Day 04: Melton Wold to Buffelsrivier Riverside Camp

Date: 2024-01-28

Departure From: Melton Wold Guest Farm

Departure Time: 08h07

Destination Name:  Buffelsrivier Riverside Camp

Arrival Time: 15h40

Total Travel time: 7:33 hours

Trip Summary:

I woke up later than usual to an unusual sound.  A very low base resonating sound.  While it was not loud, it certainly carried a distance.  I unzipped the tent entrance and saw that it was an Emu bird.

There was a group of about 20 people who had celebrated one of the local farmer's 70th birthday at the guest farm.  A couple of them came to the camp site and chatted while I was packing.

Today I was on gravel for most of the time.   The road followed the Elandsfontein river for a while which was great.

Besides the breathtaking views, the road wound around koppies, through some ravines (poorts), over hills and down into the valleys.  Some valleys were very dry while others had grass and green vegetation.  Sections were a little technical especially crossing dry unpaved river beds and steep rocky inclines.

I drove through Merweville which was very quiet.  It was clean and looked well maintained, yet I did not see a single person.

The gravel road from the R353 to Merweville must be one of the best I have ever riden on, it was better than the national roads. 

I stopped in Laingsburg to refuel the motorbike before taking the last 8.1 km gravel road to Buffelsrivier.

The farm road to Buffelsrivier crossed the dry river bed twice. Each crossing was about 200m and it consisted of large round stone (like Baviaanskloof).  You take a line and stick to it.