101 Trail Guide | 2010

Sekororo 4x4 Adventure Trails

The Sekororo trails lie just west of Ofcolaco, 42 km southeast of Tzaneen. There are two options – a 16 km trail, and a longer one of up to 100 km that can be personalised.
Both are guided by Louw Booysen, owner of Sekororo 4x4 Adventure Trails. The 16 km Weekend Trail is the more difficult, and takes a good two days to complete. The excitement starts just outside Ofcolaco with a tricky crossing of the Makhutswi River. From there it heads for the Drakensberg mountains to the west.
The trail starts innocently enough with a bit of a boulder climb, then winds its way higher and higher up the spurs of the mountain. The first obstacle, the Staircase, is a deceptive-looking climb over some rocky steps on a bend to the right. Don’t be fooled; the right line and gear are critical.
The trail continues past ancient yellowwood trees and Modjadji cycads towards a series of grade 5 obstacles, where the average speed is 1 km/h. Don’t worry about getting stuck – vehicles that are unable to negotiate the obstacles alone are towed out by the guide’s vehicle.
All aspects are thoroughly inspected and discussed in advance. The trail continues the next day, with more steep ascents and heart-stopping side slopes. Vehicles crawl from rock to rock as the mountain descent is negotiated.
The 80-100 km Extended Trails are not as challenging as the first, but will still keep you busy. From Ofcolaco, you head out into the Legalameetse Nature Reserve, where you are soon climbing the mountains en route to the overnight camp. The trail makes its way over the Drakensberg escarpment and into the valleys on the other side, crisscrossing the Makhutswi River a number of times.
On the second day, the climbs become steeper, with vehicles clinging to the mountain – a sheer drop on the other side. At this point you really need to keep your wits about you.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
Camping is only permitted at specific places along the trail. Guests need to provide their own camping equipment and food. Before or after the trails, you can camp at Camp David at Ofcolaco.
 

What else?
If you’re done admiring the natural beauty (Modjadji cycad forest, yellowwood trees, game, birds and weathered rock formations), ask Louw about the area’s interesting history.

Contact:
Louw Booysen
072 877 2521
limpopoendeavours@gmail.co.za

Nearest town: Ofcolaco

Best time to go: All year, but it is tricky in summer when it’s wet.

Trail distances: 16 km and 80-100 km

How long will I be driving? The 16 km trail normally takes two days. The longer trail is usually also done over two days, but it can be personalised to suit your needs.

GPS: S24.35291 E30.95140

Full Review | Peter Levey (July 2007)

Calling Sekororo in Limpopo a 4x4 trail is an understatement. It’s more of an adventure trek to a frequently overlooked part of South Africa. Surrounded by nothing but natural beauty, you can spend up to seven days on the trails. Peter Levey tackled two of them, including one of the toughest in the country.

If you think Sekororo is just a quick little drive to get rid of the cobwebs, you need to think again. This is an adventure with plenty of substance.

You don’t have to be a seasoned driver to handle the trails, but get ready for some serious 4x4 action. And this time it’s really off the beaten track.

The Sekororo trails are to the west of Ofcolaco (42 km southeast of Tzaneen).

Here drivers make their way across rivers and through thick sand on a stretch from the Lowveld to the Drakensberg escarpment. All this before crossing the mountains into the valleys beyond. (A large part of the drive is on old forestry roads.)

Experienced or not, this is a route you don’t tackle on your own. Louw Booysen, owner of Sekororo Adventure Trails, is your constant guide.

WEEKEND TRAIL 16 km (Grading 4–5)
Short, sweet and difficult

How difficult is it? Well, the weekend trail is only 16 km long, but it will take you two days to complete…

The excitement starts just a few kilometres from Ofcolaco (the meeting point for the routes). Turning off the R36, our group of four is faced with an easy bush drive to get us in the mood.

There’s one river crossing on the Makhutswi. It can be a challenge when the river is flowing, but even when dry, as now, it’s no joke. Unwary drivers often get caught in the soft river sand or at the exit from the river.

The road heads straight for the towering Drakensberg mountains to the west. After about 8 km we make another stop, this time to let some air out of the tyres. From here the trail begins in all earnest. 

You can’t help but stare in awe at the mountains, which seem to rise from your feet before towering up to the heavens. Everyone is impressed and more than a little nervous of the challenges that lie ahead.

The trail starts innocently enough with a bit of a boulder climb – not much of a challenge. It then winds its way up the spurs of the mountain, retreating again into each successive valley.

It’s disturbing to see how subsistence farmers are encroaching on the pristine indigenous forests and mountain sides. Using unsustainable practices, they harvest a meagre crop from these beautiful, once unspoilt hills. Efforts to curb this are underway, but only time will tell how effective they are. 

We are still climbing, higher and higher all the time. Just as you relax, you are faced with the first real obstacle, the Staircase, or as Louw’s young son Robert-Louw calls it, the Scarecase. 

The Scarecase is a deceptive-looking climb over some rock steps on a bend to the right. Don’t be fooled, aligning the vehicle is critical – and the obstacle must be negotiated in the correct gear. Guidance is available for those who need to be shown the line, so if you’re unsure, ask. This is not the time for bravery.

We continue past an old tractor wreck, a remnant of the days when timber was harvested in the area, before re-entering the indigenous forest. Passing ancient yellowwood trees and Modjadji cycads, you feel privileged to be in this area.

It is also here, however, that we encounter the first of the grade 5 obstacles.

First, both inclines are thoroughly inspected and discussed so that the drivers know exactly which lines to take. Vehicles that are unable to negotiate them alone are helped up with a tow rope pulled by the guide’s vehicle.

On this treacherous section, our average speed is a mere 1 km/h, but by this time we know our campsite (offering well-earned rest and beer) is close. Just beyond, in fact, this incline with its 90° overhang to the right.

The campsite is right against the mountain, providing a magnificent view over the surrounding countryside and the Lowveld to the east. (You need to take your own tent, but there’s water, a toilet and a hot-water shower.)

Watching the sun rise over a steaming cup of coffee the next morning, we enjoy a sight that I’m sure will live with us for a very long time.

The new day begins in earnest. Before we’ve even had a chance to wipe the sleep from our eyes, we’re faced with staggeringly steep ascents that send us clambering over boulders and roots.

Breathing patterns only barely restored, we’re faced with heart-stopping side slopes that have most drivers hugging their front seat passengers around the neck – just to hold on to something else. We’ve all gone a few shades paler.

No time to relax, and the next obstacle is upon us, this time some very steep descents down what centuries ago might have passed for an old road, but one that has long since disappeared.

Vehicles creep from rock to rock as descents are carefully negotiated. Knuckles turn white as grips tighten on steering wheels. No-one breathes. 

We snail-creep past evidence of an old sawmill which is fast disappearing as nature claims back her own.

After a couple of hours we reach the bottom of the mountain once again. The experience is over way too quickly for my liking; the only consolation a growing sense of accomplishment in its wake.

*If you’re doing this trail, it’s best to stay over in the area the night before, so that you can get an early start.

EXTENDED TRAIL 80–100 km (Grading 2–4)
Up the mountain and down the other side

This trail can be completed directly on the tail of the first or if you so choose, it can be visited as a completely separate, independent trail.

We carry on, but first we retrace our steps to Ofcolaco to top up our supplies. Then we head out into the Legalameetse Nature Reserve, where we’re soon climbing the mountains on our way to the overnight camp. 

The trail makes its way over the Drakensberg escarpment and into the valleys on the other side. Now and then zebra, eland and other animals such as grey rhebuck, mountain reedbuck and bushbuck can be spotted grazing, and the variety of indigenous plants, trees and birds is a bonus.

We cross the clear waters of the Makhutswi River a number of times before stopping for lunch. We find a riverside spot under some cliffs. (In summer this would be a great place for a swim.)

This route isn’t as challenging as the first, but the constant inclines and descents will keep you well occupied. Louw, in front, has to stop and cut back bushes from time to time.

If you’re following only the extended trail, there’s no need to pack tents.

Accommodation is provided in the form of basic but comfortable huts. There are permanent communal ablution facilities with gas geysers as well as an entertainment area.

The next day we begin by retracing our route for a few kilometres before heading off to unexplored territory. Once again the route has a few challenges – more steep climbs and a long section where the vehicles seem to cling to the side of the mountain – a sheer abyss on the other side. At this point you really need to keep your wits about you.

On this trail, you can see the second largest Outeniqua yellowwood in South Africa. The forest floor surrounding the tree is carpeted with wild clivias. 

Throughout the journey, Louw keeps everyone enthralled with stories of historic events from the area. A visit to some of the old homesteads is always accompanied by stories about the area or owner.

More game can be seen on this section of the trail. The rolling hills and valleys with rock formations weathered into strange shapes will make you come back for more.

If there’s one criticism, it’s that more time should be allocated to this part of the trail. It could easily be split into two sections with an overnight stop along the route. That said, however, I understand Louw is planning something along those lines for the near future.

Drive Out says: Grab the tent, pack the car, and let’s go!