Sokolo? Bah! Try Berakah!

[Family_Dog]

Ok, we, that is my niece, Brenda, her hubby Jacques, Willie (Briony, other niece's hubby, while Briony was "granny-sitting") & their two ankle-biters took off in two vehicles, Brenda, Jacques in their LR Defender 2.5TD, Willie & I in the 2.7. We're off to Sokolo 4x4 Trail............Not!

Sokolo is signposted about half-way between Potch & Stilfontein, and we took the turn off. We travelled probably some 10km and the gravel road turned to a track, and ended up in a rural village. We back-tracked and took the first turn-off to the right. The trail died off after passing a farmhouse. We back-tracked again and took the only other obvious turn-off, which was now to the left. The track died off after yet another farm house. We gave up, 30km of to & fro, and still no Sokolo 4x4 trail.

Soooo.... I turned to my friend, the Garmin 276C, and it suggested Berakah as being the closest 4x4 Trail, only some 43Km away. So off to Berakah we went.

We arrived there at 1:30, looked around and as the trail would only take some 3 - 4 hours, decided to go for it. The trail is rated at 3 to 4, and is not difficult but does require a level headed approach. My worst part was trying to squeeze the 2.7 through the ridiculously narrow passages of the first part of the trail without damaging the elephant ears outer mirrors, but we made it OK. The trail was fun and not too challenging but then one comes to the first 'Steep Down' - only a drop of a few metres but quite disconcerting when it appears you are lying on the car's nose. Then a couple of river bed runs and the first 'Steep Up'. Lekker... but you cannot see anything over the car's bonnet, so you just hope you're still on the trail. Then some more Riverbed Runs, a couple of Rocky Mountains, Raggedy Bushes, more Steep Downs & Ups, the first of the Log Bridges, followed by Farmhouse Views and then the climb to Elephant Hill. I got out at the top of Elephant Hill and nearly had a heart attack... are they serious??? Anyway, 1st Low, Foot Brake, and down we went, ever so slowwwwly. No problem, it was actually very much easier than it appeared to be and does not appear quite as daunting from within the car as it does from outside.

We only did Part 1 of the Trail, we did *not* do Part 2 as I previously said, my navigator put me right on this today (Monday) when I asked him about the Mine Shaft. We did not attempt the Rhino, partly due to ignorance, partly due to the fact that we had normal AT tyres on, not too sure they would have been the ideal choice. Perhaps Bennie or someone else who knows the trail could comment on this. The whole trail only took a couple of hours and we took it very slowly, stopping for photos every so often. I will post some of them as soon as I have reduced them to a more manageable size.

Cost of the trail is R200 per vehicle, irrespective of how many occupants there are. Quite a few Gautengers there, but I never spotted any stickers from this forum nor the Community forum.

Good fun!


-F_D

[BenHur]

I am glad you did the trail and enjoyed it. It was a good choice not to attempt the Rhino if your vehicle does not have dual lockers or very very good articulation with some large wheels (recommended 33's). Herman broke the Jeeps Prop shaft attempting it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiwhRxZEpfs

Remember the videos I made. See if you now recognise the different places.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96LNzeUZXo0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fxZ8qJE3pw

See the clip of the Hilux that made it up. It is not an easy obstacle and apparently it is even more scary coming down due to the "steep slope" on your right as you are descending.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af4mRsXardA

This is unfortunately not a video but a lot of consecutive photos I took, because at this time my video camera had flatteries.

[Family_Dog]

Hi Bennie,

I was watching some of your Youtube shows on Berakah a few minutes ago, thanks for the additional links!

We took 292 photos, going to post a few of them now.


-F_D

[Family_Dog]

First four pics...

[Family_Dog]

Second batch of four...

[Family_Dog]

Third batch of four...

[Family_Dog]

last two...






Great fun!

[BenHur]

It is unfortunately very dry still, but this trail was rated as as one f the most scenic one day trails in SA. Nice views from the mountain. Where are the pics of the mine shaft?

[Family_Dog]

Bennie,

I'm sure I will have pictures of the Mine Shaft, just don't know which ones they are

Is this the 'Steep Down' that has (I think... getting old, I get easily confused ) some cement down a very steep descent? I remember the LR hopped a bit down there, but the 2.7 took it in its stride, even with ATs on.


-F_D

[ToyX4]

Hi Eric

Strange you didn't find Sokolo. A friend's friend went there a while ago with his Pajero. I heard he enjoyed it.

Anyway, glad you did Berakah. Looks lekka, nice photo's.

Do you think I can do Berakah? It'll be my first time, and I hadn't done my training yet.

[Family_Dog]

Hi Riaan,

Yes, you will manage it. Helps if you have lifted suspension, otherwise you could scrape some body parts at the odd place or two. A Co-driver (navigator) is a must, and it is always safer for two vehicles to do the trip together.

I want to try the SFA next time, not too sure how it will handle some of the steep ascents, I had car problems at Doornrivier. The 2.7 just idled up everywhere, but then it has a rear difflock!

I am sure I will go again in Summer, probably in December, so we can always make a plan :)


-F_D

[Family_Dog]

Hi Eric

Strange you didn't find Sokolo. A friend's friend went there a while ago with his Pajero. I heard he enjoyed it.

Please ask him the precise directions. There was a sign that said "Sokolo" and there is a restaurant and some chalets at the N12 turn-off. But that's where the trail ended (pun intended) - the Restaurant/pub/whatever said they have heard of it, but do not know where it is. The turn-off I took was just across from the New Machavie turn-off.

-F_D

[ToyX4]

Hi F_D

I will get the directions to Sokolo. Where you were, is where I thought it was. Must be a VERY short trail

I think I might do Berakah next weekend. Anyone interested to join me???????????

We'll most certainly get together in December for an outing.

[BenHur]

Mmm me wondering GPS man get lost

[Cookie Monster]

Hi FD

Looks great I am sure the SFA will handle it fine have you managed to sort out the carb problem

[Family_Dog]

Correction to my first post...

We only did Part 1 of the Trail, we did *not* do Part 2 as I previously said, my navigator put me right on this today (Monday) when I asked him about the Mine Shaft.

I was confusing "Gold Mine" with "Mine Shaft", pretty bad for someone who lives in a Mining town...

Bennie, how successful would a normally aspirated 2.2 do this trail, without diff lock? It was a piece of pie with the 2.7, buy I doubt my SFA would have been as happy, particularly with the stalling Weber carb when on an incline. I am thinking of a Diff Lock conversion for the old girl, but I must do something about the EFI as well, still no reply from the Workshop of GWM when I tried ringing them again last week.

-F_D

[BenHur]

When we were there the last time there were a 4Y with 33s who did just fine (no lockers). The 22R and 4Y normally do not have a problem off-road. It is on tar at above 110km/h where they are lacking. If you sort out that carb issue you will be fine at Berakah.

Today at Moegatle Herman (Engel) with his Petrol Engine Nissan Hardbody with 31 Cooper STTs climbed out an obstacle where the only other vehicle to get out was TiaanS with his Discovery 3, with all the serious traction contol bells and wistles ( I never though I would say it but that D3 impressed the hell out of me today). Herman's brother Johan (Jengel) could not get out the same obstacle with his 3.0 TDI Hardbody with a rear difflock 32" Cooper STs and crawler gears. Neither could another 3.0TDI Isuzu nor Donovan with his 2.5 TDI Ranger all with rear diflocks.

Herman again proved today that with the right amount of flex, decent tyres and the right line you could do almost any obstacle (and more) then vehicles with lockers. Some of these obstacles I did not even try with the Pajero as it simply is too low and the Yokahama Geolanders are a total joke of a tyre on and off-road.

Eric why don't you try the engine importers to get an EFI Manifold with Injectors as Arthur did? Then you only need a Dictator Management system and you are set.

[Family_Dog]

Bennie,

That makes good sense. If I get a chance, I will ring them tomorrow.

-F_D

[Cookie Monster]

Hi Bennie

Do you think a SFA could have made the obstical

[Family_Dog]

With a rear diff lock, it will walk the trail :)

But you would need something better than the standard (worn out) suspension.

-F_D

[BenHur]

Hi Bennie

Do you think a SFA could have made the obstical

Which one are you referring to? The rhino is very extreme. Not only does it have multiple axle twister, but due to the loose rocks it is like driving on marbles.

That is one of the obstacles where you need to know your lines and your vehicle very well and have excellent tyre grip and articulation if you want to attempt it without duel lockers

[Family_Dog]

Here is a full frontal view of me doing the Elephant Trail...

-F_D

[ToyX4]

F_D

The message about my friend's friend who went to Sokolo was not conveyed accurately to me.
My friend thought his friend went to Sokolo, which he told me.

The truth is he actually went to Berakah :!: :!:
Oops

[Family_Dog]

Heh.... he got caught the same way that I was!

Berakah is only some 43km from where Sokolo is *supposed* to be, so we went for it.


-F_D

[TopHilux Hilton]

Eric, Sokolo isnt open anymore. We went there about a year ago, got to the gate and phoned the number on display. The owner said they were waiting for an Impact study to be done, and had to close in the meantime.(Although the sign is still there)

From what I saw that day, its more like a couple of man made obsticals, almost like a course, not a trail. And it was also opposite the Machavie road.

[Family_Dog]

HI Hilton,

Yep, that's the place!

There is/was another trail on the Potch Jhb road, some 25 or so kilometres from Potch on the left heading to Jhb, but friends of mine went there a couple of years ago and it was also closed. I haven't been on that road for a while now, so have no idea if they are operational or not. Doubt it.

Do you still ever come this way anymore?

-F_D