So decided to get kids to breath some fresh mountain air. We left Centurion at about 12:00 on the N1 and promptly drove into a traffic jam that took us 2 hours to clear. The joys of living in a metro! So arrived after sunset at Royal Natal National Park after driving most of the way on the N3 up to Harrismith and then past the dam(Spioenkop?) just before Oliviershoek pass. We camped at Mahai camp site and had a wonderfull time just vegetating and letting the kids run free and ride their bikes on one of the biggest lawns they have seen. Tried to do some walking, but got distracted by lazyness so in the end gave it up for sundowners from the campsite watching the sun dissapear behind the Drakensberg, or The Berg as they call it here. The weather was excellent for this time of year and we caught some early suntanning. The drive back was much better than the drive there and we made it back in good time with The Xplorer on tow. All in all a good trip and well worth the visit if you like quiet camp sites(except for the wind through the trees, the stream flowing past and the doves putting on their best song) with zero facilities except good clean ablutions with plenty hot water.
All in all a good break that got rid of some cobwebs. As always the Pajero did it without a problem and the new Iron man coils and shocks did a good job of keeping us on track. I just need to readjust my headlights after the suspension change as I blinded oncomming traffic with the Xplorer hooked up.
CATS
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
Sounds lovely Cats, the dam just before Oliviershoek pass coming from Harrismith is the Sterkfontein Dam. It is part of the Lesotho Highland water project and also houses a huge hidro-electrical power station a couple of hundred metres underground.
Affiliate Member
I did a similar trip last year, by-passing the N3 wherever I could. The roads were excellent, the traffic was minimal and even the gravel section I travelled on was in great shape, taking us around the Berg in all its glory! Would happily do that trip again. Slightly longer than the N3, but, Oh, so much more relaxing!
-F_D
-F_D
Affiliate Member
Sani Pass 050 resize.jpg[/attachment]Here are some of the pics we took on the return trip. Have no idea of the names of the area we passed through, other than the Golden Gate, but it was a very scenic route and one has no problem in travelling at speeds of 80-100km/hr. What's the rush, we were on holiday! 
The gravel road is in excellent condition, smooth as a baby's behind. No dust to speak of, very little traffic, very scenic, and once we hit tar road again we came upon a delightful coffee house / wooden furniture factory, that served the most delicious cream scones. I will do this trip again in a flash, only this time I would require a longer period in order to do it full justice.
Just to whet your appetite further, here is an interesting shot of the Sani Pass from inside White Fang. It's a wee bit shaky, but then the road is just a little bouncy...
-F_D
Just to whet your appetite further, here is an interesting shot of the Sani Pass from inside White Fang. It's a wee bit shaky, but then the road is just a little bouncy...
-F_D
Attachments:
Kai
Although the Golden Gate park is also in the Drakensberg area, it is actually very far from the park mentioned in this post, ie the Royal Natal national Park.
So you can still visit
CATS
Although the Golden Gate park is also in the Drakensberg area, it is actually very far from the park mentioned in this post, ie the Royal Natal national Park.
So you can still visit
CATS
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
