Outward Bound

The SANParks guided Nossob Eco Trail in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park offers a chance to dial back the city stresses and enjoy pure silence away from the main tourist routes. SA4x4 drives it with RSI and 4x4 Megaworld…

- Andrew Middleton

Having been involved in several severe 4x4 challenges of late, it came as a welcome relief to tackle the Nossob Eco Trail, which runs through the remote Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Here was a chance to enjoy open wilderness without any stress about vehicle damage. Starting at the Twee Rivieren post right on the border of Botswana in the Northern Cape’s most northerly point, the five-day, four-night trail begins at the point where the Aoub and Nossob river intersect – hence ‘Twee Rivieren’.

These rivers flow only once every century, but, even so, are lined with massive camelthorns and populated heavily by antelope. Because of the remote location of camp sites, and their lack of any fencing to provide security − animals range from hyena, to leopard, to lion − the Nossob trail is a guided-only route, and perhaps the most educational and secluded nature trail in the Kalahari and surrounds.

It is also a proper back-to-basics experience, and trail drivers need to be fully self-sufficient in terms of water, food and fuel. Just the sort of thing we at SA4x4 relish – a chance to use our vehicles, and all their kit, for what they were intended.

The convoy

Joining us on this adventure (hosted by SA4x4’s Anton Willemse and Andrew Middleton), we had a small convoy of enthusiasts.

In a new Hilux Revo was Mike Voss, managing director of Rock Solid Industries (RSI). He’d brought the latest version of their Smart Canopy to the party − the Evo range, which is an extremely high-tech stainless steel canopy with an innovative built-in kitchen (now massively improved) and their latest fold-down roof rack which is unique in the industry.