Lock horns with a rhino

Full review | Geoff Levey | DO38 August - September 2010

Rough week? Need to let off some steam? Geoff Levey might have found just the place − in Gauteng’s backyard.

If you’re looking for a day trip full of 4x4 fun close to Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Rhino 4x4 trail is the place to find it. The guided trail is only a 12 km loop, but with a 3½ difficulty grading it has a fair number of proper challenges.
It also has enough soothing scenes in between to give your hart a chance to recover and to make it worthwhile for the friends and family you’ve dragged along!
Situated on privately owned farmland, 11 km from Rayton off the R515 (only 35 km from Pretoria), it’s home to the 600-strong McCarthy 4x4 Club.
Although affiliated with Toyota, everyone with a 4x4 with low-range and proper ground clearance is welcome. But no softroaders or 4x2’s please, since it is a pretty serious 4x4 trail.
And it’s action right from the get-go when you are faced with a steep hill with nasty cross-axle sections about halfway up. Keep your eyes on the well-trained guide for it is vital to take the correct line here.
Speaking of the guides – it’s wise to listen to them, since they know the trail and are eager to give advice and tips on how to tackle the obstacles. If you heed their advice and drive with care, neither your vehicle nor your ego will get dented.
Once over the warm-up teaser you find yourself in a quarry lined with obstacles, ditches, mud and water. Be extra cautious here, as it can be quite challenging to get out of the quarry.
The trail then meanders through bushveld between hills and valleys, and over a few challenging rocky sections. Take it easy and accelerate steadily to prevent a passenger (or driver) from banging a head against a door.
The convoy continues, leisurely crisscrossing the land, until called to a halt at a narrow little log bridge over a deep ravine. Avoid the bridge if you have a weak heart or issues with heights.
Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you have to climb up the mountainside over a series of logs stacked alongside one another. It’s a tricky climb with more cross-axles that can produce a dash of angst, but keep cool since it isn’t as bad as it seems.
More obstacles lie ahead, some of which are quite difficult, but you can take an escape route if you don’t want to risk it.
On one obstacle in particular, the trail goes straight up a rock face, before turning, tracing the edge, and then turning and bearing down again.
Your passengers might appreciate reassurance now and again that, despite the ever-changing colour of your complexion and your white knuckles on the steering wheel, you do, in fact, know what you are doing ... sort of.
The trail ends where it began, at the clubhouse, where you can relax and regale your fellow survivors with accounts of the day’s events before you head off (Rhino Park has no overnight facilities).
The park and trail are supervised and a manager is on duty every weekend and holiday. A minimum of five vehicles are required per trip and you have to book at least a week ahead.
Trips depart from outside the McCarthy 4x4 Clubhouse at 10h00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Check in at the clubhouse ten minutes before you start the trail to sign an indemnity form.
Monthly 4x4 competitions and prizes are a highlight at McCarthy 4x4 Club’s open gathering. All are welcome.
Drive Out says: Rhino 4x4 is an enjoyable, well-managed and challenging trail that is worth every cent.

What you need to know

WHY SHOULD I GO?

Great people, well-managed set-up and challenging off-roading, all in a pristine environment a quick drive from anywhere in Gauteng

EN ROUTE

How long is the trail? 12 km
How long will I be driving? About 3-4 hours
Maximum number of vehicles? Minimum 5
Do I get a map?
No, you follow the guide.
Will my car get scratched? It’s up to you.
Should I remove the running boards? No
Should I take a compressor?
A compressor is available.
Can I turn around halfway?
Yes, there are numerous opportunities to hop off the route, and difficult sections can be skipped.
Can we have a braai en route?
No, but you can do so at the clubhouse at the start and end of the trail.

THE SURROUNDS

Best time to go? All year round
Can I take my family along? Oh yes
Just for the day or the weekend? It’s a full day’s outing.
Are there ablution facilities for day visitors? Yes, at the clubhouse
Can I see game? No
The nearest town? Rayton (11 km), Pretoria (35 km)
How do I get there?
From Pretoria: Head out on the N4 towards Witbank. Take the Rayton, Cullinan, Bapsfontein off-ramp at the top of the Donkerhoek Mountain. Drive through the tollgate. About 150 m past the tollgate, turn right onto the R515 towards Bapsfontein. Drive on for some 4 km. Turn left at the McCarthy 4x4 Club, Rhino Park signboard. Follow the signboards to the clubhouse.
GPS: S25.83160 E28.53888
The nearest fuel?
Rayton (11 km), Pretoria (35 km)

WHERE CAN I STAY?

Rhino 4x4 has no accommodation, but Pretoria and Johannesburg are close to it.

WHAT ELSE?

Must I take anything special?
Sun block, cool drink, recovery gear, chairs and hats
What else can I do there?
Go quad biking at facilities next to the 4x4 trail.

COSTS

Cost of trail for members: R60
Cost of trail (non-members): R120
Membership: R350 per year

CONTACT

Anthonie Coetzee 
012 567 9623,
082 928 7702;
mc4x4@mcmotor.co.za;
www.mccarthy4x4.co.za

101 Trail Guide | 2010

Rhino 4x4

Rhino Park is situated just off the R515, some 35 km from Pretoria and 11 km from Rayton.
Although it is the home of the McCarthy 4x4 Club, which has more than 600 members, it is open to all makes of 4x4s.
The guided trail takes a minimum of five vehicles, and departs at 10 am every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday.
Booking is essential, and should be done at least a week in advance.
It’s unnecessary to book on club days and open days.
Once everyone has signed their indemnity forms, the convoy departs, and it’s one obstacle after the other from the word go.
The obstacles are well thought out, but there are escape routes should you feel some of them are beyond your comfort level.
The trail meanders through bushveld, across some very rocky and challenging sections. A steady foot is necessary to prevent headaches, as the probability of banging heads on doors and roofs can be high in some sections.
There is a log-bridge ravine crossing that requires careful navigation, a mountain face with stacked logs, and a nasty rock face climb that is guaranteed to get the adrenalin pumping.
The guides are well trained and ready to give advice on how best to tackle the obstacles. If you listen to them and drive carefully, the risk of vehicle damage is minimal.
The trail ends where it starts, and the day wraps up at the clubhouse about 2 km away, where you can relax, have a drink and relive the day’s adventures.

Accommodation: None

What else?
Facilities next to the 4x4 trail offer quad bike adventures.

What you need to know

Contact:
Anthonie Coetzee
012 567 9623,
082 928 7702;
mc4x4@mcmotor.co.za,
www.mccarthy4x4.co.za

Nearest town: Rayton (11 km), Pretoria (35 km)

Best time to go: Any time

Trail distance: 12 km

How long will I be driving? 3 h

GPS: S25.83160 E28.53888