Baboons pass 2025

[Bugjuic]

Great write-up Alex! Looks like one hell of a trip! Glad I did not go with the sussiebussie as intended!

That sure stays a bucketlist item for me, and still hope to do it with the right vehicle.

Seeing as this is the second time around doing it? And conditions changing the whole time, will you do it again? Did you meet any other vehicles on the trail, and what kind of vehicles were they? Curiosity only, to determine the "correct" vehicle to take...

[Trolly Fan]

Hi Bugjuice

There were no other vehicles on the pass (I know of someone from that other forum) that was there in December. They did not seem to have had such a bad time, taking 11 hours on day 1 and 4 hours on day 2), but also not sure what rigs they had with them.
So 15 hours in total sounds quite respectable to our 23 hours!

Then, about a month ago there was the Jeep club that said they took 8,5 hours in total. To put that into perspective, it is a highly experienced group, and the Jeep club record is closer to about 5 hours. So it is still harder for everyone.

In 2017 I think I mentioned we took 8,5 hours. But we had no breakdowns, and I distinctly recall going straight over some rocks (on 33" tires) where I had to navigate my line driving on 35" at the same spot. So, it is fair to say it is harder than before. But also difficult to judge how much harder given that in our case we had the breakdown that complicated things.

It has rained a LOT over the last 6 months or so.

Yes, I would do it again, but it is not an every year thing; and
One unfortunately needs to be selective, and stricter in terms of minimum requirements.
I would not go with less than 35"s, and a winch - this would be my minimum requirements.
The FJ made it on smaller tires, but it is a shorter wheel base, and was still pulled out of a number of tricky situations.

[Martin de Jager]

Guys just a few memories, 7 vehicles drove Baboons in August 2019, I made a comment the pass remains dynamic, it changes all the time. This was report then
"This is the official report on the 4x4 Extreme Baboons Pass trip.
The process started a year ago, a lot of enthusiasm, then it quietened down.
WOW!
All those who did not do it, you missed out!
This was to be an epic tour, epic event and an awesome group of people.
Getting There:
We arranged and started the convoy in Heilbron, Wimpie and Jaco came the furthest but were first, then myself, Esther and Armand arrived. Minutes later Victor and Pierre(Bugger) and Woolf arrived. Together, applying convoy rules, we rolled out of Heilbron, drove to Bethlehem, and met Francois (Panda), Santa, and Burger and Bianca.
Missing in action was our friend Alex and Kwetcha, Africa time rules. We had a pleasant breakfast in Bethlehem. Eventually we were joined by the big thirsty Hummer. We agreed to fill up, buy some wood, and wait for the Hummer, and wait and wait!
Africa went missing in Checkers, so serious penalties are coming.
We decided enough waiting and off we went, around 11h00, we send pin pointers to LX, they were on the Senekal road and we were on our way to Ficksburg, more pointers follow. We stopped for ice and eventually the big Hummer rolled in.
With the full convoy in tact, representing the mighty 4x4 Action Group we set off for Peka Bridge border post.
We exit South Africa & proudly entered Lesotho, & drove through the outskirts.
The mighty convoy being the focal point of the day, smiles, waves, smile, roadblock, check licenses etc..
We drove though outskirts of Maseru to Roma. Radio Comms working beautiful, a slow pace through the chaos into Roma, then a final fill up. Off we go next stop Ramabanta Trading Post.
Ramabanta:
We arrive in Ramabanta, unpack, sort the accommodation, all settled we set up a communal braai, we chat , laugh, absorbed some beverages, laid down the rules, the order to drive, then we split up for a restful night.
Ramabanta to Baboons:
The following morning we are up at 05h00, ready to rock and roll, all vehicles deflated, food, enough tools , spare parts, spare side shafts, , off we go, 06h00 all in convoy. Check , check, go off the tar, tougher than what many of our members drove all year! .
We drove wrong once, twice, we get focused!!! The order of the convoy set, (1) Bugger in Tiny, (2) SAXJ in the new Jimny; ( 3) Panda; (4) LX ; (5) Burger; (6) Wimpie and Jaco, a mighty team in a Nissan Terrano; and (7) Myself, in the mighty Fortuner. Sweeper and joint leader.
Finally Baboons!!!:
We start the pass around 06h30, this is going to be a long day! 1710 meters above sea, cold, for some very cold, Bugger looks like a camo-cladded Eskimo, LX so well camouflaged he blends into the night, its pitchblack. .
Baboons Pass, the easy part starts, we maintain a steady pace, the first half had some testers, some really tight angles and narrow close to the edge tracks, sun in the eyes.
08h43, made some slow progress and already had some hair raising moments, its beautiful but not easy!
By 09h02 we arrive at a very tight rocky corner - we have progressed a mere 2 km's . Believe me this is tough, but still the easy part!
10h49, by now of you would have moaned, this thing is tough! Not even 5 km's into the pass! We have been tested already, big rocks, deep ruts, more rocks. But man what a team, all for one, one for all, proudly we carry on.
By 11H44 I picked up my first battle scars, thought I could mount this one rock, surprise! , right hand rear damage, eina.
LX got stuck twice, we do a bit of recovery & off we go again. Santa was brilliant, we all assisted and got him through!
By 13h20 we arrived at an extreme tester, only Bugger and Panda succeeded, LX tried we, send him back, safety first. Wimpie had the only puncture, Bugger had a mechanical because of this obstacle!
14h05, we are back on the road, the last 6 km's ahead of us, we thought it was difficult yet the toughest was still to follow.
Convoy on the move.
Z drive, we start the decent, what a drop of tight lines, big rocks, more damage on mine, nobody to navigate me, its now 14h12. Man this thing is intimidating, wrong line, shit committed, diff lock on, reverse, turn, safely out!
By 14h40 the toughest part starts, these rocks are really growing by the minute, Wimpie is stuck, Santa comes to the rescue, she shows the line for us men!
14h44, now the real tough part is upon us , Armand my navy assists me, the next obstacle Wimpie digs big time, out, then its my turn, out, thanks Santa.
15h30 the end is in sight.
Goliath Rock, we all collect out wits, everyone goes through, eventually we are all out.
At 15h57 we stopped Goliath Rock behind us, all in good spirit. Now the way out of the pass , highest point 2690 meters above sea, nearly a 1000 meters ascending, some of the toughest, certainly my toughest. Now for some fun, LX dug some deep ruts, Burger gets stuck, Wimpie rescues him, laughs all the way! We go down Wimpie has side slide, real close call.
17h13 we all gather for a group photo at the tar road, Well done team , safely home.
18h03 I stopped at Ramabanta, greetedby a very relieved wife, then the music when she sees the damage! Now I am joining the Bowls club.
Conclusion:
That is Baboons pass! an awesome drive.
That night we held a court session and we enjoyed the OBS - especially LX and Kwetcha. Thanks all.
The following day we drove home.
The Best team

[Martin de Jager]

We had the most ideal conditions, it was dry, but looking a your recent video, also extremely rocky. You were most unfortunate and had a lot of bad luck, really think the support between each other was most admirable, and what this club is most about.
I was going to drive with in the Jimny, and wonder how it would struggled considering big machines had so much trouble. My Fortuner then was on 31" tires, one car a Nissan Torano had no lockers, SAXJ introduced the new Jimny and drove without fault. LX was in his Hummer and got hugh-up a few times, Bugger, Panda, and Burger was in two Jeeps and Tiny a beast on his own merit.
Six years in the past, Baboons remains a great drive and I am hoping to do it again.
Again Well Done to all.