Mastering 4x4 obstacles in a feminine way
Four-wheel and offroad drive training for ladies in preparation for overlanding
South Africa
We gazed over the off-road course. I’m sure some of us had our jaws touching our toes. Holes in the ground, big enough to swallow the wheel of a vehicle sneered at us. Slopes worthy of causing our vehicles to topple over and roll into a heap of scrap metal at the bottom taunted us. Would we conquer these 4x4 obstacles?
If I wanted to be well equipped to drive overland on off the beaten track destinations I would need to put my shoulder to the wheel so to speak and see what I am made of.
4x4 Obstacles. We have lift off! Rear right wheel in a hole.
Off-road adventures with Bush Babe Adventure and Safari Club
In 2011 my husband and I were in the Drakensberg enjoying a thrilling helicopter flip. Shortly after we landed, my heart still pumping adrenalin, my phone rang.
It was Leilani Basson. At the time she was a photo journalist for Leisure Wheels magazine. Leilani was the pioneer for Bush Babes, an adventure and safari club – for women only. She had launched it with 6 other ladies to assist her, in 2010.
Leilani Basson taking photos
Earlier in the year I’d entered a competition through Leisure Wheels and she contacted me regarding the outcome of that. They had chosen 10 winners out of all the entrants and she was pleased to announce that I was one of them. What had we won? A weekend away in the Waterberg. The main objective of the weekend was to teach a group of ladies introductory 4x4 off-road skills. André de Villiers, notorious in South African 4x4 circles would be guiding and training us.
Driving up a slippery slope, we each had to wait our turn
You may well say it might not be a typical pastime for ladies, but my husband and I felt it would be worth it if I learnt some skills for those times we drove in off-road conditions while we travelled. It would give me more confidence to handle off-road situations.
Our chalet at Thaba Moia
Love the Zebra toilet seat! Inside our cottage at Thaba Moia. Rustic but comfortable.
The Waterberg
We arrived at a place called Thaba Moia. Our accommodation was rustic but adequate for the weekend. We settled in and had a welcome braai (barbeque) to get to know the other ladies. There is nothing like a good ‘kuier’ around a huge fire. What is a kuier? It’s a South African term for visiting or socialising. We were each allowed to bring a friend – ladies only, apart from the instructor and his team of male helpers. To be honest, I think he needed some moral support amongst a bevy of 20+ beautiful Bush Babes.
Typical South African braai (barbeque)
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The following morning, Saturday, we spent a few hours listening to the boring but necessary theory and then we were allowed loose on the tracks. Pfft! I won’t bore you with the details… I was more interested in playing in the mud.
Roaming Fox’s hot tips for 4x4 driving:
Slow, and steady.
Keep the momentum going.
Deflate your tyres appropriate to the terrain.
Consider the environment.
Real women aren’t afraid to play outside and get dirty
We tossed our high heels to one side, touched up our lipstick and exchanged our facial powder with dust while we traversed through a few little hindrances that where in our way.
4x4 Obstacle Course. Yip, I’m sure that hole is bigger than the wheel
Here are a few examples:
We pulled some jitterbug dance moves as we staggered through craters, one wheel in a ditch and one spinning in mid-air.
Avoided face planting with a free nose job while driving down a steep slope.
4x4 off-road training. Bums up! Steep descent over a ‘little’ mound
Narrowly missed seesawing on top of a mound and prevented an exfoliating belly rub in the bushveld sand.
Even a little bump could have you see-sawing
Some of us however, wheel spun in mud, like high heels on a slippery floor at a shopping mall.
After driving through water, the ascent was muddy and slippery
Steep muddy slope
Slippery enough to get the wheels spinning while going nowhere
Nasty rocks on both sides as well
We all conquered steep inclines without parking on our rear ends.
Bear in mind you can’t see over your bonnet but you have to keep the momentum going…just enough
Drove no-one up the wall and instead drove around in circles at a 45-degree angle. (Ah, ok, maybe we drove André up the wall from time to time)
How ladies learn to conquer 4x4 terrain
Throughout the training adrenalin was seriously pumping overtime. There were squeals of delight when we mastered the obstacles. Some even shed a tear or two when they struggled to master the technique, but eventually and triumphantly they made it.
Yes, the wheel was still spinning
Stuck in a rut
Soon our confidence rose and we managed to master a few more skills. By the end of the weekend we were thrilled with what we’d achieved and were filled with confidence when we left on the Sunday. Naturally we were pleased as punch that we conquered what was at that time, primarily a playground for men.
Individual 4x4 training
This of course led to further ‘ladies only’ 4x4 excursions…but more about that another time. Did I mention we had fun?
Oh, yes, for sure, we certainly did!
P.S. Years later after I’d interviewed Gillian Mclaren, Travel Writer, from @jetset_gillian did I realize that I had met her before at this Bush Babes event. It’s a small world!
Going down!
Mastering four-wheel drive off-road skills
We each were given a certificate to prove we mastered 4x4 skills
About the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
What does travel, adventure and safari have in common? They are all out of the ordinary activities from work or routine. Although not essential qualities, all of these can be unusual and exciting or daring.