I joined the Patrol club for their annual Rivertrip event. Joining me was my wife and two kids.
Day 1:
Met up at Petropoort at around 7 to leavy to the molototsi Rriver entrance. Weather was cold as can be with maximum temperatures being around 10 Degrees and apparently some snow in Centurion when we left. On the way to Giyani Anthony got a sidewall cut and we had to put in 6 or seven plugs, then continued on our journey. We encountered a massive rain storm nearing Polokwane, and one fatal crash on ysterberg. Just after ysterberg got some nice hail as well. At around 12:00 we descended into the river, aired down and made our way to Camp. We did as usual, got some fire-wood and set up tent for the night. Got a bit or rain around 22:00, which was a first for me on a rivertrip, nice soothing music for sleeping.
Day 2:
We drove along the river, and over to a large flat rock formation, always very scenic, made brunch, headed towards camp around 15:00, time for some fire again, nice scenic one, but in saying this, we were about 26-28 vehicles that braai'd heated water etc...
This is the day of ROCKS! Just after the Dzumri bridge there are 2-3 rocky sections with some "bypass" routes, but these are not for the faint of heart, and having done them each year for the last 5 years, I decided that I will get out at the Dzumri Bridge and enter the river again after about 5 km, missing the rocky section as a whole. Now this is important to understand that unfortunately there is a lot of sand mining taking place in the river. This is not legal mining, and not small scale mining in any way! These are TLB's, trucks, lorries and mining sections the width of the river, 3-4meters deep 200m long at a time. Now what this causes is basically when the river starts flowing again, the rocks get exposed and and the environmental impact is huge! But a bit more on that later. Thus we were originally only 2 vehicles that wanted to bypass the rocky sections, and when I turned my head again, 8 more vehicles followed me out of there. Dropped back into the river after the rocky section and about 2 hours later about 8-10 vehicles more joined us, they started the rocky section and it was just too much, got out and joined us in waiting/ laying around lazy. If memory served the vehicles took between 4-6 hours for the rocky sections and there were buckled rims, bent bumpers, broken lights and people were exhausted! Half glad I missed it this year, half sad as it is always an experience! Will see what next year brings. Set up camp around 16:00 about 2km before the fig trees. This night was small fires, and multiples of them, rather than one central fire.
Whilst some of the convoy went along the Kruger fence, I decided to spend a night at the Kruger, as this would be our last night, thus I headed to Phalaborwa gate, booked a night in Balule and set up camp for a peaceful night of camping. Saw some nice animals, night life and noises of the bush, what a relief from Patrol snorers the nights before
Enjoyed the day at the Kruger, headed out at 14:00 and started back home.Overall a very very nice group this year, with a large variety of vehicles, ranging from Cruiser 300's, 80 series, Patrols, Hilux and even a custom 4x4 sprinter conversion bus with Patrol axles.
You don't need a massive vehicle to do the rivertrip with, just same basic underbelly protection, and maybe rock sliders. very fun trip and worth it every year.
Next come some things about the river itself and sustainable.
