Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Gallery : Mud Racing Tips !


Click the pic to view a fantastic gallery of mud busting quads, including this "QuadZilla" !!! This is how they roll Stateside ! YeeHaa !
The link, and picture courtesy of Quad Magazine

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Ride Report – Belvedere Game Ranch


Belvedere Game Ranch is situated 190 km to the north from Richards Bay and about 30 km from Pongola. Follow the N2 north towards Mkuze and then 20 km past the Mkuze intersection you turn left onto the R69 gravel road. Follow this road for 22 km. At the split in the road after about 20 km, keep to your right and stay on the R69 for another 2 km’s. You will see the entrance to Belvedere on your right hand side. Drive through the gate and follow the road into the farm for about 1 km until you reach the farm house where Cobus and Karen Venter will receive you and give directions the lodge.



Belvedere is a game farm of +- 1900 hectares stocked with a variety of game including Kudu, Nyala, Impala, Worthog, Bushbuck, Zebra, Blouwildebees and Duiker. It is mainly a Game and Hunting Farm during the winter and they are exploring the option to utilize it during the rest of the year for quad and bike adventures. We were the first to ride here and give some feedback on the quality of the ride. There is not an official set of rules yet, but the idea is that riders will treat the environment with respect, stay on the many tracks available and not go cross country, no racing and watch out for game that might cross the road. This make for a true family getaway and relaxed riding.
The lodge is situated in the center of the farm surrounded buy lush bushveld and accommodation is in 4 comfortable rooms that includes a shower and toilet in each of the rooms. The showers in each room are fed with gas geysers that are very welcome after a hard days riding. Two of the rooms sleep 3 and the other two rooms sleep 2. There is also a separate room that formed part of the old camp that can sleep a further three people.

There is a separate central kitchen and dining area with gas fridge and freezer. There is no electricity in the camp, but all lights are fed from a central connection point that you fit to your vehicle. Everything that you will need in terms of crockery and cutlery are provided for and there is a well setup braai area where all the stories of the day are told around you camp fire. Prices for adults are currently R150 pppn and R80 pppn for children under 12. No additional cost for Quads and bikes.
The farms has a network of bush tracks of about 100km in total. We spent a total of about 7 hours on the bikes over the two days and covered a total distance of 105km. We probably only got to ride about 50% of the roads available. The best way to explore these roads is obviously with your GPS, but you very quickly get orientated in finding your way around and back to the camp. Cobus is planning to map out some of the tracks to make it a bit easier for those with a lack of direction or without a GPS.


You will find a variety of types of tracks to ride ie. grassy new tracks, rocky terrain, sandy river beds and some steep climbs. The dry riverbed is ideal terrain for the quads to explore, but it needs some clearing of bush in some areas to fully utilize it. Maybe it just needs a few utility quads and time to create a trail up the riverbed, but the two wheelers where not the correct gear for this job. This is something to discuss with Cobus on your arrival.


I also found a large rocky area next to one of the trails that I could not resist. I slowly climbed up this rock for about 40 meters with my GasGas for a photo opportunity. This will make a great area to do some technical stuff with bikes and quads. I looked at the vegetation in the area and I could not find much that could be damaged, but this is something else we need to check with Cobus before it is done.
Then there is the viewpoint that must be visited at sunset. We only had overcast afternoons and could not see the sun set, but I can just imagine that this is the perfect place to end off a days ride. From this vantage point you can look over the bush and dream of the new quad or bike that you are going to buy when you get back to civilization or how you will tell you boss on Monday why your weekend had to be extended with another day.








During the day we passed many Impala, Kudu, Nyala and Worthog that just added to the true bush experience. It was also great to take some snacks and drinks with to take a break every now and then and just relax off the bikes in the bush. What makes it special is that you never have to worry about other vehicles, quads or bikes that might meet you head on and truly makes for a relaxed ride.

Cobus and Karen Venter can be contacted on 0823163223, 034 4141166, Fax 034 4141345 or e-mail belvedere@telkomsa.net for bookings to enjoy this beautiful place.

Safe Riding
Werner