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Ok ... we four days is a whole lot better than none. I was wondering if you'd be able to do another of the adventure trails. Next time

I have managed to book a quick four night trip to KNP beginning August.

In January I had hoped to do the Mananga 4x4 trail but due to the rains the trail was closed. I am thinking of doing it this time, but coming from Cape Town it means hiring a 4x4 in Johannesburg (which I normally do anyway). This means I am not doing a trial like this in my own familiar vehicle. Also, it would just be my wife and I. I am wondering if this is a good idea - doing the trail on our own with no second vehicle to act as a recovery vehicle.

What is the general stance on this trail, I know it isnt a 4x4 trail designed to "test one's 4x4, or 4x4 skills" , but is is acceptable to do this trail as a single vehicle?

Hi Andrew

Going it alone, I think is an excellent idea.

This is the beauty of the type of trial, when you check in with reception, pay for the trial, and a deposit which you get back on your return, if by chance you dont they wiil come and look for you.

If you are terribly unlucky you may also bump into other trialists, Ive done may of the trials many of times, and if I can count the times I have met up with other vehicles it would be on one hand.

Go out there and enjoy it

G

Thanks Groovy,

So it sounds like these trails are fairly straight forward with no major chance of getting stuck out in the wild for days on end....

What about scratches to the vehicle, as I will be using a hired Landrover Disco, I dont think I really want to put any scratches into it as they will make me cough $$$'s. Is the vegetation generally pretty clear of the tracks/trail so as not to damage the vehicle?

Thanks for the advice.

Some more reading for you on the Managa trail Andrew.

Hi DB. Yes, I remember posting to that thread when I found the trail to be closed in January.

But, it was awesome to have another read and refresh my memory on that one. Thank you.

Oops - sorry, I just posted the link, never checked if you'd seen the topic before.

One of the members of the forums was in fact stuck over night on the trail. But I do think it was after some rain, and they got bogged down in the one of the clay areas.

But I think you can do it on your own quite safely. Just take extra water and other emergency provisions for 'just in case'.

In August the bush should be pretty dry. If I can remember correctly there are the odd spots you have to push through bush that could scratch, but rather wait for someone who knows the trail better than I do to comment on that one.

Sadly my August trip had to be postponed to September, but the good news is that four nights has now become six nights in the park .

Another question though, I have found that in most references to these 4x4 trails, reference is made to a 4x4 vehicle, and specific mention is made of exclusion of 4x2. I understand that. My question however is that in one place I find reference to "low range" being a requirement, but in most other places this requirement is not mentioned, just that a 4x4 is required. So, I can either hire the Landrover Disco with low range and obviously permanent 4x4, or I can hire the Landrover Freelander (for a lot less $$$'s I might add) which has permanent 4x4, but not low range.

So the real question is "Can I get away with hiring the Freelander and save some $$$'s ?"

The Freelander will be perfect in September Andrew. During The rain it is a bit different but even then the Freelander should do it.

Enjoy the trail, it is special.

I have heard that there are a few tricky sections where if it has rained (the seasons have been rather upset with early rain of late) low range may be necessary .
In any case the trail is normally closed for a while after rain , except in Pieter Steyn's case that Dink Bird mentioned above .

Andrew,
Where do you rent a Freelander?

iLM, I will PM you. It is a company in Johannesburg.

Hi All,

We are going to try Mananga trail in late May.
Does someone know what cars are allowed on this trail?
Can we rent Nissan X-Trail or Landrover Freelander?
Or only real 4x4 are allowed? Like Landrover Defender, Toyota Hilux e.t.c.

Kind regards,
Oleg

Land R Freelander / Nissan X Trail / Toyota RAV / Honda CRV is permitted -(make sure the Nissan/Toyota is the 4 x 4 type , there is/was a 4 x 2 version as well) .
Also read my posting above - it is at times closed to all vehicles .

Thanks!