4x4 Action Group

I'm hoping to get away to Northern KZN for 7 to 10 days in late September or October. I'd probably look at taking 2 days to get there while doing some sightseeing on the way.
Has anyone done a similar trip as to what I'd like to do? We'll be towing the caravan down and would like to set up a base camp in a good area and do day trips from there.
Any advice is welcome.

So we are heading down to Northern KZN mid October. We are going to base the caravan at Bush Baby camp site and explore the area for 5 or so days before moving south down to Salt Rock before back to Jo-burg.
I'm hoping for some input on any interesting drives we can do in the area. Any information would be appreciated.

There’s a tourist place there I think called Nkandla, well worth a visit. They have a large pool.

That's a fire pool, Not suitable for 4x4 Enthusiasts.

KurtG wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:09 pm

There’s a tourist place there I think called Nkandla, well worth a visit. They have a large pool.

Check your geography Kurt. Not close to the are I'm going to. Lot's of wildlife there from what I understand.

Ive heard Cetshwayo s grave is near Nkandla & guy who wrote the book on Grave Sites of SA said it was the best setting he visited for a final resting place ...
... he’d probably never visited CJRs World View in the Matopos.

Ithala, hluehlue and Umfolozi reserves are all worth visiting as is Mkuzi.
Nottingham Rd pub is fine place for a beer on way to Natal or on way back .

... what route there and back do you have in mind ? Ive often thought of heading N at the Green Lantern (also good for a beer) and then on S61 to do the next pass up from Van Reenans ...

LX wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:17 pm

That's a fire pool, Not suitable for 4x4 Enthusiasts.

And non-ANC supporters

But I think Bushwacker has pretty much nailed it, his list looks decent!

One trip we did was go via Vriehied to N Natal.
Just this side of Vriehied was a little campsite
... cant remember name ... with about 6 chalets on dam wall with varandahs over the water and so could fish from doorstep!
Vryhied itself only good fo Slaghuus biltong!
From Vryhied road gets more interesting over ‘Drakensburg’ then down to Natal and between/through Hluhlue / Umfolozi ... quite interesting route.

I'm planning to travel the N17 - N2 route via Bethal , Ermelo and Piet Retief then on to Pongola. So we don't have to rush and have time for some sightseeing we will night-stop near Piet Retief.

Paul

Definitly visit Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Other places :
AmaZulu Game Reserve
Ithala Game Reserve 4x4 Trails
Bivane 4x4 Trail something that is still on my tick list
World Heritage-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park (formerly the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park)


Do a search on the Rainbow Route

I'll do the search thanks Ryno.
Most of those are on the list of planned places to visit already but I'm going to look into the 4x4 trails a bit more.
If things work out well on this trip I might look at putting together a 4X4AG trip to the area.

Paul#25 wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:32 pm

If things work out well on this trip I might look at putting together a 4X4AG trip to the area.

Thanks Paul, I'm sure I'm not the only one that appreciates the effort!

Just over a week to go and now I've got to do a repair to the caravan. A section of the join of the roof panel and front panel of the van wasn't sealed correctly at some time and let water in causing a section of wood to rot away. I'm going to fill the area between the inner and outer skin in the area of the damage with a 2 part expander foam that will stick it all together and hold it in position. It has good mechanical strength according to the experts so it should do the job for a while till I rebuild the area.

Home for the next week. Bushbaby Lodge and Camping, Hluhluwe.

Nice Paul, enjoy it!