101 Trail Guide | 2010

MontEco Nature Reserve

MontEco is situated in a 6 400 ha reserve in the Montagu region. It has eight trails covering more than 90 km, catering for various skill levels and vehicle capabilities. The terrain predominantly consists of loose rock and shale, so diff lock is recommended. Four trails are suitable for 4x2s. A detailed map is supplied upon arrival.
In the north is the Bulberg Trail, the 4x2-friendly Ox-wagon Trail and the shorter Rondomtalie Trail. The Bulberg Trail offers a variety of obstacles and gives a good idea of the layout of the land. It covers mainly rocky terrain, and is characterised by rugged rock formations and views over the so-called Knife Edge. Based around the river, the Ox-wagon Trail is great for game viewing.
Rondomtalie Trail is a short circular trail, testing approach and departure angles in a usually dry riverbed. In the eastern section, the Kalkoenshoek Trail is a gentle grade 2 drive that climbs to the edge of a ridge, offering views of the kloofs below. It’s a cambered route with several steep ascents and descents that level out and edge along a steep cliff face.
In the south lies the 4x2-friendly Springbokvlakte Trail, and the more challenging Kleinberg Trail. The latter follows a gorge where one has to negotiate several deep gullies, tight bends and potentially slippery ascents and descents. It is for 4x4s only.
The final two, the Klipboksleegte Trail and Dassie Trail, are more scenic 4x2 trails.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
The self-catering chalets are solar-powered, and well positioned. They also have private viewing decks. Camping is on a soft, lush riverbed.

What else?
Quad excursions, camel rides, game viewing, rock art, mountain biking (you can hire bikes), and hiking

Contact:
Daniel Baleta
028 572 1922,
083 766 7847; 
info@monteco.co.za,

Nearest town: Montagu (33 km)

Trail distances: The 8 trails total more than 90 km

How long will I be driving? 30 minutes to 4 hours per trail

GPS: S33.73180 E20.43114

Full Review | ROLL OF HONOUR
Drive Out TOP TEN: 2000 – 2006

Contact Tom Lewis
Tel 0800 628 873 
Cell 028 572 1922
Email monteco@attglobal.net
Website www.monteco-nature-reserve.com
Nearest town Montagu
Best time of year Year round, but we recommend winter
Maximum vehicles 20
Route distance Seven trails totalling 90 km (30mins – 4 hours)
GPS Points S33 43 54.4 E20 25 52.4

Mont Eco is arguably the single best 4x4 trail in southern Africa.
Or, more accurately, set of trails.
There are seven trails in total, catering for various skill levels and vehicle abilities. Situated on a whopping 6 400 ha reserve in the spectacular Montagu region, Mont Eco also offers a guided rock art tour, camel riding, hiking trails, mountain biking routes, 40 different mammal species and enough bird and plant life to send your stressed out soul back to the stone age!

Accommodation is in excellently positioned self-catering cottages with solar power and private viewing decks.

Camping is excellent and situated on a lush riverbed.

We also need to stress that Mont Eco is totally committed to preserving the natural heritage of the region, as well as educating the public in this regard. The new owners are as equally passionate and committed as Tom and Frik were. This fantastic trail truly sets the standard.

FULL REVIEW | MARCH 2007 (DO18) | Ami Kapilevich

Nearest town Montagu
Contact Steve Davies (owner) or Daniel Baleta
Tel 028 572 1922
Fax 028 578 1290
Cell 082 386 8883
Email info@monteco.co.za
Best time of year September; spring
Maximum vehicles 10
Route distance Seven trails totalling 90km 
Recommended stay Three or four nights

It's early evening. The sky is chatoyant, glowing purple with a thick band of orange. My wife and I are sitting on the extended deck of our chalet enjoying the view of the riverbed and a bottle of Merlot that we purchased from an obscure (well, obscure to us) little wine farm just outside Robertson. The baby is asleep. The fire is lit. The wood is crackling – bone dry. Magic.

We sit in silence and watch a pair of sparrows  (or were they swallows?) make ever-closer approaches to their mud nest in a corner of the ceiling above our heads. The female is getting braver and braver. She is now flitting into the balcony/porch area, but she's scared of us – torn between the maternal instinct to nest and the animal instinct to beware of these strange, destructive humans and their fiery hearth.

Eventually, she makes a dive for it. In the blink of an eye she is in her nest. The male follows a moment. The only things flapping about now are  fat bats and their insect prey.

It's moments like this that make a whole year in the office worth it.

It is our first time in MontEco, and the place is definitely living up to its prodigious reputation. There is a reason why MontEco is on Drive Out's Top Ten Trails 2007 Roll of Honour, and this is it: the simplest pleasure of just sitting there and watching a couple of sparrows make their approach. Earlier, we watched a troop of baboons lope across the far side of the bank. They were followed by a small herd of female springbok, which in turn was followed by a lonely bachelor springbok.

Earlier that afternoon we were poring over the maps and information sheets that Daniel Baleta, the resident game ranger, had given us upon our arrival. We were in a Range Rover Vogue and I didn't want to damage it. That is, I didn't want to  shred its fancy low-profile tyres on the rocks of the Anysberg. In the end, we chose the Kalkoenshoek 4x4 Trail.

Kalkoenshoek is a gentle grade 2 that climbs to the edge of a ridge and offers some great views of the kloofs below.
There are a whopping 90 kilometres of 4x4 trails to be explored at MontEco, catering for all skill levels and vehicle capabilities. The terrain is pretty much loose rocks and shale so I would definitely recommend a diff lock, but we didn't really need low range, even though we used it.

The Range Rover's Terrain Response system made light work of the somewhat steep and rocky trail.

At one stage, the Rover's back wheels slipped on some loose shale.
"Check! Check!" I nudged my wife, indicating the LCD screen. "See the centre diff?" It locked automatically and the car dragged its entire weight up the rocks on its left front wheel. If that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will.

Mind you, perhaps some people (like my wife, who simply sighed those two magic words: "Yes, dear" and continued to stare out the window) would find the pale chanting goshawk – with its bright orange legs – more impressive. But you need a decent vehicle to get you as close to the magnificent bird as we were, don't you?

The rest of the route descended the ridge and then rejoined the main track through the reserve, by which time we were thoroughly satisfied and quite hungry.
I was glad that Michéle suggested doing the trail earlier.
One should always do trails as slowly as possible. One should always savour them.

There are eight 4x4 trails at MontEco, four of which are suitable for 4x2. A detailed map of each is available when you check in. So it really is a fantastic playground if you have a decent vehicle and some off-roading experience. There are also a couple of hiking trails. But who wants to hike in this heat when you can drive on out there?

So MontEco is truly a destination that you can spend a good few days exploring. The area is discreetly networked with trails and tracks. Take your car as far as it will go, then get out and walk. You will be rewarded with sightings of animals and the fact that the rangers on the reserve are still discovering new rock paintings all the time is a testament to the pristine and untamed nature of the place.

Ancient walls and rock structures – whose purpose has long been forgotten – add to the mystery of the place.

It's just miles and miles of scrubland – the type of terrain that makes you appreciate both the magnificent and potentially dangerous enormity of nature, as well as the creature comforts of semi-civilisation. Like flush toilets.

One of MontEco's real drawcards is its accommodation. Each of the chalets is perfectly placed and provisioned and makes you feel like you are the only person in the world. And disposing of your waste in specially marked containers for recycling just makes you feel good about the whole stay.

MontEco lingers like a rich dessert long after the meal is over and the guests have all gone home.

WHERE TO STAY
A selection of self-catering chalets – each is private and excellently provisioned.

WHAT ELSE

• Quad excursions to game viewing and rock art sites.
• Mountain bikes are available for hire.
• Hiking galore!

SPECIALIST PACKING
MontEco is a self-catering establishment.  Remember to bring own water and food and beverages. There is a good supply of wood in the braai area but bring firelighters. Binoculars would be a plus, as well as sunscreen and a hat.

THE COST
R275 per person for the first 2 adults.
R125 per additional adult.
R80 per kid (6–12 yrs); kids under 6 stay free.
4x4 routes are R190 per vehicle – unlimited access for duration of stay.

WHY GO THERE?

• Excellent accommodation.
• An off-roader's paradise with miles and miles of 4x4 trails to explore, catering for all skill levels and vehicle capabilities.
• Seclusion and serenity.