101 Trail Guide | 2010

Mabote River Camp

Mabote River Camp offers four 4x4 trails, waterfalls, a number of swimming pools and the chance to catch a fish or three, all beneath the watchful eye of the Waterberg’s impressive sandstone cliffs.
The various trails take in almost the whole spectrum of driving experiences – including sand, water, mud and rocks. On registration at Mabote (Sotho for “small strong river”), you get a brochure with all the relevant route information, and a map that provides details on distances, trail conditions and sightseeing opportunities along each of the trails.
The routes are well marked, with arrows and signage in the colour of the trail. They are well maintained, with trees and bushes trimmed back to ensure vehicles don’t get scratched. Some trails are quite sandy, which is unusual for this part of the country. However, during the rainy season, from October to March, the river crossings become challenging. You need to check them out carefully before attempting them.
There are also a number of wet, marshy areas to test the unwary driver. Apart from a few interesting cross-axle challenges where a driver will need some experience, the overall grading is a 3. But keep in mind that the difficulty increases in summer when the river rises.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
The secluded Koko chalet sleeps 6, and has an equipped kitchen and two en-suite bathrooms. The main camp can accommodate 12 guests in three separate huts, each with its own boma.
The Mountain Camp has 10 tent stands and is well shaded under indigenous trees, but there is no electricity, and cellphone reception is limited.

What else?
Hiking to the waterfalls, rock art (a guide is available on request), rock pools, and a large dam for canoeing and angling. Bass and tilapia (kurper) are the most common fish, but are caught on a strictly catch-and-release basis.

Contact:
Esmè Peens
015 453 0792,
083 601 9866;
info@mabote.com,
www.mabote.com

Nearest town: Mokopane (Potgietersrus) (64 km)

Best time to go: All year round

Trail distance: 4 trails, 18.5 km in total

How long will I be driving? Approximately 2-4 hours

GPS: S24.09892 E28.65796

Full Review | Peter Levey (July 2007)

Four 4x4 trails, waterfalls, swimming pools and the chance to catch a fish
or three, all under the watchful eye of the Waterberg’s sandstone cliffs.
Peter Levey fills us in on the Mabote River Camp.

As you approach Mabote, the first thing you’ll notice are the imposing Waterberg cliffs. Rising to the south of the river camp, they seem to follow your progress around the farm – whether you’re hiking, angling, mountain biking or tackling the 4x4 trails.

You would assume that because of these cliffs, the 4x4 trails in the area would be very rocky, but not so. Each trail offers something different, covering the whole spectrum of driving conditions: sand, water, mud and rock.

Some of the trails are quite sandy, which is unusual for this part of the country.

During the rainy season, from October to March, the river crossings become increasingly challenging. If you’re visiting then, be careful; the terrain becomes very tricky.

In wet conditions, your undivided attention will be required when tackling even the simplest obstacle. To add to that, there are also a number of wet and marshy areas – sure to keep you on your toes.

The fact that Mabote (Sotho for “small strong river”) offers such a variety of different terrains, is one of its major attractions – it makes for interesting trails that test all skill levels.

On registration, you will receive a map and a brochure with all essential information on the routes. The map provides detail on distances, trail conditions and sightseeing opportunities along each of the four trails.

The trails are well marked with arrows and signage colour-coded to each specific route. The tracks are well maintained: trees and bushes are trimmed to ensure that no vehicles get damaged.

Apart from a few interesting cross-axle challenges, the overall grading would be a 3. Keep in mind however that this will change in summer, when the river level rises and the trails become more difficult.

Remember to stop at the lookout point on the yellow route – it offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.

If you want to get up close and personal to the rocky cliffs, get into gear and take a hike. If sufficient rain has fallen, the waterfalls are well worth a visit.

Bird-watchers can get a detailed list of species at reception (or a list of trees, if the feathered ones don’t tickle your fancy).

For accommodation you can choose between the secluded Koko chalet with its equipped kitchen and two en-suite bating rooms (sleep 6); the main camp, which can accommodate 12 guests in three separate huts (each with its own boma), or the Mountain Camp, which has 10 camp sites, well shaded under indigenous trees. Remember, there is no electricity and cell phone reception is limited.

Drive Out says: Here you can relax in a truly unspoilt environment and if you don’t want to 4x4, there are plenty of other things to do. So what are you waiting for?