Many years ago I drove up there in a 2WD bakkie with no extras (following someone in a similar vehicle who knew the way). It wasn't as wet as that (I think my leader had found about that ahead of time), and although the poor bakkie screamed all the way up, it all went fine. We had to dodge taxis on the way up, and down, I think. (Well definitely in at least one direction.) Under these conditions I would think it would be impossible, though. (Although the track was deeply churned up, and that would be by taxis, so maybe Lesotho taxi drivers know tricks to get themselves up impossibly muddy ascents, too.) At the time, you had to have your passport stamped by the magistrate at Matat to get out, and I don't think Lesotho bothered with border controls on their side. Up on the top it can get pretty hairy! Narrow, rough tracks with opportunities to go over edges you'll never ever come back from. And you have to share the path with taxis. Magic place, though. No signs of civilization (apart from roads). Sound of cow bells whenever you stop. Mountain fynbos in flower everywhere at the time. My co-conspirator took his wind surfer with, to go and sail on a dam somewhere up there. Vehicle team then went exploring and left him to his own devices. When we got back, he was giving the local herd boys "rides on the boat". Back then, Dad would send his little son off into the mountains (the Summer grazing) with a horse, blanket, and cattle, and they'd fend for themselves for months up there. Of course the wind surfer was the best thing ever (even if with hindsight, being out there in the world without fences and might be the best after all?) Found a Bushman painting purely by chance. Went off (probably for a pee or something) to some fallen rocks, and looked under one of them, and there it was, all upside-down, and sheltered from the rain. (Not so sure if it was safe from floods, though.) I'm pretty sure anyone who's ever been up there would have these floods of memories coming back like this. (A young Matatiele lawyer rebuilt an old Land Rover, took it up to Lesotho, exploring, had a breakdown, had to leave it there for the time being, then went back to fetch it. Made a deal with a Basotho farmer to hitch it up to a team of oxen. Looked like the Great Trek, but with a Land Rover for a wagon, in the pictures.) I seem to recall coming down being almost as hair raising as riding on narrow paths on top of high slopes/cliffs up top there.
Many years ago I drove up there in a 2WD bakkie with no extras (following someone in a similar vehicle who knew the way). It wasn't as wet as that (I think my leader had found about that ahead of time), and although the poor bakkie screamed all the way up, it all went fine. We had to dodge taxis on the way up, and down, I think. (Well definitely in at least one direction.)
Under these conditions I would think it would be impossible, though. (Although the track was deeply churned up, and that would be by taxis, so maybe Lesotho taxi drivers know tricks to get themselves up impossibly muddy ascents, too.)
At the time, you had to have your passport stamped by the magistrate at Matat to get out, and I don't think Lesotho bothered with border controls on their side.
Up on the top it can get pretty hairy! Narrow, rough tracks with opportunities to go over edges you'll never ever come back from. And you have to share the path with taxis. Magic place, though. No signs of civilization (apart from roads). Sound of cow bells whenever you stop. Mountain fynbos in flower everywhere at the time.
My co-conspirator took his wind surfer with, to go and sail on a dam somewhere up there. Vehicle team then went exploring and left him to his own devices. When we got back, he was giving the local herd boys "rides on the boat". Back then, Dad would send his little son off into the mountains (the Summer grazing) with a horse, blanket, and cattle, and they'd fend for themselves for months up there. Of course the wind surfer was the best thing ever (even if with hindsight, being out there in the world without fences and might be the best after all?)
Found a Bushman painting purely by chance. Went off (probably for a pee or something) to some fallen rocks, and looked under one of them, and there it was, all upside-down, and sheltered from the rain. (Not so sure if it was safe from floods, though.)
I'm pretty sure anyone who's ever been up there would have these floods of memories coming back like this.
(A young Matatiele lawyer rebuilt an old Land Rover, took it up to Lesotho, exploring, had a breakdown, had to leave it there for the time being, then went back to fetch it. Made a deal with a Basotho farmer to hitch it up to a team of oxen. Looked like the Great Trek, but with a Land Rover for a wagon, in the pictures.)
I seem to recall coming down being almost as hair raising as riding on narrow paths on top of high slopes/cliffs up top there.
Do you think the new Suzuki Jimny GLX can manage this pass?
Yes. But the driver will need some experience.
@@TrygveRoberts as always sir, i appreciate your response.
With ease.
And what gear and range did they use for that tough obstacle?
Low Range, 2nd gear.
@@TrygveRoberts wonderful, thank you.