Rapport

This is the English translation of the full text of the Rapport article on iNGWENYA tours that appeared on April, 4th 2004.

Here 'sissys' should rather stay away!

by Gavin Prins

Definitely not for 'sissys'!

iNGWENYA tours at Parys in the Free State includes canoe trips on the Vaal river, 4x4 eco-tours and quad-bikes. They organise similar tours across the country for those with an adventurous spirit.

My own adventure reminded me of an episode for the show 'Fear Factor'.

The persons in our group performed eight feats they would not normally have done. Such as yours truly that cannot swim but entered the Vaal river in a raft and fell overboard.

After a few seconds of swallowing river water, hoping that someone will resque me, Danie van Aswegen, one of the guides appeared to literally pull me from the water with one hand and placed me back on the raft.

And while everyone was still laughing about my close encounter, it was the turn of another member of our group, Gerrad Crosson (30) of Randburg to experience a few anxious moments. He suffers from a fear of heights and nearly had a panic attack when he had to abseil from a 18m cliff.

He hung about 17m in the air and wanted to claw back with everything in his power, but with the encouraging words of Dolf Jordaan, one of iNGWENYA's managers he arrived safely at the bottom.

Hanlie Lemmer (53) from Douglas in KwaZulu-Natal (sic) has conquered the same fear.

"I shall never do this again. Only if my life would depend on it." she said afterwards.

Our weekend started at Rocky Ridge which has chalets and timber huts next to the Vaal river. Jordaan and Alta Nel does the welcoming with a delicious vegetable and chicken-stew.

The Rapport-group slept in a chalet with a reed roof with three beds, an open plan kitchenette and a double bed in the main bedroom. The tents of the rest of the group were erected alongside the chalet. The sound of insects and the murmur of the river stream were the only sounds to be heard.

At seven the following morning a breakfast included strong ground coffee, eggs and sausage.

After breakfast a safety talk was held concerning the rules of white-water rafting before we embarked on the rafts. The well-known Johannesburg master detective Slang van Zyl was also among the enthusiastic first-timers that tackled the river. A way downriver we ended up on an island where lunch was prepared.

We rowed back to base.

Back at Rocky Ridge we had a braai the Saturday evening.

Nel told us with pride how they often take underprivileged children on free tours for life skills development.

The next morning, following breakfast it was time for abseiling. Ropes were carefully fastened around the waist and it required surefooted steps while you move down the rockface to the bottom.

Two hours later it was time for the 4x4 eco-route.

And did the Nissan Hardbody excell! The vehicle even impressed the most hardened drivers with it's power. We moved without effort up an incredible angle of (almost) 80°.

At the renowned 'Mineshaft' section that would cause most 4x4 enthusiasts to grind their teeth, the drivers first had to pluck up the courage to tackle the slope down. Again an effortless trip, but to the applause of the other team members that waited on the others side of the muddy river to be crossed.

The weekend ended at a gentler pace with a trip on quad-bikes.

* Accommodation at Rocky Ridge Chalets was about R80 per chalet. Berakah's 4x4 route was about R175 per vehicle. Quadbikes cost R150 per person. Abseilling costs R75 with a minimum of 10 people. White water river rafting costs R260 for an entire day and half day tariffs are also available.

Rapport

This is the original Afrikaans text of the Rapport article on iNGWENYA tours that appeared on April, 4th 2004 in the Rapport Newspaper.

Hiér moet sissies liefs wegbly

deur Gavin Prins

iNGWENYA-toere se rivier avonture by Parys in die Vrystaat sluit in kanovaarte op die Vaalrivier, 4x4-ekoroetes en vierwiel-motorfietse. Hulle reël sulke avontuurtogte dwarsoor die land vir diegene met hare op die tande.

My avontuur het sterk herinner aan 'n episode van Fear Factor.

Die mense in ons groep van agt het dinge gedoen wat hulle nie normaalweg sou doen nie. Soos die uwe wat glad nie kan swem nie, maar op die Vaalrivier in 'n boot uitgevaar en oorboord geval het.

Na 'n paar sekondes van rivierwater sluk en hoop dat iemand jou sal red, was Danie van Aswegen, een van die gidse, gou by om my met een hand uit die water te pluk en terug in my boot te sit.

En terwyl almal nog skater oor my noue ontkoming, was dit die beurt van nóg 'n lid van ons groep, Gerrard Crosson (30) van Randburg, om benoude oomblikke te belef. Hy kry hoogtevrees en het byna 'n angsaanval gehad toe hy die 18 m-rotsvalavontuur meegemaak het.

Hy het sowat 17 m in die lug gehang en wou met alle mag terug boontoe klim, maar met die bemoedigende woorde van Dolf Jordaan, een van Ingwenya se bestuurders, het hy dit veilig ondertoe gehaal.

Hanlie Lemmer (53) van Douglas in KwaZulu-Natal (sic) het dieselfde vrees oorwin.

"Ek sal dit nie gou weer doen nie. Net as my lewe daarvan afhang," het sy agterna gesê.

Ons naweek het begin by Rocky Ridge, wat bestaan uit chalets en houthutte langs die Vaalrivier. Jordaan en Alta Nel doen die verwelkoming met 'n heerlike groente-en-hoenderbredie.

Die Rapport-groep slaap in die rietdak-chalet met drie beddens, 'n oopplan-kombuisie en 'n dubbel-bed in die hoofslaapkamer. Die res van die groep se tente is buite die chalet opgeslaan. Insekte se geluide en die rustige vloei van rivierwaer is al wat 'n mens hoor.

Sewe-uur die volgende oggend is dit ontbyt, wat sterk moerkoffie en eiers en wors insluit.

Ná ontbyt 'n veiligheidspraatjie oor die reëls van witwaterry voordat daar in die bote geklim word.

En die bekende Johannesburgse baasspeurder Slang van Zyl was ook onder die geesdriftige "first timers" wat die rivier aangedurf het. Al in die rivier af beland ons op 'n eiland waar middagete berei word.

Ons roei terug basis toe.

Terug by Rocky Ridge word daar die Saterdagaand gebraai.

Nel vertel trots hoe hulle dikwels minder bevoorregte kinders gratis op 'n toer neem vir lewensvaardighede.

Die volgende oggend ná ontbyt is dit rotsklim. Toue word versigtig om die lyf gebind en dit kos vastrap terwyl jy teen die rots af tot onder beweeg.

Twee uur later is dit tyd vir die 4x4-ekoroete.

En Nissan se Hardbody kom goed te pas. Die voertuig beïndruk selfs geharde bestuurders met sy krag. Ons beweeg sonder moeite teen 'n ongelooflike steilte van (byna) 80° uit.

By die berugte Mineshaft, wat 4x4-geesdriftiges hul tande sou laat kners, moet die bestuurders eers moed bymekaarskraap om die afdraande aan té durf. Weer eens sonder moeite, maar 'n groot applous van ander spanlede wag aan die ander kant van die modderrivier wat jy oorsteek.

Die naweek eindig in 'n rustiger trant met 'n tog op vierwiel-motorfietse.

Verblyf by Rocky Ridge Chalets kos R80 per chalet. Berakah se 4x4-roete kos R175 per voertuig. Quadbikes kos R150 per persoon. Abseil kos R75 met 'n minimum van tien mense. Witwaterry (river rafting) kos R260 vir 'n hele dag. Halwe tariewe is ook beskikbaar.