Aha! More material for my bucket list. Thanks Guys. Outeniqua is very nice. Craig I feel the same about Die Hel - very glad I went but, will rather channel my efforts towards other destinations. I do, however, regret that we didn't overnight at the bottom. Having the Gamkaskloof and Hel excursion as part of a full day on the bike was an ignorant mistake (even if in our 4x4). We eventually only arrived in Montagu at dinner time. We won't re-do it but rather advise others to isolate Die Hel as a single outing for the day and sleep over in the valley at the bottom. Pushing to get down to Die Hel and back as a destination only, means you don't fully take in the full splendour of what Gamkaskloof can offer. Anyway, so we learn. 🤓
Agree, Sean. Die Hel is a task of note. With recent road damages in April 2024, it's just become a whole lot more difficult. I doubt the road will be repaired. Just patched by local farmers to a semi drivable condition.. as before from the floods of 2 years ago.
My cousin used to own 7/11ths of Gamkaskloof. We visited quite a few times, in normal family sedans. We have overlanded often since the early 1960's and none of us ever owned a 4x4. This new notion that overlanding requires a 4x4 is downright ridiculous. It makes local tourism an elitist exclusive thing. One can do Richtersveld without a 4x4, also Tankwa and Kgalagadi. Just stay off the demarcated 4x4 loops.
We agree... but on the safe side, we dont encourage travelers to attempt Gamkaskloof nowadays in a 2x4. Because 98% of drivers will get stuck. The road is really bad now.
