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Berakah 4x4
Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:45 pm
by Mad Manny
I went to Berakah today (1 June 2019) with a non-club, non-Forum group.
Firstly, Parys: I went through the town around 08:30 on a chilly Saturday morning, I was quite impressed, unlike most small towns, Parys looked great.
Restaurants & shops were opening & setting up, the streets were clean. It reminded me of a bigger more organised Clarens.
Berakah: I haven't been to Berakah in many years, it was always a nice long trail, but it was clear back then that the owners had long been resting on their laurels.
The Chalets were crappy, attitudes sucked & the trail wasn't being looked after.
I recall booking in, in 2011, & asking why they had not switched the fridges in the chalets on, the lady replied "It are very difficult to know what chalets fridge we must put on, sous we don't".
There were 6 chalets? But rather than explain to this imbecile that you just switch on the one's you've let out, I said "Then just switch all 6 on, then on Sunday switch off the ones that aren't occupied. 
Anyhoo, fast forward to today: The chalets are nicer than back then, the shop/reception building is now a chalet, the old rusty shed is now a dining area with fireplace & a bar.
The trail has changed a little, but has been completely re-signposted, the first thickly wooded section has been cut back so even an Amarok can do it - it's not as tight as before.
The rest of the trail is nice. But Mine-shaft & the escape out of mine-shaft is still as rough as ever!
I had a chat to the son (he says the old man passed on 16 years ago?) & it seems that, with getting married & the economic downturn they decided to lift their game.
Whatever the reason - Berakah is better than ever & well worth a visit.
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:56 pm
by Nico-MAD
I've done Berakah twice. Must say I enjoyed it. Nice track and braai facilities. Maybe we should look at it in the summer.
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:35 pm
by Bugger
My visit earlier the year
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Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 3:25 pm
by david bfreesani
Glad they stepping up their game a bit. When I lived in Parys, we even asked if we could help out with the track. But they were not interested. Been through that track at least 10 times, and its always "interesting" enough not be boring.
Unfortunately, 4 years ago was the last time I was out on the track, and managed to cause enough damage to my vehicle, coming out of the mineshaft, that we wrote it off.
Berakha will be one of the first places I go to test my rebuild. Its been a pavement queen since the accident.
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Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 5:49 pm
by Mike Nel
How difficult would you rate the route?
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 5:57 pm
by david bfreesani
Mike Nel wrote:How difficult would you rate the route?
In the beginning it was fairly intimidating, but like anything else, as you get familiar with the track and your vehicle, it gets "easier". The top section through the mineshaft has always been a nice challange. Few people make it through there without lockers or traction control. The last time I went through, there was a big washout with pieces of the concrete rebar sticking out where the owners try and prevent erosion. I got my line wrong, wrecked a tire and rim, and bent my suspension. But I was on my little 245 road tires, that made life a bit difficult. Even the rock garden going up to the mineshaft was difficult for me that day.
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Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:08 pm
by XJ Junkie
Bugger wrote:My visit earlier the year
When are the going to paint a line down the middle?
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:20 pm
by Apocalypse
I liked Berakah when I went - that was in the red jeep, so a good 8 years ago. it's not overly difficult and we went on a very wet day when it was good and skiddy,
Is the Rhino open again?
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:37 pm
by Bugger
No need to
The grass is doing the line lol
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Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:45 pm
by Mike Nel
[quote=Apocalypse post_id=13234 time=1559568015 user_id=56]
I liked Berakah when I went - that was in the red jeep, so a good 8 years ago. it's not overly difficult and we went on a very wet day when it was good and skiddy,
Is the Rhino open again
I saw a video of a GD6 Tuna on the route, that’s why I asked if it was difficult or not.
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:48 pm
by david bfreesani
Apocalypse wrote:I liked Berakah when I went - that was in the red jeep, so a good 8 years ago. it's not overly difficult and we went on a very wet day when it was good and skiddy,
Is the Rhino open again?
Last I heard, they were not opening Rhino besides for special comps. You have to take your own medic team and support crew with.
We have done the trail over a weekend. It rained cats and dogs the Saturday and two cars rolled on the water section just before the steel bridge. Sunday the sun came out, but it took 4 of us over an hour to get about 500 meters up to the bridge. Learned about the importance of a good MT on that trip. I have a youtube video somewhere called Berakha weekend.
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Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:52 pm
by david bfreesani
https://youtu.be/zX9lXEjHH1U
Hope that link works, I'm doff trying to do this on my phone.
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Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 4:03 pm
by Apocalypse
Mike Nel wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:45 pm
Apocalypse wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:20 pm
I liked Berakah when I went - that was in the red jeep, so a good 8 years ago. it's not overly difficult and we went on a very wet day when it was good and skiddy,
Is the Rhino open again
I saw a video of a GD6 Tuna on the route, that’s why I asked if it was difficult or not.
it's perilous in that if you oaf and go off the track. it's going to roll.
theres a couple of obstacles that were interesting in the wet , and again, not too hard to do them but if you screw it up it's gonna be expensive.
I am sure that with some time passing and different weather it might be harder or easier.
Rhino was closed when I was there, which was a pity , I'd have liked to do it. I walked it and it seemed to be not the worst track I've ever seen, but yeah, it's not going to be done in a stock bakkie.
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 4:04 pm
by Apocalypse
david bfreesani wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:48 pm
Apocalypse wrote:I liked Berakah when I went - that was in the red jeep, so a good 8 years ago. it's not overly difficult and we went on a very wet day when it was good and skiddy,
Is the Rhino open again?
Last I heard, they were not opening Rhino besides for special comps. You have to take your own medic team and support crew with.
We have done the trail over a weekend. It rained cats and dogs the Saturday and two cars rolled on the water section just before the steel bridge. Sunday the sun came out, but it took 4 of us over an hour to get about 500 meters up to the bridge. Learned about the importance of a good MT on that trip. I have a youtube video somewhere called Berakha weekend.
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Pronbablt better that way. repeated use tends to make tracks become 'tame' over time.
Re: Berakah 4x4
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 4:21 pm
by david bfreesani
I think they closed it because of the number of people that put their vehicles on its lid, and I think there were some injuries as well.
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