River trip virgin 2024

[PsyPhin]

Soo river trip report. I joined the Patrols on their trip. What a lekker bunch, always helpful, friendly, willing to share.
But also respectful to each other, no drama, take out what you take in.

This was my first RT. It was just me in the car as family opted to stay home, so I kept everything simple. No tent, wet wipes, a pump 3L pressure sprayer, MREs for lunch, a bit of meat for dinner.

Counting from some of the overhead shots, we were about 26 vehicles.
It was a dynamic I wasn't used to. People came and went from and to camps in ad hoc groups. We all went the same way in the end and did a bit of a head count once it became dark each night.

Starting Thursday, we met up at Pretoria N1 Petropoort around 06h00 and left by 07h30.
Arriving at the Molototsi near Ga-Femane at 12h00 we jumped in, deflated and off we went.
I believe we did the route the opposite to what is commonly driven, starting with the difficult bits in Molototsi first. First camp was at about 14h30 after a quick recovery where a vehicle slide a bit close to the bridge.

Everything was very relaxed over the next few days. No pressure to leave, no pressure to get to a certain camp. We had AnthonyF and TinusL as our guides, and camps were just setup when needed.
There was always enough time to setup, relax, gather some wood and kuier all long before nightfall. We were told the entry fee to camp is a bit of wood. So I thinking cool let me gather some sticks. Then I saw the guys towing quite literal trees into camp, obviously I had it all wrong.

When I was packed and ready in the mornings I just waited for the next bunch to leave and tagged along. The Molototsi section we did was rough, for me at least.

Each night at around 10pm I dragged my sleeping bag and Carmaquip next to the huge bonfires and just slept under the stars.

Friday while driving down there were a few sections where I had no choice but to grind along my bash plates and rock sliders. Nothing too hectic. One or two points I chose to find my own line as the routes I was following the Patrols into seemed a bit much.

Saturday stepped up a notch where I couldnt physically follow them without packing rocks all day and tried to find exit points. I managed each time to find a better route with less banging. When I have to watch a high Patrol with 35" on banging every 3m, it doesnt look good for me. This was around Ga-Abel. It was about 37C so no one wanted to be packing all day.

I knew the midday section would be a rough one, getting to a section called "the rocks" near KaDzumeri. I had already plotted an escape route and re-entry about 4km down the river where I parked off to come watch. Lekker 2km walk.
Watching these cars trying to get through, I helped Ant make a bypass through the bushes to get to where I had parked off for some of the cars.
I learned later from some passers by that my re-entry point is where most trips actually exit the river and end the trip when starting at Letaba. We made camp shortly after. Once passed this point suddenly we saw a lot more groups. I dont think we saw anyone else before this.

My Car is lifted, has larger than stock wheels, steel bumpers, rock sliders, bash plating, but is stil la LWB bakkie and this section of Molototsi was rough. I took all the advice to take escape routes and spotting where possible but I have some scrapes and dings.

Sunday saw us having a lot more relaxed drive. Mostly just sand, a stop by the huge fig trees and then using the drone to find and exit point to get to Letaba and the Kruger fence. 40C+. Some nice water sections were driven.

After crashing my drone while climbing some dunes I took around an hour to find it via GPS points, but got it. Gimble is screwed but shouldnt be costly to repair.

Monday was an early pack up and leave. I am not sure if anyone continued to the Rock Garden but I had to get home.

There is a lot of sand mining going on. You can see some of the old concrete wells sticking out like 4m above the sane line indicating where the level used to be. I saw maybe 20x miners loading trucks while passing. This apparently exposes a lot more rocks.

There were 2x spots I saw where other visitors left their rubbish on the sand. Of course beer and cider bottles. Otherwise was clean.

My video of the trip.
https://youtu.be/yMOV-XTqeEU?si=3A1Oc04tupHDH_RF

[AndreasR]

Thanks Kevin. Nice report of what RT is like nowadays.

Patrol guys are tops!

[Mad Manny]

Kevin, thanks for succumbing to my demand for a trip report.
Appreciated....

[Woolf]

Kevin i hope you don't mind me tagging onto your thread

As a psycho who still frequents the other forum I saw that Monty Montgomery from the SuzukiAuto 4x4 club was looking for people to join them on a river trip. This was just on the Klein Letaba and not the Molototsi. Having spoken to Monty and Rechardt, who assured me this would not be a vehicle (Jimny) breaker, I decided to join them at the last minute.

Also met up at Petroport on Thursday and travelled to Magoebaskloof Getaway about 25km short of Tzaneen. We all met up there, a total of 9 Jimnys. 3 Gen 3's of which mine was the oldest, 14 years, and the rest were all new Jimny's of which one was a 5 door. On Friday we travelled to Giyane and after filling up we dropped into the Klein Letaba about 10km from Giyane. Apparently this is not the usual point of entry which was a bit further along.
It looked like we were the first people into the river bed as there were no tracks to follow. After a few detours and sending a drone up we found the way and eventually arrived at the usual point of entry. Even after this there were no tracks and we had to find our way through. After about 20km we camped for the night. 2 Jeeps and a Hilux came past us after we had set up camp.

After setting off the next morning we came to our first big rock obstacle and found the aforementioned group camped in the path. Apparently the one Jeep had stopped running so they camped just there. After they moved a tent we could get through. We could hear them on ORRA channel 4 initially but subsequently we never heard or saw them. Don't know if they got going again. We travelled 30km this day - a mixture of rocks, hard sand and soft sand. It was a bit challenging but no one got into major trouble. Camped a bit beyond a big bridge across the river. Don't know what road this was. Had to make the obligatory oversize fire. Personally I am not sure why this is necessary. The next morning we drove the last few kilometers to the net across the river which marks the border of Kruger. We then drove out along the fence until we reached a small village. From there I think we got lost and travelled through a river bed which required a lot a cleaning up of vegetation to reach a road that crossed the river.

A group of cars came past that looked to be part of a group organised by 4x4 Megaworld judging by the amount of ARB fitted to the vehicles and also a branded Megaworld vehicle. We were warned that the road we were about to drive had short spikes in the ground supporting what looked like a single strand electric fence. I managed to be the one unfortunate person who hit one of the spikes. This slashed the sidewall of the tyre and I developed an instant flat. My TPMS, nGauge, did indicate the loss of pressure but there was no way that this tyre would be salvageable. After changing the wheel we continued. A short while later we pulled over to allow a big convoy of Patrols to pass. In this convoy was a P series with green lights which I guessed was yours Kevin. You guys obviously entered on the fence side and travelled in the opposite direction to us.

My lack of a spare created a problem as I had wanted to travel back on Sunday with another car whose owner also had to be at work the next day. However I decided not to venture onto a packed N1 without a spare. This turned out fortuitous as it took about 8 hours for the other car to get home to Pretoria. The rest of the group were going back to Magoebaskloof Getaway and were planning to go home on Monday on a leisurely drive. I booked into a B&B in Tzaneen and was at HiQ at 07h30 the next morning. They confirmed that the tyre was unsalvageable and fitted a new tyre which they fortunately had in stock. By 08h15 I was on the road and back at work by 14h00.

Apart from Monty I didn't know anyone else in the group but It all gelled very quickly and there were no issues. Us Jimny people are obviously nice guys. We also didn't leave beer bottles and toilet paper in the river bed and our campfire ash was buried. Monty had arranged some goodies from autObarn motor spares and we each received a haversack with lots of nice goodies. From Giyane to Gravelotte was 130km. I refilled with 30L fuel which was about what the other Gen 3's used. The Gen 4's averaged about 23L. So despite being a bigger engine, 1500 vs 1300, they are obviously more fuel efficient

All in all a pleasant excursion

[Mad Manny]

Thanks Woolf, nice report....

[Trolly Fan]

"After changing the wheel we continued. A short while later we pulled over to allow a big convoy of Patrols to pass. In this convoy was a P series with green lights which I guessed was yours Kevin. You guys obviously entered on the fence side and travelled in the opposite direction to us."

The Patrol group started on Thursday afternoon and some on Friday morning on the Western (Gyani) side of Moletots, travelled East on the river and moved across to Klein Letaba (Kruger side) on the Sunday. Went home on Monday.
We were a smaller group than usual. 20-somehting, which I find much more pleasant than the 50+ we had been a few years back.
Although a lot of sandmining, it was not as bad as I had feared, and we all took our litter with us.
All in all it was a great trip, and still worth doing.

[Bugjuic]

Great write-up Kevin

I have to just mentioned, having driven the Sussiebussie (Fortuner) alongside the Patrols again this year, I have a new-found respect for the P-series of PsyPhin(Kevin). Driving alongside the P-Series this trip (in intervals), I saw the traction control of this vehicle really stepping up its game, especially in the sandy sections.

At no point in time did I not think the P-series was not up to the task. Yes being a LWB vehicle with a "worse" departure angle, Kevin made it look easy!

As always, the Patrol group was very helpful and assisted quickly when and where needed. No discrimination to vehicles or brand.

Woolf we saw your group and vehicles and group along the Kruger fence exit, hope you enjoyed it! Always a memorable trip the rivertrip.

It is nice to drive a trip in a group, but alone at the same time. No one is forced to do everything together, and no pressure is felt when driving an obstacle or demanding section. In my opinion this builds a lot of trust in yourself to be able to handle different situations and not only rely on spotters, tour-guides etc... But at the same time, should you feel the need for any help, you know there are vehicles just before you or behind you within radio range. I believe this tactic should be applied more and more, even on just your average trail (Moegatle, Rust de winter etc...) Why do we always pack together, stand in a que and go like sheep one after the other. Maybe I want to try that line 10 times, but in various formats, or open diffs vs lockers etc. It would allow for much more "play" time and I believe in a lot less 'mistakes' as people are not there to show off or make sure they drive the line correctly the first time. Peer pressure will also not be in play a lot, and will be much more accommodating to people who are new or uncertain about the ability of their vehicles and/or setups. Maybe a theory to test at our next event? Only have a scheduled time that we meet up at the end? and smaller groups of 2-5 vehicles departing at different times?

[Rechardt]

Soo river trip report. I joined the Patrols on their trip. What a lekker bunch, always helpful, friendly, willing to share.
But also respectful to each other, no drama, take out what you take in.

I am now very worried that you may want to buy a Patrol.

[PsyPhin]

Great write-up Kevin

I have to just mentioned, having driven the Sussiebussie (Fortuner) alongside the Patrols again this year, I have a new-found respect for the P-series of PsyPhin(Kevin). Driving alongside the P-Series this trip (in intervals), I saw the traction control of this vehicle really stepping up its game, especially in the sandy sections.

At no point in time did I not think the P-series was not up to the task. Yes being a LWB vehicle with a "worse" departure angle, Kevin made it look easy!

As always, the Patrol group was very helpful and assisted quickly when and where needed. No discrimination to vehicles or brand.

Woolf we saw your group and vehicles and group along the Kruger fence exit, hope you enjoyed it! Always a memorable trip the rivertrip.

It is nice to drive a trip in a group, but alone at the same time. No one is forced to do everything together, and no pressure is felt when driving an obstacle or demanding section. In my opinion this builds a lot of trust in yourself to be able to handle different situations and not only rely on spotters, tour-guides etc... But at the same time, should you feel the need for any help, you know there are vehicles just before you or behind you within radio range. I believe this tactic should be applied more and more, even on just your average trail (Moegatle, Rust de winter etc...) Why do we always pack together, stand in a que and go like sheep one after the other. Maybe I want to try that line 10 times, but in various formats, or open diffs vs lockers etc. It would allow for much more "play" time and I believe in a lot less 'mistakes' as people are not there to show off or make sure they drive the line correctly the first time. Peer pressure will also not be in play a lot, and will be much more accommodating to people who are new or uncertain about the ability of their vehicles and/or setups. Maybe a theory to test at our next event? Only have a scheduled time that we meet up at the end? and smaller groups of 2-5 vehicles departing at different times?

To this point, I was at the back of the one group when they went through a harsh section. I decided no way I am able to crawl through those rocks without hours of packing in 37C. I doubled back on my own looking for an exit when I found a break between the trees up a small dune.

I walked over and found another path, no idea where it went, could have been a different river completely but was better than hanging up on some "pebbles"

So I drove, walked, drove, walked through some moderate stuff, but not car breaking. I radio'd out my intention of going my own way and thats when I think I heard you say you are going to follow me. Was nice just taking my own track and checking it with no option of a spotter or previous tracks for reference in an area I had no experience with.