JacoB
Pack Dog
So the friends decided to pay a visit to Sunland ‘Big Baobab’ in Modjadjiskloof in the Limpopo Province. To be honest the tree was just an excuse to go riding...
We departed on Saturday morning, the girls taking the car via the N1 highway, and the bikers going via Kempton Park to Bronkhorstspruit where we visited the temple just outside the town.
From there the fun began. About 25km outside the town on the R25 to Groblersdal we made a right turn onto the dirt along the Wilge River. At the intersection with the R544 we made a quick left on the tar before again taking the gravel along the western boarder of the Loskop Dam reserve.
After a nice breakfast at Loskop Dam, restaurant just downstream from the dam wall, we continued along the Elephants River, past Groblersdal and Marble Hall, next stop the Flag Boshielo dam.
Continuing on the eastern side of the Elephants River, we visit an old steel bridge across the river before continuing to the town of Ga-Nkoana for fuel before starting the mountain part of the trip.
Continuing north we passed through the Pelangwe Mountain Pass before joining the R37 in a western direction. First right, after crossing the river, placed us onto the road to the back entrance of the Legalameetse reserve. This road turned out to be the “highlight of the day”, initially a very nice meander along the northern banks of the Elephants river and then a hell of a mountain pass with loose rocks. Two of us dropped our bikes, just enough to be able to tell a story, but in the end we all made it to the top. This is a technical ride and while we are happy to say we did it, most of us agreed that we would not do it again. Once at the top you have a very nice ride to the main gate from where we joined the R36 back to Tzaneen.
Just as we thought we were back on track to make our destination before sundown one of our riders had a flat tyre which I must say was repaired quite efficiently within a short while. This however delayed us just enough to end up having to do a night ride on gravel for about 2km.
So, about 13 hours after leaving Johannesburg, we arrived at Sunlands. The accommodation was quite pleasant, although we felt the place was in need of some maintenance. Nice braai and kuier the evening before all collapsed from the day’s exertion.
Next morning we had a relaxed start before visiting the Pekoe Tea Garden just off the R71 for breakfast. After the breakfast we had a very nice run through Magoebaskloof to Polokwane.
From here we burned a few kilometres on the N1 before taking the Mokopane off ramp. Heading south on the R101 for about 20km, we then turned north toward Entabeni. This road becomes gravel on the northern side of the mountains eventually heading south to join the R33 just north of Modimolle. Road conditions here vary from good gravel to some tricky sand and at the end lots of stones.
From here we rejoined the R101 to Bela Bela for a light snack before joining the N1 for a Bline back home. Total trip distance 1200Km.
We departed on Saturday morning, the girls taking the car via the N1 highway, and the bikers going via Kempton Park to Bronkhorstspruit where we visited the temple just outside the town.
From there the fun began. About 25km outside the town on the R25 to Groblersdal we made a right turn onto the dirt along the Wilge River. At the intersection with the R544 we made a quick left on the tar before again taking the gravel along the western boarder of the Loskop Dam reserve.
After a nice breakfast at Loskop Dam, restaurant just downstream from the dam wall, we continued along the Elephants River, past Groblersdal and Marble Hall, next stop the Flag Boshielo dam.
Continuing on the eastern side of the Elephants River, we visit an old steel bridge across the river before continuing to the town of Ga-Nkoana for fuel before starting the mountain part of the trip.
Continuing north we passed through the Pelangwe Mountain Pass before joining the R37 in a western direction. First right, after crossing the river, placed us onto the road to the back entrance of the Legalameetse reserve. This road turned out to be the “highlight of the day”, initially a very nice meander along the northern banks of the Elephants river and then a hell of a mountain pass with loose rocks. Two of us dropped our bikes, just enough to be able to tell a story, but in the end we all made it to the top. This is a technical ride and while we are happy to say we did it, most of us agreed that we would not do it again. Once at the top you have a very nice ride to the main gate from where we joined the R36 back to Tzaneen.
Just as we thought we were back on track to make our destination before sundown one of our riders had a flat tyre which I must say was repaired quite efficiently within a short while. This however delayed us just enough to end up having to do a night ride on gravel for about 2km.
So, about 13 hours after leaving Johannesburg, we arrived at Sunlands. The accommodation was quite pleasant, although we felt the place was in need of some maintenance. Nice braai and kuier the evening before all collapsed from the day’s exertion.
Next morning we had a relaxed start before visiting the Pekoe Tea Garden just off the R71 for breakfast. After the breakfast we had a very nice run through Magoebaskloof to Polokwane.
From here we burned a few kilometres on the N1 before taking the Mokopane off ramp. Heading south on the R101 for about 20km, we then turned north toward Entabeni. This road becomes gravel on the northern side of the mountains eventually heading south to join the R33 just north of Modimolle. Road conditions here vary from good gravel to some tricky sand and at the end lots of stones.
From here we rejoined the R101 to Bela Bela for a light snack before joining the N1 for a Bline back home. Total trip distance 1200Km.
