River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

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graham1
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River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by graham1 »

Hi guys,

With all these photos and excitement from the river trip at the moment, its got me wondering, mainly just for interest sake, how safe do you think a trip like that is in terms of the criminal element, and more specifically, what do you think is the minimum amount of cars/people that should do the trip to be safe?

Would you do it alone? Ok, maybe not alone in case you get stuck, but, would you do it with just one other vehicle then? Or is it only a thing to be done in a big party of vehicles?
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by iandvl »

I've done it with just two vehicles before - me in my 4.5 and the old man in his 4.5.

However, the 4x4AG were also in the river at the same time. So there were more than just our two vehicles in the river - although we camped quite a bit away from them.

I personally just try getting a little further away from the urban areas (ie: Giyani).
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Tinus lotz
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by Tinus lotz »

Dude if you are clever much safer than jhb any day
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Peter Connan
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by Peter Connan »

I think it depends on how awake and aware you are. And in terms of getting stuck and/or un-stuck, this depends on how prepared and risk-averse you are.

If you get stuck in one of the mud-holes that sometimes appear in the upper reaches of the Klein Letaba, you might struggle to get out on your own. Especially if you don't have a winch, but even if you do, sometimes it may be tricky to find a strong enough anchor point in anything remotely like straight ahead.

Two cars should be fine.
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by izakjbrt »

I agree with Peter. Two or more are better. This was my first one, and if it want for the group of people I were with, I would have been stuck very quickly. And in a group there are more eyes and ears for increased awareness.

But never did I feel unsafe , and on two evenings me and miss is just slept on stretchers under the awning
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by graham1 »

Ok, interesting, as I said its just something Ive been wondering about for interest, Im not planning on going alone ever, BUT, its good to know if, at some point theres one or two guys who are keen and want to go, we dont need to wait until next year to have to go with the whole forum. :thumbup:
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by Peter Connan »

Do understand though that the window is limited. Probably only about 3-4 months of the year when it can safely be done.

It will be very dangerous in the rainy season. Some decent rain 100's of km away can make the river flow, and if you are in it you probably won't be able to escape. There's a reason we do it in August every year.
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by SJC »

graham1 wrote: 16 Aug 2019 07:59 Ok, interesting, as I said its just something Ive been wondering about for interest, Im not planning on going alone ever, BUT, its good to know if, at some point theres one or two guys who are keen and want to go, we dont need to wait until next year to have to go with the whole forum. :thumbup:
I am also keen. I think it would still be relatively low risk (wrt rain & river coming down) to do it in September... I am still patrol less at the moment but hopefully this will change within next week or two... who knows. :rolleyes:
will just have to keep an eye on the weather reports..
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Re: River Trip Safety - how many cars is safe

Post by offroadbiker »

Done it July 2017 with just 5 vehicles, we were the first in the Moletotsi as there was no other tracks. never felt uneasy in the river and been doing it since 2013.

But one must always be alert this is SA..................
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Re: Grabow/Heuningkloof 4X4

Post by James »

Hi,
Saw a few guys were wanting to do some routs in my neck of the woods.
Would like to do some of these with other 'TROLLS'
Done Heunungkloof before.
Got time!
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