Guides accompany the group in their vehicles for the duration of the tour and they have permission to enter private properties where some of the endemic and special birds are found. These are not open to the general public. * This is excellent Birding Routes where terrestrial bird species are monitored twice a year. * With the guides, the group works in a 70km radius of Wakkerstoom, off the main roads. * Some of these routes require high ground clearance 4x4 vehicles, but not all of the roads, unless it was raining. - Wakkerstroom Wetland is World renowned. A List of possible bird species that might be seen at Wakkerstroom will be available. www.wakkerstroom.co.za.)
Day 2. This will be a whole day out! Remember to take lots of water and food with you.
6am: Battlefield- & History Routes: Approximate duration: Depends on the time you are willing to spend, we can arrange for a 10 hour day tour or less. - The Battlefields route is on neighbour farms. We have to make arrangements with farmers. - Therefore it is necessary to book 1 month in advance and to have a minimum number of 6 vehicles. a Few interesting places we are visiting: - Roelf se gat: A 4-grading 4x4 route to get there - there is a tear in the mountain where 3 families was hiding for over 1 year with a 3 month old baby to avoid the concentration camps during the British-Boer-War. - Volksrust's Concentration camp: You may take with some digging tools. You will definitely find some belongings (which were thrown away there) of the woman and children who passed away in the concentration camp. - We are driving through a 800m long sandstone railway tunnel (not in use anymore), which has been blown up 50m on both sides by the Boer's and has been rebuilt by the British in 6 days. - Crawling through Cave: Please wear easy clothes and good gripping shoes. a Cave where a woman and her children were hiding to avoid the concentration camps. At some stage she had to cover the children's mouths to prevent them from screaming (and giving away their hiding place), because of some burning hot bullets that fell on their arms through the cracks in the rocks of the cave, due to a battle that took place above those caves.
Day 3. Another relatively early start. 
8am: Three Provinces 4x4 Trail. This is the longest and most spectacular route on the farm, taking you up to where the boundaries of Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Freestate meet. The meeting point is on top of a 100m high cliff, called Langkrans, at 2 253m above sea level. Apart from the spectacular views over the countryside, the cliff is also home to a breeding pair of Black Eagles. The route is 34km in length and will take 4 – 6 hours to complete. The difficulty of the route has been rated by Drive-Out Magazine as a 3-4 out of 5, however some obstacles have a 5 rating. One such section is ‘Helshoogte’, a 300m long steep incline with loose boulders and a stream running down the track. Only experienced drivers with a very capable 4x4 vehicle should attempt this obstacle! During wet weather the trail is very difficult to near impossible to drive, but dries out quickly when the sun comes out.
Day 4. Today we return home via a few of the passes between Volksrust and home.
Donkiespas Route: - This morning trip will be done on the day everyone is going home. - Approximate duration: 3 hours - Experience two different worlds. Start driving under the mountain in the lowlands of Natal’s flaura through a climate change to the top of the mountain into the highveld of the Free State. - a Guide takes the group through Donkiespass plus several other farms till entering the Muller's Pass road. - Doing Muller's Pass in the direction of Newcastle and heading home.
COST ESTIMATION for 3½ DAY WEEKEND: We will firm up costs once we know who is going!
TRAILS & EXCURSIONS:
3 Provinces 4x4 Trails:
R310 p. vehicle for 3 Provinces 4x4 Main trail
R190 p. vehicle for Tierkloof- &/or Bobbejaankrans-trail (cost remains the same if you are doing one or both trails)
Battlefield- & History Routes: R1860 (minimum rate) for group of 6 Vehicles or less R310 per 4x4 vehicle - additional rate applies for more than 6 vehicles
Bird Watching @ Wakkerstroom: Group of 10 people or less -minimum guide rate below applies. R650 for 1 guide doing a half day tour with 10 people. For more than 10 people, an additional guide will be needed and the minimum guide rate of R650 (½ day)
Donkiespas Route: R1560 (minimum rate) for group of 6 Vehicles or less R260 per 4x4 vehicle - additional rate of applies for more than 6 vehicles.
ACCOMMODATION: R630 for 1 Stand with 2 people Camping for 3 nights @ R210 per stand - 1 Vehicle per stand.

BOOKING AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS:

In order to secure a spot and assist with logistical arrangements please Register AND pay non refundable deposit of R500 by the 30 November 2019
EFT Reference “your name - 3Provinces”

Please note that your name will only be placed on the “confirmed” list after your non-refundable payment has been received.

A second payment of 50% must be made by the 31st January 2020

The final payment of the balance must be made by the 31st March 2020 

TRIP ORGANISER:

Please contact Ronnie Drew for any enquiries.

MEALS:

Each attendee must arrange their own meals, snacks, drinks, etc.

GENERAL:

Pack clothing accordingly as it can be cold during the evenings.
Always consider the possibility of rain
Always advisable to wear comfortable closed shoes or boots
Advisable to have a broad rim hat and sun block on hand
Please bring own refuse bags for your litter as we need to take all litter with us
Bring all eat and drink for the weekend
Please bring one big bag of wood
No pets or firearms allowed

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS:
All vehicles must be in sound mechanical condition
Always have your spare keys with you
Recovery points fitted to the front and rear on your vehicle are a prerequisite
Your own Kinetic/recovery strap and 2 x shackles and any other recovery equipment
A tyre pump and tyre pressure gauge may be required to deflate/inflate tyres
Carry a fire extinguisher, which is easily accessible in the event of an emergency
Always carry your personal medical kit
Use tie-down straps to secure all items packed, as loose items can become missiles

TWO WAY RADIOS (required, VHF only):

Communication between participating vehicles on any 4×4 excursion is important for many reasons. It benefits the safety of drivers, passengers and vehicles while on a 4×4 trail, where drivers can communicate with one another regarding their location and situation, not to mention the interesting information that is shared with participants. The fun part is the many interesting stories that are shared among participants. We use VHF radios only and operate on ORRA Channels 1 - 6

CONVOY RULES:

The standard Club convoy rules apply. To read the rules click here:

WRITE UP:

Somebody from the group will be requested to write a short trip report for the website and our Facebook page, and please add some pictures.

 

Hope to see many club members on this outing.

 

3 Provinces web site: http://www.3provinsies4x4.co.za/ 

 

About 3 Provinces 4×4 Adventures

Only three hours’ drive from Gauteng, near the small town of Volksrust, lies a gem of mother nature that is well worth exploring. It’s a place that has been blessed with abundance. Waterfalls elegantly find their way to the streams below and black eagles soar in the skies above.

The farms, Waterval and Schuilhoek, are situated at end of the great Drakensberg escarpment, called the Versamelberge. It's here, on top of a sheer cliff, where the boundaries of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State come together in a spectacle of nature.

Bring the whole family and enjoy one of the scenic 4x4 trails as a day outing, or spend a weekend - or longer - to enjoy all the thrills, challenges and fun family experiences that is on offer! Apart from the numerous 4x4 trails, there is also a whole range of other activities which can be arranged and enjoyed during your stay. Accommodation is offered in romantic, cosy rock- and log cabins, while the more adventurous traveller can relax at the scenic campsite at the foot of the mountain.

 

4x4 Trail Descriptions

3 Provinces 4x4 Trail (R280 per vehicle)

This is the longest and most spectacular route on the farm, taking you up to where the boundaries of Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Freestate meet. The meeting point is on top of a 100m high cliff, called Langkrans, at 2 253m above sea level. Apart from the spectacular views over the countryside, the cliff is also home to a breeding pair of Black Eagles.

The route is 34km in length and will take 4 – 6 hours to complete. The difficulty of the route has been rated by Drive-Out Magazine as a 3-4 out of 5, however some obstacles have a 5 rating.

One such section is ‘Helshoogte’, a 300m long steep incline with loose boulders and a stream running down the track. Only experienced drivers with a very capable 4x4 vehicle should attempt this obstacle!

During wet weather the trail is very difficult to near impossible to drive, but dries out quickly when the sun comes out.

 

Tierkloof 4x4 Trail (R160 per vehicle)

The Tierkloof 4x4 trail is short but challenging, with a few interesting obstacles. Navigate over huge boulders inside thick bush, before taking a short steep rocky climb to the top of the mountain. After a short scenic drive you’ll have to drive down one of the steepest downhill sections on the farm.

The route is 8km in length but takes about 2 – 3 hours to complete.

Bobbejaankrans 4x4 Trail (R160 per vehicle)

This is another short 4x4 trail. Starting just outside the campsite, it winds its way through thick bush and over rocky terrain, with a few hair-raisingly steep up- and downhills. The route continues past the Mountain cabins and can be used as an alternative route from the campsite to the cabins.

This route is only 5km in length and takes just 1 - 2 hours to complete.

Tierkloof Extreme 4x4 Trail – Recently Opened (R160 per vehicle)

An amazing new route with spectacular views, very steep ups, downs and a few scary slide slopes. Test your nerves on this route!

It is 5kms in length but takes 2 - 3 hours to complete.

Walletjiestraat 4x4 Trail – Recently Opened (R160 per vehicle)

Take a steep drive down into a ravine and drive upstream, navigating sharps turns, a muddy axle-twister and a small log bridge before climbing out on the other side. Chances are that you will get stuck, so remember to bring recovery gear and a friend, or a winch, or both.

It is only about 1km in length, and if you are lucky, it should take only 30minutes to complete. If you get stuck though, it could take a while...

Roodedraai Battlefield Trail (R280 per vehicle plus R125 per person Museum entry)

This guided-only route is packed with history as it takes you across several adjoining farms which have been the location of famous Anglo-Boer War battlefield sites. Some of these include Allemansnek, Korenplaats and Majuba. Along the route you’ll find historical graves, small caves where women and children used to hide and hear amazing true stories of survival in this harsh landscape during the war.

Included on this route is a lunch stop at the Roodedraai Museum where freshly baked, straight from an outside oven (as it was done by the “Voortrekkers”) await. Enjoy the fresh bread with mouth-watering jams and preserves, traditional ‘moer’ koffie and other old-time treats and sweets.

After lunch, take a leisurely stroll and marvel at the unique memorabilia and antiques, collected by over the years by Gert van der Westhuizen, the proud owner of the museum.

This route is 70 – 100kms in length and takes 7 – 9 hours to complete. Because this is a guided-only route, a minimum of 6 vehicles and 15 people is required to book.

 

Accommodation

CAMPING ONLY! 

Rooibektiptol Campsite Max 6 per campsite - one vehicle/trailer/caravan (R210 per site per night (2 persons))

The large campsite, with 42 individual stands, is situated 2km from the farmyard, at the foot of a sheer cliff, with a breathtaking view over the valley below. A short hiking trail in the ravine next to the campsite will take you through dense bush and past numerous tiny waterfalls and splash pools, up to the sundowner point above the campsite. 

The campsite features:

 42 stands, with braai facilities. Firewood is available at the farmhouse.

Communal ablutions with hot watwer showers, basins and flush toilets - hot water provided by a fire "donkie".

No electricity - Lighting in the campsite and ablutions are provided by a generator during evenings.

Ideal for camper trailers and offroad caravans. Unfortunately normal caravans will not be able to reach the campsite.

 

 

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All Dates


  • From 10 April 2020 04:00 AM to 13 April 2020 05:00 PM

 

List of Participants

Caroline richards (1)
GaryB (1)
Derick Donelle (2)
Richard Heather Heathcote (2)
Willem and Sandy (2)
John Buyers (2)
Ron Drew (1)
William Seymour (1)
Otto Kruger (2)
Patrick Dillon (2)
Jelle Cynthia Meintsma (2)
Gary (1)
Di and Guy Wayne (2)
Jayne Frank Stahlhut (2)

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