Located in
Lesotho :: Lesotho
Category:
Scenic Routes :: Mountain Pass
Baboon's Pass is extremely difficult and not for the faint of heart. This is a hectic ground pass which consists of huge rocks and the soil only exists to create large 'potholes' for vehicles to suffer through.
Ideally, travellers will have old rock drills, a heavy-duty hammer and chisel, as well as large, strong men or women. Essential items are a tow strap, snatch strap, decent D-Shackles, high-lift jacks, airjacks and the odd winch. Motorcyclists have dared this path (the best completing it in an hour), but few motorists in four-wheel drive.
In order to first be eligible to traverse the Baboon's Pass, adventurers will first need the correct type of vehicle. Even some strong ones might not be up to the challenge, unless you don't mind leaving parts of it behind. The ideal number for a group would be four to six vehicles, and having two of a type of vehicle works even better as parts are then easier to interchange. The entrance to Baboon's Pass is just after the Likolobeng River, and as soon as you have entered a terrain of large rocks and holes in the road await to ruin the belly of your car.
The ground itself starts with small river sand type ground, followed by brown dusty ground, which is bad for traction. Rain only comes during summer time, so when visiting during winter beware that the area will be dusty and the rocks unstable due to the soil being so loose.
The weather itself will be dry and relatively warm during this time of year. Teamwork and careful planning is essential on this trip, just to make it through, otherwise you could run the risk of leaving your vehicle there permanently to act as a warning and attraction for future adventurers.
Stupid mistakes could even lead to vehicles dropping off the cliff face. Obstacles on the pass force vehicles to go one by one, meaning everyone helps each other at least, but the larger the group the longer you'll wait. Huge boulders, narrow passages, holes and ditches causes by flooding, steep uphills, 90-degree turns, and high vertical cliffs dropping off the side are what you can expect, and just to make it appetizing the mountain threw in 500m of impassable damaged road, a 2km section of flat twin track road and Goliath, a huge, well known rock in the road making it even more narrow.
Overnighting can be done on the pass by means of choosing a suitable area and setting up camp, but expect to spend two days on this track if all goes well. The pass is approximately 26km and can be done under 20 hours of driving in good circumstances.
Address : | Lesotho |
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