Zingela

[JonW]

The weather in KZN has been really crappy the last few weekends, so on Friday morning when I saw that blue skies and temperatures in the mid 30's were predicted for the weekend I got on Google Earth and worked out a day trip From Hilton to Zingela Lodge on the Tugela River. I gave Outthere a call and he (as he always is  ) was keen to join me and then I asked another mate, Alan, and he was also keen.

We set off from merrivale at 06h00, headed through the Karkloof, sticking to the main road, and on to Craigie Burn Dam.

Outthere coming down the hill behind the dam:




Just the other side of Craigie Burn dam is this beautiful farmhouse which the owners had to abandon as they were more or less chased off their land by the locals.






What I can't understand, is why the locals don't at least move into the old house after driving the previous owners out, instead they totally vandalize the place, removing the doors, window frames, floor boards and ceilings.

Very sad.

The view from the farmhouse:





After leaving the farmhouse the track heads down into the valley towards Middelrus.

The views are awesome and the rocky track has some testing sections





























We then got onto the Middelrus Road, very nice gravel highway, and stayed on it all the way to Weenen



















Filled up with fuel in Weenen, making good time so far, which was just as well, the day was turning into a scorcher.


tbc

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Nice photo's ... lucky blixems, great place to ride Natal is...

 

[JonW]

While stopped at the fuel station in Weenen, we noticed these abnormal load vehicles parked across the road



Outthere having some fun



Ping SGB!!!

Stefan I am sure you recognize this:



Anyway, left Weenen and headed on the tar for about 3km towards Colenso before we headed off onto dirt towards Zingela Lodge. This was a brilliant piece of road, a few river crossings, lots of whoops and some interesting climbs









Alan had a MLOT along this section



We stopped for a quick breakfast in the bush, already hot and no shade to be had





Shortly after that we arrived at Zingela Lodge on the banks of the Tugela



There are luxury rooms available as well as camping, we will definitely be coming back with our families to spend some time here in the near future





Alan enjoying a cold one



Nothing like an ice cold Hansa after a hot ride through the bush



The view from the pub:



The Lodge has a tame meerkat that wanders around







As well as a great dane



Spent a couple of relaxing hours at the lodge, then , after a quick dip in the river to cool down it was time to head home.

We took a different route back to Pmb from the way there, towards Mooi River, then Giants Castle, Camberg, Fort Nottingham then home. Unfortunately we did not take any pics on the home trip, time was short as we wanted to get home to watch the rugby. As it turns out we should have detoured more and take our time, far preferred the ride to watching that crap display from the Boks.

Thanks Alan and Kevin, great to ride with you as always, and thanks to Alan for some of the pics.

[The Badger]

Hey nice one guys..................Tooooo much of a jol as usual.........sorry i could not make it. 

Always good to see a GS on the back wheel.

Thanks for the lekker RR and great pics

[GeoffB]

Brilliant scenery. Thanks for sharing

[Crop Sprang]

Good one guys
lekker RR
gets the mist of hilton out of your head Jon

[frans1]

Hi. This is a stuning trip. Do you guys have some GPS points that you can share?  Will like to do a similar trip. Thanks for sharing it with us. Frans1

[GundaGunda]

Eish - some bits look a bit tricky.

Great RR - thanx !!

Quite a day !!

[Outthere]

Thanks Jon and Alan great day exhausted by the end .

Frans1 this attached route is very rough and staight lines are areas where are not routable .
Zingele roads only on T4A.

please let us know if you in the area and sure we can help.

Great pics Al welldone.

[letsgofishing]

Great ride and pics guys - that rocky section looks like fun! 

[Wooly Bugger]

 
I can testify to the heat! I was watching the triplets play cricket in PMB and it was HOT!
How did you guys survive the heat in riding gear.................??

[LONG BOB]

Th pics brought memory's, my brother lived in that house at Craggie burn for many years, did you check out Mr Mortimer grave in garden?
We visited nearly every weekend so know area well, land cruiser and thump er country. Stocks + stocks construction used to own all the farms around the dam and sold it to some Maritain's who sold it to land claims. If you carry on along the one road towards middlerus you come to a brilliant cottage right on the mooi falls, built by Roy Emanuel, self catering and sleeps about 15, nice and wild, but beautifully. If need be the Lady's can get there by car easily by using the middlerus district rd. Shit the memory's come back quick, thanks for pic

[JonW]

Hey Long Bob

Glad I could bring back some memories for you, hope they are all good ones.

That track from the farmhouse down to the falls is one of my favourite rides. Unfortunately the authorities are planning on up-grading it into a district road, work has started already, been dumping sand on the track and a lot of the rocks have been cleared.

Progrees is a bitch.